A 30-second video has been circling the web for the past couple of days. It is a group of protestors surrounding a female bystander demanding that she raise her fist for their cause. There is much that could be said about this clip, but what some people have missed is the question asked of the woman at the 26-second mark. Twice she is asked if she is a Christian. See the video below.
Based on what we see in this video, there is no indication that this woman is a Christian, yet, the woman asking the question is making an assumption. Why would she do that? According to the secular ideology driving many of these revolutionaries, Christianity is problem.
Secularism has no place for Christianity unless it is a liberalized distortion of it that has a form of godliness but denies its power (2 Timothy 3:5). Even when we agree that the lives of black men, women, and children are of the utmost importance because God has made them in his image and that racism is an evil that needs to end, it will never be enough. The demands will continue to come. We will either have to embrace all aspects of their revolution, or we will face their wrath. If they cannot indict us on charges of racism, they will find some other cause to use.
When the mobs ask, “Are you a Christian?” How will you respond? Before you answer that, let me ask you what will see when you look at the faces of the people when they surround you? Will you see eternal souls who need the light of Christ? Will you remember that you used to be one of them? The wrath of God used to hang over us as well, but Christ saved us from our sins. With these things in mind, what would it cost to capitulate and deny our faith? We would throw away our chance to shine the light of Christ and abandon our questioners to their lost condition, and we would have turned our backs on our King to serve ourselves.
When the multitude comes against you, seek the face of the Lord. Power and might are in his hand, and no one can withstand him (2 Chronicles 20:6). When you are powerless against the horde, he will be with you. The Lord says, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the battle is not your but his” (2 Chronicles 20:15).
There is no angry mob as terrifying as the wrath we once faced for our sins. Since we understand that, we do not fear them who can kill the body, we fear God who can destroy both body and soul in hell, and he has set us free and calls us his children (Matthew 8:28). With the fear of God, we possess a fear that makes us fearless, because even if they destroy our bodies, in our flesh, we shall see God (Job 19:26).
When the mob asks, “Are you a Christian?,” with meekness and humility, stand firm, hold your position, speak the truth in love, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf (2 Chronicles 20:17). For even if they take your life, his light will shine through your suffering, and you will stand in the presence of your King. Who knows, like Stephen standing with Paul (Acts 7:54-8:1), maybe one day, one or more of the faces in the crowd will stand there in heaven with you, and you can praise your Savior together.
-D. Eaton
The Fight of Faith 