When Push Comes To Shove

When Push Comes to Shove

It is easy to be faithful when faithfulness costs nothing. It is easy to stand with Jesus when the crowd is cheering, when friends agree, when reputations are safe, and when nobody is threatening to make us pay a price. But what happens when following the Lord becomes costly? What happens when standing for truth threatens friendships, positions, reputations, congregations, and relationships? What happens when silence would be easier, compromise would be safer, and walking away would save us trouble? That is when we discover whether our faithfulness is merely something we talk about or something we are actually willing to live.

The disciples were confident that they would never abandon Jesus. When Jesus told them that they would all stumble because of Him, Peter boldly declared, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” (Matthew 26:33). Peter was certain. He could imagine everyone else failing, but not himself. When Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times, Peter answered even more forcefully, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” Then Matthew adds something important, “Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:35). They all believed they were ready. They all believed they would stand. They all believed they would suffer beside Jesus. But what happened when push came to shove?

When the soldiers came, the boasting disappeared. When Jesus was arrested, loyalty suddenly became dangerous. When there were swords, accusations, authorities, and consequences, Scripture records one of the saddest statements concerning His disciples, “Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled” (Matthew 26:56). Where were the men who had just said they would never leave Him? Where were the bold declarations now? Where was the willingness to die beside Him? When following Jesus became dangerous, they ran.

Are we really so different?

Many believers confidently declare that they love the Lord. They sing about faithfulness. They pray for courage. They speak about suffering for the name of Christ. They say they would never deny Jesus. Some even imagine themselves standing courageously if persecution ever came to America. But why talk about what we would do under some future persecution when we will not stand during the conflicts happening directly in front of us? If we will not risk criticism for truth today, why should we imagine that we would risk our lives for it tomorrow?

What happens when it is time to defend the truth publicly? What happens when someone must contend for the faith rather than merely talk about it? Jude wrote that believers should “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). Contending is not passive. There are moments when truth requires confrontation. There are moments when error must be exposed. There are moments when somebody has to stand up and say, “This is wrong.” But where are all those people who claimed they would stand when the battle actually begins?

What happens when a faithful preacher becomes the target?

It is easy to shake his hand after a sermon. It is easy to tell him, “Keep preaching the truth.” It is easy to say, “I appreciate that you do not compromise.” But what happens when that same preacher is being attacked because he refused to compromise? What happens when church splitters begin whispering? What happens when community members begin spreading accusations? What happens when organizations apply pressure? What happens when naysayers ridicule him, misrepresent his words, question his motives, and attempt to destroy his reputation? Where are all the people who previously told him to keep standing?

Suddenly, some are AWOL from the battle.

They support the preacher until supporting him costs them something. They believe the truth until defending it threatens a friendship. They admire courage until courage requires them to demonstrate some themselves. They will privately tell the preacher, “I agree with you,” but will they say it publicly? They will privately admit that accusations against him are false, but will they confront the person spreading them? They know what is happening is wrong, but will they put their own reputation beside his? Or will they quietly disappear until the battle is over?

What kind of loyalty is that?

Paul knew what abandonment felt like. Near the end of his life he wrote, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me” (2 Timothy 4:16). Imagine that scene. Paul had preached, traveled, suffered, sacrificed, and endured persecution for the gospel. Yet when he stood in the hour when human companionship mattered greatly, where was everybody? “No man stood with me.” How many faithful men have experienced something similar? Everyone appreciates them when things are peaceful, but when accusations start flying, suddenly nobody wants to be associated with them.

Why are we so afraid?

Are we afraid somebody will talk about us? They talked about Jesus. Are we afraid somebody will lie about us? They lied about Jesus. Are we afraid of ridicule? They mocked Jesus. Are we afraid someone will misunderstand our motives? They accused Jesus falsely. Are we afraid of losing friends? Jesus watched His disciples scatter. If our Lord endured shame, accusations, ridicule, rejection, betrayal, and ultimately crucifixion, how can we claim to follow Him while demanding that our own discipleship remain comfortable?

Jesus never promised comfortable discipleship. He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). A cross is not comfortable. A cross represents sacrifice. It means there will be times when following Christ costs something. So what are we willing to lose? Popularity? Friendships? Invitations? Positions? Community approval? Are we willing to have people whisper about us because we stood beside someone who was being falsely accused? Are we willing to become a target because we refused to abandon a brother in the middle of the fight?

Brotherhood must mean more than sitting in the same building.

Paul commanded, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Sometimes bearing a brother's burden means standing beside him while stones are being thrown verbally. Sometimes it means defending his character when he is not in the room. Sometimes it means confronting gossip rather than listening to it. Sometimes it means refusing to participate in division. Sometimes it means telling friends, family members, community leaders, organizations, and even influential people, “I will not participate in this attack.” Is that uncomfortable? Certainly. But since when did comfort become the standard of faithfulness?

There is also a difference between defending truth and defending personalities. We must never blindly defend a preacher simply because he is a preacher. If he is wrong, Scripture must correct him too. If he sins, he must be accountable. But when a brother is standing for truth and people attack him because of that stand, neutrality can become cowardice. When facts are known, truth is clear, and innocent people are being slandered, saying nothing is not always wisdom. Sometimes silence simply means someone else is taking the blows while we protect ourselves.

When push comes to shove, what will you do?

Will you stand when standing becomes unpopular? Will you speak when speaking puts your name on the line? Will you contend when truth is being compromised? Will you confront when confrontation is necessary? Will you defend your brothers and sisters when they are being falsely accused? Will you remain beside the preacher when everybody else begins backing away? Will you still say, “I am with you,” when saying those words might cause people to attack you too?

Peter learned this lesson painfully. He had promised that he would die with Jesus. Yet hours later he was denying that he even knew Him. But Peter's failure was not the end of his story. After the resurrection, Peter became a man who stood publicly and boldly. The same man who once feared association with Jesus eventually proclaimed Him before hostile authorities. When commanded to stop preaching, Peter and the apostles answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Peter learned that faithfulness cannot merely be declared before the battle. Faithfulness must be demonstrated during it.

That lesson still stands.

Do not tell everyone how faithful you are when nothing is being demanded of you. Show it when truth costs you something. Do not merely say you love your brothers and sisters. Stand beside them when they are under fire. Do not praise courageous preaching while leaving the preacher alone when opposition comes. Do not boast about what you would do under persecution while running from every confrontation that threatens your reputation.

Anyone can claim courage before the soldiers arrive.

Anyone can promise loyalty before the accusations begin.

Anyone can talk about carrying a cross before feeling its weight.

The question is what happens when the crowd turns, when accusations fly, when friends scatter, when organizations apply pressure, when reputations are threatened, and when standing beside the truth means becoming a target yourself.

Will you disappear?

Will you remain silent?

Will you watch your brother fight alone?

Or will you stand?

Because eventually every profession of loyalty is tested.

Eventually words meet consequences.

Eventually faithfulness becomes costly.

And eventually, push comes to shove.