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I've been watching a discussion on a message board between some Christians and some people who despise Christianity and anyone who professes the faith.  It's been interesting to watch their exchanges because of the things that the Christian haters throw up as "valid" arguments against Christianity.  They'll bring up one verse from the Old Testament out of context and then claim that represents the whole of Christianity.  When it's shown where they are incorrect, they just ignore that and come back with how Christians are arrogant or intolerant because we say the only way to eternal life is through Christ.

To their credit, the Christians in this discussion aren't giving into the false accusations of intolerance and are standing firm on the truth of Christ.  They're keeping their focus where it needs to be...on Christ...and aren't focusing on the people who want to turn the discussion about the people.  However, this situation has me thinking about the times we all face the truly intolerant...those who believe we have no right to follow Christ and profess our faith.  The people who go on about how they're for "openness" and "tolerance" but as soon as a Christian begins to share their beliefs start to do the electronic equivalent of a stoning.

We cannot waver in our knowledge of the truth of Christ.  We can debate the ways we share our faith or the words we use or the times we're bolder than others but we cannot waver on the basics no matter how many times someone wants to mock you for it.  Remember, they're not mocking you as much as they're mocking Christ.  Jesus told us this when He said in John 7:7 (ESV) "The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil."  Now, the world and those who love it cannot really hate on Christ directly because He is not here in the flesh so they hate on those who follow Him because it fulfills their earthly lusts for power.

Jesus also talked to us about that in John 15:18-27 (ESV): "“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, the will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning."

We have to expect this kind of treatment when we will not waver on this simple truth spoken by Christ:

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6 (ESV)

That means that no other religion is right.  No one who denies that Jesus is God is right.  No one who says that you can get into heaven without believing in Christ is Lord and that he was raised from the dead is right.  This is not a case of someone being "intolerant" as you will be accused.  It's a case of someone knowing the truth and not wavering in a world that wants to do all it can to eliminate that truth from the world.

We have to be strong enough to not deny Christ even when faced with people we know will receive the message with hate, anger and scorn.  You know those people...the ones that start a discussion on faith with "you think I'm going to hell?"  They want you to say yes because they want to attack...but you have to answer yes (if you know for a fact they're not a Christian) because that is the truth.

The key to remember is that the mockers know the truth.  They'll just do all they can to twist it to justify the fact they love the world so much they don't want to give it up...but that doesn't mean they don't know it.  If you deny it, they'll mock you as not knowing your faith or not believing it.

Either way, those who want to mock and throw derision toward others are going to do it regardless of your answer.  So why would you do anything to deny Christ just to get along with them?

To get along with the world?

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" - 1 John 2:15 (ESV)

If you deny the truth of Christ just to get along with people then you love the friendship of worldly people more than Christ.  That's not fun to say and it's certainly not fun to do...but it's the truth.  We can't compromise Jesus just to avoid someone who wants to vent their spleen over their hatred of Christianity.  Now, you can certainly pray and if the Lord leads just walk away from those people...but you cannot deny the truth when directly asked about Jesus.

Stand firm and celebrate that just like believers who have gone before us we're worthy to suffer even a little for the cause of Christ.