Standing for Right
Paul M. Tucker

Standing for the right is very demanding of us. It is not easy. It may be very inconvenient. It may even lead to loneliness. On the mountain peak of spiritual experience it is lonely, we may even find ourselves all alone.

"At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me, " wrote the embattled Apostle Paul, speaking possibly of his defense before the Roman court (II Timothy 4:16). He had no defensive legal counsel, there was no crowd of the faithful packing the courtroom to encourage him or plead his case. As a man, he stood alone. "Not withstanding the Lord stood with me, " he wrote. There he stood in a hostile court with no comforting presence of sympathizers. But the Lord was there.

It takes courage to stand for the right alone; Noah built the ark alone. Neighbors likely smirked at the simpleton, Noah, and they perished in the flood.

Abraham wandered and worshipped as a lonely leader of his family. Sodomite neighbors gave no credence to his righteous example. They followed the fashionable popular crowd into folly and flames. Lust and peer pressure led them to fiery destruction.

Daniel prayed alone, Elijah sacrificed alone, Jeremiah wept alone. Jesus died on the cross alone, except for the company of two thieves.

The higher one climbs up the mountains of spiritual achievement, the more rarified the atmosphere and the crowd, and the more lonely one becomes., but the Lord stands by His own, with an invisible but powerful presence.

What we need in the church are Men and women, young and old, who have the courage and the conviction to stand for the right (alone if necessary), at the cost of fame, fortune, and friends. We need congregations under the leadership of elders who will lead the congregation into the right, even if it means isolation from other congregations departing from the faith.

Powerful pressure of popular pride challenges us. Sins of all sorts are glamorized, glitterized and glorified to appeal to fleshly folly, False doctrine, fancy fables, and changing alternative worship styles are made appealing to the worldly minded. But the Lord stands by His own. With His help, we shall stand, and the wreath of victory will be ours.

Our hearts go out in deepest sympathy to sister Jeanette Johnson and her family in the passing of her brother, Romie Price. this past week. Funeral services were held yesterday (Saturday) at Kersey's. May God provide His peace and comfort during this time of loss.

Personal Work Group

The Personal Work Group is scheduled to meet tonight (Sunday) after the evening worship services in Assembly Room "B". Members of that group should plan to attend.

Restored

Our hearts were made to rejoice at the response of Rita Sigman, who came forward last Sunday morning, asking for forgiveness and the prayers of the congregation. We are strengthened by her courage. Keep sister Rita in your daily prayers that she might have the strength to persist in the Christian race.

Remember

We meet for prayer at 5:30 each Sunday evening in classroom #3.

Also - our youngsters meet at 5:40 in front of the auditorium for a short period of story and song.