This is something of a follow-up to a recent postas I contemplated what happens when the Gospel is preached.  Today I take it a step further… for all believers who live out the Gospel daily in their life and speak truth into people’s lives.

Do not apologize… be embarrassed… or ashamed when God’s Truth causes people to react negatively toward you or stumble in some way!  When you “speak the truth in love” and people get angry, offended, hostile, or attack you… that is NOT the time to either back down, soften your words, or apologize.  Yes, you read it right… do NOT apologize when you are echoing Truth from Scripture.

My experience has been that (IN CHURCH… FROM CHRISTIANS!) God’s Word is difficult to handle when what He says contradicts what they believe.  I have literally seen people hyper-ventilate, get red-faced, and start sweating when they are asked to consider Bible truths!  I’ve watched people get so angry when confronted with truth that their anger drives them to tears.  Note: After those two events I came up with the phrase… “If you’re going to get mad, get mad at God.  HE wrote it!”

I have found that those who are secure and confident in what they believe… A) Don’t feel threatened when someone disagrees with them, B) Aren’t compelled to attack… beat down… or correct those who believe differently than they do… C) Are able to engage in discussion with those who disagree without hyperventelaing and getting all worked up emotionally… and D) They are gracious and patient in presenting their own views when asked to do so.  Those who are secure in what they believe live in Romans 14:1… Romans 14:5… 1 Timothy 6:2b-5… 2 Timothy 2:14-18… and Romans 12:18.  There is a difference between being “boldly humble” and being ashamed of God’s Truth!

Some Christians… when they get a little blow back from people being confronted with Bible Truth… soften it, they become quiet, crawfish, and are hesitant to press what God wrote in His Word.  I pray that when people push back against God’s Truth that you won’t back off and in essence apologize (Be ashamed) for what GOD has decreed!  Consider what Paul wrote…

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

2 Timothy 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord…

2 Timothy 1:10-12 Through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel… for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher… is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

Do NOT be ashamed of what God put in His Word.  Do NOT apologize for speaking the truth.  Do NOT abandon what you KNOW to be true.