are tempted. And, I will also add the verse following it:
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
So, God promises the ability to resist temptation and has provided a way of escape in the midst of being tempted. Of course, we need to make sure that we are aware of and looking for the escape route when we are facing the schemes of the enemy. And, verse 14 gives us a clue into the nature of that route - flee. Flee. When we are tempted to follow a way that is different than the way of righteousness, we can go in another direction. God gives us the power and wisdom to do that. It's a skill that is developed, sure, but we can be assured that He is equipping us as we deal with temptation.
+++++
The Bible encourages us to be people of conviction, to stand, and perhaps stand alone, so that God
might be exalted through us. In Exodus 23, we find this passage:
1 "You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.
So, how are those National Anthem protests going so far? Of course, Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers got it all started by refusing to stand for The Star Spangled Banner, then modified it to a kneel. Some other players followed suit, with their own expressions of solidarity, in a misguided attempt to call attention to serious issues in our country regarding race and justice. As I have said: right message, wrong expression. So far, NFL ratings are down, and there is speculation that the coverage of these protests, which have had really a small degree of participation - has led to decreased ratings for NFL games.
The wave of discontent has even reached the college level, to the extent that one particular team at a private school in Illinois - Milliken University - made the decision to sit out the National Anthem - literally, as in, stayed in the locker room. Todd Starnes wrote a column about the set of circumstances.
On Sept. 24th, some of the team's players took a knee during the Anthem. Starnes writes, "The community outrage was apparently so severe the football team decided to 'forge a new path.'"
A team statement published in the Herald-Review said this: “Rather than have our message be misunderstood or misconstrued, we are united in our decision to stay in the locker room until kickoff during which time we will engage in a moment of reflection to personally recognize the sacrifice of so many and renew our commitment to living up to those most important words: ‘with liberty and justice for all.’”
University President Patrick White wrote: “We all need to listen to voices and opinions different from our own and listen with our hearts and minds awake to difference,” adding, “When the issues involve race and justice and differing contentions of what patriotism mean, all of us can stand more education.”
Agreed. But to take part in a stunt that seems to have done little more than offend and inflame passion in opposition doesn't seem to be the right response to me.
But, I'll tell you what one player for Milliken did. His name is Connor Brewer. He chose to honor his country and went to the field - alone - to stand for the National Anthem. Starnes writes:
Historians may consider the events of that autumn day as inconsequential, but that would be a shame.
Because it was the day an American citizen considered the cost and chose to defy the anti-American sentiment sweeping across the fruited plain. It was the day Connor Brewer, of Springfield, Illinois, stood resolute.
That young man is an American patriot.Starnes said that out of respect for his coaches and team, Connor "declined to be interviewed."
Here we have the case of one young man who believed that doing the right thing was to do something different - to head to the field to honor America rather than stay in the locker room. It's admirable, and can provide some motivation for each of us.
We can ask ourselves: Do our convictions motivate us to stand alone, even when the majority or even everyone else go in a different direction? That's an important question, because when the tendency to "go along with the crowd" is so strong, perhaps God will call us to go with Him. His Word gives us instruction regarding the way we should go.
And, you know, we will be tempted to follow the crowd to disobey God. One really good way to resist temptation, or "go it alone," is to decide beforehand, before you get into the heat of battle, how you will respond. That involves taking stock of your personal conviction and mentally draw the lines in the sand that are necessary so that when the temptation comes, we have a strategy.
Remember, you're called to be distinctive - and God grants us the power to walk in that way.
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