For or Against?

In our society, there are many groups that take a hard line “for us” or “against us” approach. A person is either “pro choice” or “right to choose.” One can either “support” same-sex marriage or “oppose” it. People draw their lines in the sand, and whether right or wrong, they will bitterly defend their position to the end. It’s amazing, then, that when it comes to Jesus, there are many—even those who call themselves Christians—who want to straddle the fence.

One of the most appalling things I’ve seen was a 2005 Larry King interview with world-renowned religious leader Joel Osteen, who was flat-out asked the question, “Is Jesus Christ the only way to heaven?” Osteen hemmed and hawed and danced around the answer. His ultimate response? “Let God be the judge of who goes to heaven or hell.” While this is an obvious truth—God will be the judge, it was disappointing to see that a man who pastors tens of thousands of Christians was unwilling to actually say with his own mouth, “Jesus is the way.” If our religious leaders are so wishy-washy, it’s no wonder so many Christians have a hard time standing up for their faith.

It has been said, “If you don’t stand up for something, then you will fall for anything.” Christians are falling by the wayside daily because many churches and “spiritual leaders” are so focused on proclaiming the “prosperity” and “blessings” of God, they are forgetting to teach the basic precepts of the faith.

There is a choice to be made. Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, their leader, Joshua, took a hardline “for” or “against” stance. He said, “…Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:25) There was no toeing the line or straddling the fence. The people could either be for God or against Him. Fast-forward to the New Testament, and God (who is unchanging) demands the same of us today. We are either for Him or against Him. In fact, in Revelations 3:15-16, God rebukes the church in Laodicea, saying, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” How many Christians today will be counted among the Laodiceans?

A Bible commentary noted here, “Deep down, there is no one more miserable than the lukewarm Christian is. They have too much of the world to be happy in Jesus, but too much of Jesus to be happy in the world.”

Are we “for” Jesus or “against” Him? The Bible makes it clear that it’s either one or the other. Choose for yourself today.