'What Will It take for you to no Longer Stand?"

What will it take for you to no longer stand? A threat? A lawsuit? A fine? A jail cell? The loss of friends? The anger of government? The fear of being misunderstood? There comes a moment in every generation when God's people must decide whether they will bend with the age or stand upon the Word of God. The Bible does not call us to drift. It does not call us to compromise. It calls us to stand. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." — Ephesians 6:13, KJV Some of the very first stands in America for Christian education happened in Ohio. Pastors were threatened with jail. Families were threatened that their children would be taken away if they lost these legal and biblical stands. Prior to the 1970s, schools were required to be registered with the state. Christian education did not yet exist as we know it today. But pastors and parents began to take a courageous stand to educate their children as Scripture commands — "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." — Ephesians 6:4, KJV As these churches and families grew, the state began to take notice. Claims of truancy, neglect, and illegal activity were used to attack churches that simply wanted to teach children under the authority of God's Word. Pastors faced jail, major fines, and public ridicule. Parents faced an even more terrifying choice: would they give in and place their children in public education, or would they continue to stand — no matter what? The greatest threat was this: if they lost, the state could take their children. And they stood. The lawsuit went forward. Parents had to sit in court while they and their churches were accused of child neglect, abuse, and truancy. Their children were instructed to bring their belongings each day to the courthouse. If the families lost, Child Protective Services were there to take those children away. Each day, so-called experts took the stand. Each day, those parents faced the possibility that their children would not come home. But God directed in a way that only He could. The Lord blessed the faith of those parents, pastors, and prayer warriors. The courts found that Christian schools were allowed to stand. Since then, the Christian school movement has grown tremendously. Just a while ago, Dr. David Gibbs with The Christian Law Association was at a church in northern Ohio. A man walked up to him and said, "You don't remember me, but I know you. I was one of the kids in a lawsuit years ago. I had to bring my stuff to the courthouse every day, not knowing whether or not that day I'd be going home with my parents or not." We are thankful for people who stand. Because God never wastes a trial. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." — James 1:2–3, KJV Standing is our part. Winning is God's part. That is a truth our generation must recover. Daniel stood when the law said he could not pray. "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed... he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed... as he did aforetime." — Daniel 6:10, KJV Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood when the government commanded them to bow. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... But if not... we will not serve thy gods." — Daniel 3:17–18, KJV The apostles stood when civil authority commanded them to stop preaching. "We ought to obey God rather than men." — Acts 5:29, KJV Paul stood when others forsook him. "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me... Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me." — 2 Timothy 4:16–17, KJV That is the issue. When no man stands with you, will you still stand because the Lord stands with you? When the culture mocks, will you stand? When government threatens, will you stand? When friends leave, will you stand? When the cost rises, will you stand? "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." — 1 Corinthians 16:13, KJV Every liberty we enjoy today was preserved because someone before us refused to surrender it. Christian education did not grow because people were comfortable. Religious liberty did not survive because believers were silent. The freedom to train children in truth did not remain because families compromised. These blessings remain because somebody stood. And now the question comes to us. Will we stand for truth when it is unpopular? Will we stand for the Bible when it is mocked? Will we stand for parental rights when government overreaches? Will we stand for religious liberty when bureaucrats threaten? Will we stand for righteousness when compromise is easier? "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth..." — Ephesians 6:14, KJV Truth is not ours to edit. Truth is not ours to soften. Truth is not ours to hide. Truth is ours to proclaim and defend. There are moments when standing feels lonely. There are moments when it seems as if evil is winning. But God sees. "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry." — Psalm 34:15, KJV Our strength is not in politics, popularity, courts, or numbers. Our strength is in the Lord. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." — Ephesians 6:10, KJV This is the hour for courage. Not arrogance. Not anger. Not fear. Courage. Biblical courage says, "I will obey God even if I stand alone." Biblical courage says, "I will not bow, even if the furnace is hot." Biblical courage says, "I will pray, even if the decree is signed." Biblical courage says, "I will train my children for the Lord, even if the state threatens me." "Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord..." — 1 Corinthians 15:58, KJV Your stand is not in vain. Your prayers are not in vain. Your tears are not in vain. Your faithfulness is not in vain. The families in Ohio did not know the full impact of their stand. The pastors did not know how many schools would be born from their courage. The children walking into court with their belongings did not know that their suffering would become a testimony to another generation. But God knew. So I ask again: What will it take for you to no longer stand? May our answer be: nothing. By God's grace, we will stand. We will stand for Christ. We will stand for Scripture. We will stand for our families. We will stand for our children. We will stand for religious liberty. We will stand for truth. We will stand when it costs us. We will stand when others will not. "Only be thou strong and very courageous..." — Joshua 1:7, KJV Do not bow. Do not bend. Do not retreat. Do not surrender. Stand. And having done all— Stand.