You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness    2 Peter 3:17

I was blessed with a mother and maternal grandparents who had very strong convictions about not letting people and circumstances move them from what their ethics and beliefs dictated.  Consequently, I’ve never been accused of being politically correct.  It’s not that I want to be rigid; it just means that public opinion doesn’t carry much weight with me…in or outside the church.  Being politically correct is a lot like being a chameleon.  Chameleons are wonderful creatures.  Some of them change colors to blend into their environment.  It’s a means of protection for them.  While it is truly a matter of self-preservation for chameleons, it’s not a very useful mode of operation for us as Christians.  Yet so often, we forget who we are and misstep because we just want to blend in.

When considering our predisposition to err in this area, we often think of the public domain such as work, school, the gym or other social situations that we perceive to require some amount of compromise in our Christian ethics and beliefs to fit in.  Sometimes it’s an off-color joke, sometimes it’s gossip, or it may be pressure to be dishonest in order to keep our jobs.  The list of possibilities is endless, but the common denominator is fear.  In the end, it is fear of rejection or a loss.  Yet in these situations, we are, as Peter reminds us, to “remain steadfast” and “be on our guard”.  Further, we are reminded: “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)  The power and the discipline strengthen our resolve while the love allows us to handle the situation with grace no matter how difficult the situation.  Consider   Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.   Faced with a command to bow to and worship an idol or be put in a fiery furnace, the Jews in Babylon had a choice to make: compromise their beliefs or be killed.  Yet given those two choices, these three men said that they needed no time to reconsider their refusal to comply.  They quickly gave an respectful but firm response:  “’O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’” (Daniel 3:16-18) God rewarded their obedience with spectacular protection.  Oh that we should all have that kind of faith and resolve.

Sadly, this problem is not limited to individuals, but affects churches as well.  Look at how many churches and denominations are moving away from very clear biblical principles to remain “vital” because they fear their demise or a backlash of criticism if they do not conform to public opinion.  The book of Revelation reminds us that this is not a new problem in the discourse with the seven churches in chapters two and three.  Ephesus left its first love, Pergamum allowed false teaching and deviated from God’s law allowing immoral acts; Thyatira also allowed false teaching that led to immoral acts; Sardis had become dead; Laodicea had become lukewarm.   I am thankful to be part of a church whose decisions and teaching is based solely on the word of God.  We have just celebrated 25 years and the prayer of our pastor is that 25 years from now we can still say that we have been faithful to preach God’s word and conduct the business of the church by His principles without compromise to meet the expectations of our culture.

Finally, as individuals, there is often the urge to conform within the church.  Sometimes it comes from fellow members and at others it comes from within.  In this case, it is conformity to be what is impossible…perfect.  Legalism is often at the root.  As in the world, peer pressure within the church can be harsh.  If you admit to struggles with sin, some say that you are not saved; if you have illness or are weak in an area, they say you lack faith; if you don’t conform to the public opinion of the congregation, they want to shun you; or if you challenge the teaching or practices of the church with respect to God’s word, they want to cast you out.  Consider the crucifixion of our Lord…need I say more? On the other hand, we often fear allowing the real struggles that we face to show so we work hard to present a false image of ourselves.  We get the notion that once saved we’ll be free of struggle.  While pervasive, it’s not a biblical perspective.  We are not promised perfection until we arrive in heaven.  Until then, we are in the process of sanctification…learning, growing and drawing nearer to God; being perfected but not yet perfect.  Sadly, both have the same result: people afraid to come forward for help in their walk, encouragement in their struggles and prayer for their needs.  As the body of Christ, we are to support, encourage and help each other.  It’s not that we accept unrepentant sin or tell everyone our struggles, but we reach out through godly relationships to meet the needs.  Consider Galatians 6:1 and 2 Timothy 4:2.  “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”  “…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”  Thankfully, 2 Peter 3:18 reminds us that it is a process: “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  When the body of Christ works together in this way, it is strengthened and there is great fellowship.

Life is difficult.  There are many pressures to be someone we are not and/or don’t want to be, but we have a faithful God to whom we can turn for help, guidance and protection.  You are not the first to be challenged and won’t be the last.  Stand firm in your faith.  In closing, I leave you with a few passages for encouragement.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:58

“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”  1 Corinthians 16:13

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

“For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end” Hebrews 3:14

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” Hebrews 10:23