One of the most difficult challenges for a Christian student is to be in a classroom with a professor who is openly hostile to faith in Christ. Standing up for the Lord and for righteousness in these type of situations is tough, but I believe when it is done humbly, in a spirit of grace and truth, God will bring great good out of it—most of which we will probably never see in this life.
I will never forget when I was 20, a student coming up to me after a philosophy class thanking me for speaking up for Christ when the professor was ripping apart the Christian faith. He couldn’t get over the idea that a Jesus-follower could do this, and though I lost track of him I think that it made a difference in his life, and perhaps sowed seeds in some of the unbelievers who were ultimately drawn to Christ.
Jesus said, “You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me” (Matthew 10:18).
Our goal (whether we’re a student representing Christ in the classroom, or an adult representing Him in the workplace) shouldn’t be to cower in the corner, apologizing for our Lord and hoping no one finds out what we really believe, lest we be persecuted. If we do, our goal will be to avoid at all costs the conflict which Christ promised all who follow Him. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Timothy 3:12).
May we stand up for our Lord in gracious and gentle, but firm and resolute ways that refuse to allow the Creator of the Universe and Savior of Mankind to be pushed into a remote corner of a society that desperately needs to see Him as He is, and which has no hope apart from the truth He has told us to proclaim.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:8).
“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8).
