The title of this article is the title of two familiar hymns. Some times it takes the meaning that we should stand up when we sing either of those hymns. However, the first stanza of one of them clarifies that it is soldiers of the cross who should be standing. It wouldn't take but a little concentration that the purpose of the songs is to encourage us to stand up for Jesus! when He needs to be stood up for.
"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:33
This verse very bluntly takes us to a deeper level of relationship to Jesus Christ. Obviously Jesus knew that anyone who has a relationship with Jesus has it with expected resistance or reluctance from the world; in other words a relationship with Jesus just might cost something… at least a reputation.
It is easy to Stand Up For Jesus in harmony with a congregation. It is not easy to Stand Up For Jesus! while you are warming your hands by the fire of combatants. It depends on what the circumstances are; it depends upon what the environment is; it depends upon what the surrounding mindset is. Christians greatly enjoy the fellowship with other believers. Christians are joyfully motivated when given the opportunity to witness in a receptive environment. But if there are rebuttals. If there is rejection. If there is animosity. Sometimes it is more difficult to Stand Up For Jesus! If I am not mistaken, that is the time that Jesus spoke of.
You and I are amazed and almost shocked to see our environment rapidly change. A few years ago, I would never have dreamed that there would come a time in my lifetime where it would be politically incorrect for Christians to Stand Up For Jesus! Since Peter showed us how, I have known that many of us would fail to Stand Up when we needed to Stand Up. Even those of us who seem to be pillars of the Church. The world has gone so far as to pass laws that forbid Christians in certain circumstances to Stand Up for Jesus! And because of that we have been intimidated to remain seated when we have been made to believe there might be a forbidding law. The media, the educational institutions, Hollywood and much of our legal system has declared war on Christians and maneuvered us into believing that if you are a Christian, then you are deficient in brain and purpose. Sadly we Christians have accepted that connotation and stayed in the shadows while the majority of our world pushes us further into public oblivion. Congress hesitates but city councils do not hesitate to pass laws forbidding public Christianity and Christians remain silent. School boards make arbitrary decisions that restricts the access of Christianity to our nations young people.
Stupid Christians have somehow been made to believe that we should not be involved in politics. We have shot ourselves in the foot, because the majority of politicians today are agnostics or even atheistic. Those politicians and academics who are believers cower on the sidelines and in the shadows, warming themselves by the fire of the combatants. It is interesting that rumors are the only information that we usually get regarding the spiritual standing of our leaders. Very seldom do you hear a president, congressman, judge, professor, superintendent, or teacher Stand Up For Jesus!
If Jesus really meant what He said in Matthew 10, then that means that there may be a lot of "Christians" who will be denied before His Father in Heaven. Our idea of Eternal Security may need some clarification. It is absolute that once a person is saved then he or she will always be saved. Scripture insists on that. I think that maybe the question should be raised, "Can a truly saved person, truly deny the Lord Jesus?" When was Peter converted?