3 Reasons We Don’t Take a Stand

Are you willing to do the right thing even if it seems impossibly difficult? Are you willing to have the hard conversation that could end a relationship? Are you willing to stand up for your convictions even if no one else stands up with you—and you are completely alone?

There is fear in these situations. But it isn’t fear born in a vacuum. The fear comes from one of three places:

1. Lack of trust

We don’t trust that, if we do the honorable thing, that God will take care of the details. I’ve been so fascinated with the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Old Testament. They are being threatened with death by fire for not bowing to an idol—an act that they know will not please God. There are people compromising all around them. Their trust of is God amazing! Check this out from Daniel 3:16-18:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

“But even if he doesn’t…” What?! This is real faith. They aren’t just trusting God is able to save them, they are trusting in God Himself. He brought them to this point, and if they do the hard, right thing God will take care of the details. How can they be so sure? They know that, given any other options, bringing glory to God Almighty is always the best course of action. No matter what.

2. Unwillingness to be alone

But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had each other! They didn’t have to stand alone. What if I am the only one who takes a stand? No one stands with me?

It is certainly one of our deepest fears to be alone.  It rules us on a visceral level.

Jesus Himself is a good example of how to conquer this fear. He had thousands of people ready to make Him king by force one day, and just that fast the same crowd was shouting, “Crucify Him!” as He stood alone. How did He do it? He practiced.

Jesus spent time in solitude. It wasn’t comfortable. It wasn’t Zen. It was the crucible for the Crucifixion. I’ve written a previous post about solitude and its importance in a leader’s life. Suffice to say, we need to be ready to stand alone, because we may be called on to face down the crowd with no one by our side. No one except the One who once faced down the crowds for our sake.

3. Concern with reputation

This reason for not taking a stand carries with it the greatest irony. Sure, we may preserve our reputation in the short run, but we are sacrificing our integrity in the process. We can only fake it for so long. Our reputation can’t stand firmly on anything but a foundation of integrity.

And thus the irony.  By making our reputation our great concern—instead of our integrity before God and man—we’re actually doing the very thing that will destroy it.

I’ll explore this idea of reputation and integrity more next week.

So there’s three reasons we don’t take a stand.  If you think there are more reasons that deserve a mention, feel free to add them in the comments!