We often tend to make standing firm and compassion oxymorons. I will be the first to admit when I hear someone tell me to stand firm, my first thought is a soldier in a battle. Someone who is going to stand his ground and not move for anything, but what if standing firm doesn't have to be an aggressive word..... What if standing firm meant showing the love of Christ to those around us? Paul writes in Philippians 1:27:
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel”
I can think about so many things I am passionate about and not willing to budge. You will NEVER convince me that any college is better than Michigan State University. I will stand firm for my team in green, through the good times and the bad. It is easy for us to come together when everything is going great, but what about the hard times. I am not just speaking of secular things, although it applies to that. I am talking about the Gospel! Paul is telling the church of Philippi to conduct themselves in a way that brings honor and glory to Christ. I could only imagine that Christians in Phillipi had disagreements over little things, just as we do. Some of those things are just plain silly things, Pastor John and I will never agree 100% to like each other's favorite college or who the superior pop company is. (Let's be honest we all know the answer to those 2 topics is 1. Michigan State, 2. Coke!) However, at the end of the day you know what we can all get 100% behind. That Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. As Christians we need to be able to put our preferences aside, and stand firm in unity for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be able to glorify God together both Sparty’s and that other school. If the world sees us arguing over things that we tell them really don’t matter, how are they going to trust in the truth of Jesus Christ?!
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel”
I can think about so many things I am passionate about and not willing to budge. You will NEVER convince me that any college is better than Michigan State University. I will stand firm for my team in green, through the good times and the bad. It is easy for us to come together when everything is going great, but what about the hard times. I am not just speaking of secular things, although it applies to that. I am talking about the Gospel! Paul is telling the church of Philippi to conduct themselves in a way that brings honor and glory to Christ. I could only imagine that Christians in Phillipi had disagreements over little things, just as we do. Some of those things are just plain silly things, Pastor John and I will never agree 100% to like each other's favorite college or who the superior pop company is. (Let's be honest we all know the answer to those 2 topics is 1. Michigan State, 2. Coke!) However, at the end of the day you know what we can all get 100% behind. That Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. As Christians we need to be able to put our preferences aside, and stand firm in unity for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be able to glorify God together both Sparty’s and that other school. If the world sees us arguing over things that we tell them really don’t matter, how are they going to trust in the truth of Jesus Christ?!