Roy Posner wrote, “The greater the opposition, the greater the opportunity.”
We feel seriously tested when we face opposition, especially relating to our religious convictions. God sends us these trials as opportunities for us to more vigorously examine the scriptures and to proclaim its principles. If we are defending the principles of the Truth against a hostile world, we know we must stand fast against error, hoping to convert those in darkness to the hope of life eternal. When we debate doctrinal points with our brethren, we feel equally impelled to defend what we see as scriptural truth. However, it is important to remember that we must exemplify a Christ-like spirit while speaking up. It is possible to be in the right and still sin in defending what is right. The end does not justify the means.
Unfortunately, it is a human characteristic to think that because we believe that our cause is right we can run rough-shod over those who are standing in our way. In our zeal we can sin grievously against those who oppose us. History is full of examples of religious persecution, when one group, convinced of the righteousness of their cause, forcibly attempts to convert others, with the lofty goal of bringing more sinners to repentance. Sadly, it is the true followers of Christ who often are the ones persecuted because no true follower of Christ would use those tactics. Jesus taught us by example how to respond to those who oppose us. Peter tells us that the Lord, “when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”
Paul tells us that we should follow the Lord’s example and “being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:” Paul is not suggesting that we should compromise our beliefs, but that we must defend the truth in a Christ like manner. Paul tells us how, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”
Of course, most people do not think that they are opposing themselves, for as Solomon tells us, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.” It is important for each of us to examine ourselves and to search the scriptures, as those in Berea did, to make sure that our understanding is correct. We may be trying to serve our Lord but be doing it in the wrong way, as David discovered when Uzzah was killed in David’s first attempt to bring back the ark. We may assume that we have God on our side when actually we do not. We humbly need to seek to align our thinking with godly ideals, as Joshua discovered when he asked the man with the sword, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The answer was “No,” to both. The man was the captain of the Lord’s armies, an angel. Even though Joshua was Moses’ successor, he could not assume God was on his side. Joshua learned to rethink his position, that he must diligently seek to know the will of God and do it, to be an effective leader of God’s people.
It requires great patience on our part to defend the truth and do so in meekness as Paul admonishes us to do. The one thing we should be doing is praying for those who are opposing us. This command comes from our Lord who said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Jesus not only told us to pray for those that oppose us, he showed us how to do it. On the cross he prayed for those who were crucifying him: “Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ ” God’s answer to that prayer possibly began immediately, for as Jesus fell asleep we read that “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God.’ ” Who was that centurion? We do not know for certain, but we wonder if the prayer was specifically answered when a little later Peter is sent to Caesarea to baptize Cornelius the Centurion.
Prayer is powerful. Prayer changes us, and when we pray for those who are opposing us, it will help us deal with them in a Christ-like way. We are promised that we will be tested and we will be tried, which means that we must not be surprised when we face opposition. We are given these opportunities to defend our faith and learn to endure trial with patience. Paul had many enemies in and out of the Truth, so we should not expect less. God is a righteous judge who will do right. Isaiah tells us, “Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.’ ” If we truly tremble at the word of God, we may suffer persecution for our beliefs, but Isaiah’s words give us comfort that though we may be persecuted now, in the end faithful service will be rewarded.
It is how we respond to our trials when we are being tested that is important. We are to actually rejoice when we are tried. Peter tells us, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One