Click here to read the Old Paths Journal.
Initiating Change
Acts 2:14
"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:"
The actions of Peter in the verse above are quite different from when he was denying Christ the night that Jesus was being tried. In the verse above, Peter was standing up and speaking out about Christ. When others were criticizing the disciples, instead of cowering to the criticism, Peter stood and spoke the truth that could change the lives of those in attendance. Though the other disciples were there with Peter, it was Peter's vocal stance that made the change that day.
We live in a day when evil is present. I look at nations all over the world and see regimes that are changing the core of those nations' values. I look in Christianity and see leaders who continue to compromise and destroy fundamental doctrine all for the sake of the "bigger picture." Places that once stood for truth are now the places that seem to be attacking truth. Men who once stood firm for the old-time religion now avoid confrontation at all costs for the sake of keeping their crowds. Yes, we need change! Not change to unchartered territory where nobody knows what will come out of the change, but change back to tested truths and principles that have proven to change lives and societies.
In order for change to occur, three things are necessary. First, it takes the Holy Spirit power to make change. In the verse above, the reason Peter was able to make a change was because the power of the Holy Spirit was upon him. You can attempt change without the Holy Spirit's power, but you will never make the type of change that will change history. Quite often changes are made without the Holy Spirit's power, but those changes only last for a short while. When the Holy Spirit is involved, then changes are made that last decades.
Second, someone must stand for truth to initiate change. People can sit by and wait for someone else to take their stand, but you must we willing to stand alone if you want to initiate change. Too many people are measuring which way the wind is blowing to decide whether or not they should stand. Too many people are trying to see who will stand with them before they take their stand. If you wait for these things to happen, then change will never occur.
Last, someone must stand up and speak out for truth in order to initiate change. It's not enough to quietly stand, but people need to be vocal for truth if change is going to be initiated. Quietly standing is fine, but people must be vocal about truth if they are going to change others. I'm not talking about being obnoxious, but I am talking about firmly revealing error and speaking truth. When you see that truth is under attack, you will only make a change if you stand up and speak out. Yes, you will be criticized by others, but if nobody speaks out, then error will continue to prevail.
All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do and say nothing. We live in a day when a change is necessary. Will you quietly sit by as error prevails, or will you stand and speak out for truth? If you want to initiate change, then you must firmly stand for truth and speak out about any error that is attacking truth.