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“Where Do You Stand?”
WHERE DO YOU STAND?
Danny Douglas
This is a common question among brethren. For example, “Where do you stand on the music question?” Or “Where do you stand on the version issue?” etc. Today, we ask everyone, including elders and preachers, “Where do you stand?”
SOME STAND BACK Some brethren stand back when the truth is being attacked, although in private company they may take a strong stand. Yet, out on the battlefield they just stand back and let other brethren do the fighting. Their inaction reminds us of Moses’ question to the tribes of Gad and Reuben, “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?” (Num. 32:6). Indeed, some brethren are content to let their brethren go to war while they just sit! Remember: The “fearful… shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone” (Rev. 21:8). Some declare, “I’m behind you,” and in the heat of the battle you look back and find that they are way behind you!
SOME STAND IN THE MIDDLE The compromiser seeks to stand in the middle. An example of this are those who are against certain false doctrines, but who fail to stand against all who uphold the error. Another example is those who attempt to stand between the world and the church. They do not want to give up the church, nor do they want to give up the world altogether either. They attempt to “keep one foot in the church, and one foot in the world,” as it were. This is an utter impossibility according to Jesus: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.… He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad (Mat. 6:24; 12:30).
WHERE DO YOU STAND? They need to hear the question that Elijah asked Israel on Mt. Carmel: “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kin. 18:21). Remember that everybody’s friend is nobody’s friend! How can the compromiser sleep at night, or look himself in the mirror in the morning?
SOME STAND ALOOF These are they who say, “I don’t want to get involved,” either by their words or their actions. They stand aloof when it comes to the work of the Lord, standing for the truth, or solving problems. Their attitude is, “It is not my problem. Let someone else do it.” The priest and the Levite, who did not stop to help the man fallen among thieves, simply stood aloof and did not help. The Lord does not commend them, but He does commend the Samaritan who stopped and helped (Luke 10:30-37). The city of Meroz stood aloof when the Lord’s people needed help against the enemies of God. God said of them: “Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty” (Jud. 5:23).
SOME STAND IDLE Some, as it were, “sit on the stool of do nothing and whittle on the stick of do less.” In the parable of the householder, the owner of the vineyard went out to “hire labourers into his vineyard.” To those who were doing nothing he said: “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” (Mat. 20:1- 6). The householder represents the Lord and the vineyard represents His kingdom. We would do well to ask the idle person: “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” Some in the church are like this. They stand (or sit) idle.
They are happy to enjoy the fruits of others’ labor, but they themselves will not lift a burden with one of their fingers. They are ready to criticize the efforts of others in the Lord’s work. This speaks of their character. As one sister said several years ago, “An empty wagon rattles the loudest.” How true! They need to remember the one talent man who was called a “wicked and slothful servant,” and was cast into “outer darkness” (Mat. 25:25-30). They then need to repent! Let us all stand on God’s side, the side of truth, and labor in His kingdom. Then we will be on His side (on His right hand) in the Judgment (Mat. 25:31-34; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10).
