Speak Up

Yesterday I drove three hours one way to attend a 6oth wedding anniversary celebration. It was a lot of time behind the wheel, yet I am glad for the opportunity to share in such a delightful event. After a short program with music and comments from their family, the couple thanked everyone and shared some of the reasons that their marriage had endured. At the top of the list was, “We are Christians.”

I’m sure most of the 200 plus in attendance knew that, but even if they didn’t, this couple would have said it. When God does wonderful things in our lives, we have to tell people. We know that we didn’t make these things happen ourselves and that He deserves the glory.

In the New Testament, after Jesus ascended into heaven, His apostles did the same, but what they had to say was not always as well received as yesterday’s testimony. The chief priests were angry with them and put them in prison. That wasn’t God’s plan so He sent His angel to open the doors and bring them out, saying, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

They obeyed. However, when the chief priests got their hands on them again, they said, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us.”

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:29-32).

These were courageous men. The church of Jesus Christ could use more of them. We are living in a culture where the sharing of our faith is not popular. In some parts of the world, speaking for Jesus is even dangerous. This week, one country is preparing to pass a law that puts the death sentence upon any man, and life in prison on any woman, who becomes a Christian.

God says “Go and speak.” Man says, “Shut up!” If it were illegal to speak in the name of Jesus where I live, what would I do? What would any of God’s people do? Some have spoken and were martyred for their faith. Others decide to keep quiet and by so doing, compromise their faith and stifle their own spiritual lives.

Peter shared what God had done in bringing Jesus to this world, what happened at the cross, and what happened after that. He told his listeners the reason for Jesus. These people who had killed him could be forgiven. In fact, His very death was the grounds for that forgiveness. He also shared that he had experienced all of this and was sharing it as a first-hand witness. He said that the Holy Spirit also speaks this same truth to the hearts of those willing to listen. They were not willing.

Peter was bold in the face of opposition. Today, God’s people are called to be bold too. In some cases our testimony about the power of God is well-received, or at least politely tolerated. In others, the listeners become defensive, angry, even violent. It is okay to talk about God, but not about Jesus, perhaps because He said that He is the way, the truth and the life, and that no one can come to the Father but by Him. The human condition (called sin) wants to do its own thing, even in the realm of how we are to find God.

I’m glad we live in a country where it is still possible to say, “We are Christians” without incurring an arrest or worse, but those days may soon be over. The world does not want us to fill it with our doctrine, and at least one country is planning destruction for those who do.

All of this is making me think about my own boldness (and sometimes lack of boldness), and realize how important it is to obey God rather than men, even at those times when it is far from easy to speak up.