Standing up for your faith

Welcome to my Monday Manna post. If you want to particpate too, you can join us at:

http://joannesher.blogspot.com/2009/11/ultimate-faith-monday-manna.html

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18

Compromise. The word means to expose or make vulnerable to danger, suspicion, scandal, etc. It also means to make a dishonorable or shameful concession. Compromise is not a nice word. So why do so many Christians make compromises when it comes to their faith?

I had a conversation with someone the other day that I will share with you. Miss A and I were talking about clothing. She described to me a store that she had been in. Her experience went something like this: Upon walking in the store, her jaw hit the floor. Looking around the store was appalling. There were many things that she saw that were quite disturbing. Most specifically, she saw sesame street characters on shirts doing not so nice things to each other. She went specifically in the store for a twilight shirt (which I will let the whole "twilight" thing go for now) for her daughter that she knew they carried. Her spirit was telling her to flee, but instead she quickly purchased the shirt and left. In doing this, she is supporting this store, and allowing them to continue to sell those graphic shirts to teens. It's time to take a stand fellow brethren! Ezekiel 11:11-12 says ...I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. And you will know that I am the LORD, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you. We are called to not compromise with this world!

One of the things that I have been convicted of regarding compromise and my integrity is in the area of media. Whether it be cd's or printed books, there are certain restrictions on copying. People will ask me if they can have a copy of this song or another song and I must politely decline. The reason the copyright laws are in place is because if we make copies for our friends, the artists don't get the proceeds from our friends buying the cd. It doesn't matter if our friends are "not going to sell them" or not. It's like stealing the proceeds from those albums. We think "Oh they make a lot of money, one copy won't hurt". It does! It hurts our integrity. Integrity is defined as adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty and also the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished. Let's set an example, and preserve our integrity.

I know that it is hard to stand out. Daniel's friends stood out. They stood up for their faith and their God. The punishment was set to be death by fire. God walked with them through the fire, and preserved them. Our God is faithful, and the same yesterday, today, and forever. Take a stand for your faith today. God will walk you also through the fire.

God's blessings to you today!