As a woman who writes with a Christian initiative, it’s not hard to find current topics/happenings that need to be addressed. In regards to hot topics, many believers don’t agree that unless Christians stand-up for what we believe in, non-Christians will soon be dictating to us what we should be believing in!

Even though we are Christian we are not called to roll over and play dead. We are called to go and spread The Word. And I don’t want my pastor, or any pastor, to be restricted on speaking about his selected profession—the Bible—simply because someone doesn’t agree with Him.

Christian practice and Christian speech have been targeted for years in the United States. It was in 1958 that Steven Engel from New York brought parents together and made the decision to sue the state over a state authorized prayer in public schools. That case made it to the United States Supreme Court in 1962, where they decided it violated the First Amendment because prayer represented establishment of religion. Engel won.

Now just recently atheists demanded a Wisconsin school district ban a pastor from future events after he discussed his faith at a graduation ceremony. He’s a Pastor! Do unbelievers now demand that our religious leaders stop speaking of the faith they are wholy committed to?

A true Pastor, dedicated, redeemed and saved, discusses faith. He/she shares their personal biblical interpretations and encourages others to consider believing in this righteous faith—Jesus— so that those that have ears to hear may also be redeemed and saved. That is a pastor’s calling.

In his short ten minute speech, Pastor Alvin Dupree, a member of the Appleton Area School District’s Board of Education, spoke at the graduation ceremony of Appleton High School students. Pastor Dupree said:

Pastor Alvin Dupree speaking at Appleton North High graduation. Youtube video still photo.

“As the principal mentioned, whatever your source of strength is, you lean on it, never let anyone make you hide it. For me, my source of strength is my faith and my relationship with Jesus Christ.”
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But perhaps it wasn’t Pastor Dupree’s initial mention of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ that got the unbelievers riled-up. Perhaps it was the statement what followed while the crowd was still applauding his first statement:

“Sounds like I’ve got some believers in this room. If you are here and you believe that, go ahead and clap your hands. Never succumb to the pressure of being politically correct. Be you, wherever you go. Be you.”
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Pastor Dupree was encouraging his listeners to take action for what they believe, and that action was to applaud. To be fair, Appleton Area School included a female Muslim student to also speak at the event. And Dupree was glad she was invited to express her faith. (To date, I’ve found no outrage at what the Muslim girl spoke at the graduation, only what Pastor Dupree said.)

Is it the atheist’s plan that all who believe in “something” give up our beliefs and follow their way of void spiritual thinking? Are they just going to keep targeting us until we all fall to the way side by their means of intimidation?

Christians will not give up Jesus!

The Bible tells us how to stay standing for Jesus through any action of attack. Knowing the enemy’s prowess, God prepared in advance for us a way to stand against the enemy with the use of the full armor of God.

God’s armor offers us truth, righteousness, preparedness, protection, salvation, and all of God’s steadfast word!

Ephesians 6:11-17 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

I encourage you, if you are going through a struggle right now in proclaiming your faith in Christ, claim God’s full armor over you situation. Read over the entire passage in the Bible, written by Paul as he was in prison. Remember that trusting in all that God said and did gave Paul the strengthen he needed to claim victory in Jesus, even though Paul himself lived in chains.

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To learn and share the importance of keeping God’s name holy, order copies of my book, LIFT HIM UP DON’T PULL HIM DOWN, @ LULU.COM or AMAZON.COM for your next Bible study.