Sunday’s Food for Thought : Knowing and fighting for the Truth
When we know what’s right from wrong, do we tend to keep quiet so that we appear to remain ‘neutral’ to others? Or do we stick to what we know as the truth and fight for it, even though almost everybody else goes for the wrong?
Do we consciously choose to not speak out for the truth for fear of being ‘not like the rest’? (for fear of conflicts with those who may not share the same view)
Like when everybody else says ‘telling a lie is normal’ and ‘being unfaithful to our spouse once or twice is understandable’, do we nod together with the others, or do we stick to what we believe as right (despite being the ‘minority’)?
The apostle John – who wrote the book of John and four other books in the Bible – was one example of a man who lived in an era where false beliefs and teachings were more popularly accepted, even amongst believers (who didn’t have a strong understanding to begin with, and thus were more easily swayed by whatever prevalent teachings they heard)
He chose to stay true to his faith in Jesus Christ and fight for the truth, though it was against what was commonly believed at the time.
With a discerning heart, he wrote and pointed out what’s right from wrong.
And what he did was (obviously) against the majority and he was persecuted, excommunicated and later exiled to Patmos Island.
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When we choose to believe, do, say and fight for what’s right, we may most likely be the minority. We may seem to have gone ‘against the flow’. And we may even face ‘difficulties’ for having made that choice.
But what struck me the most as I sat and listened to today’s sermon by Rev. Stephen Tong was the statement that we should ‘comprehensively understand the truth and whole-heartedly fight for the truth, for that’s what living faithfully for Jesus Christ truly means’.
Such a big statement to swallow. Such a big challenge for me to follow.
Thank God for people like the apostle John whose life is a living testimony of God’s wonderful grace too.
