Because He Lives: Meditations on Christ

Because Christ lives...
My ancestors came to America to worship in peace

Because he lives...
They made laws that protected religious freedom

Because he lives...
My ancestors joined with other Mormon converts and moved West to Illinois

Nauvoo, IL

Because he lives...
They moved West again to worship in peace

Defiance not Fear Part II

This post continues on the ideas presented in Part I

Monica Lewinsky

Recently Monica Lewinsky spoke about her experience with public humiliation at TED.  She messed up when, at age 22, she "fell in love with my boss."  The consequence was a traumatic loss of identity.  

In speaking out, she is now changing from weak to strong.  She says, its "Time to stop tiptoeing around my past … Time to take back my narrative."  (Source)  She is standing in honesty and that is a strong position.  But she is nervous about what the media will do with her next.  Her goal is to give hope to others that suffer from cyber-bullying by showing that she survived. 

What she is not doing is accepting responsibility for allowing a sexual relationship with a married man.  I don't think her stance is strong enough to repair her public reputation but it might work for private relationships.  

Standing in virtue is stronger than standing in honesty.  Monica is going to have a hard time proving her righteousness to the media.  In less public cases, a person can change and their friends and acquaintances see evidence of the change.  After the change, defiance of evil will not be regarded with skepticism.

What I'm getting at is that when a person takes a stand on an issue -- any issue, the casual observer must make a call.  Is this person credible?  After the person is evaluated, the observer takes a look at the issue.  Does this issue as presented have merit and deserve my public support?

You will never see a person take a stand in favor of an issue they have a problem with and for which their credibility will be questioned.  They may stand against the issue or even publicly ridicule those who do stand in favor.  The strength to stand is based on the foundation of truth you rest on.

The Eternal Perspective

Our Heavenly Father looks at things differently than we do.  He sees Monica's heart in three dimensional beauty.  He knows exactly where she is at in her walk to a holy place of strength and radiance. He doesn't need her to state that or prove it.  

He is truly empathetic.  Christ suffered public humiliation among friends and neighbors as well as at his trial.  He knows what it feels like to be regarded with skepticism.  He never condemned the sinner but encouraged them to change and "sin no more."  

He sees her overcoming her fear and speaking to her accusers (the public).  He knows how difficult that is.  We all do and we can all admire her courage.

Growing Stronger

Daring greatly is about owning the story and changing the ending.  In Brown's book, Daring Greatly, she says, "The space between our practiced values and our aspirational values is the value gap." The  path to strength takes us across this value gap.  

As we make our move, it is important to surround ourselves with people who are empathetic and encouraging.  The journey takes time.  It requires envisioning the future many times and committing to get there no matter what it takes.  I admire those who take the first step and the second step and persist even when the opposition mounts. 

"If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you:  I came to live out loud"  - Emile Zola

When Living Out Loud Requires Grace 

It is through grace that the Lord gives strength and assistance to those of us who would not otherwise be able maintain momentum if left to ourselves.

What I see is that staying the "victim" makes us relinquish our gifts and the good we can do with them in the world.  As Shakespeare so aptly put it, "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." Let's move past the past.

My biggest fear was to say the truth about a personal issue.  Once I said it, the door opened for me to live out loud.  I wouldn't say that I immediately flew free.  My experience showed me how my fear is debilitating.  The truth frees me.  The only thing stopping me from growth continues to be fear.  It takes courage to be honest and to face the consequences.  I know that grace multiplies my efforts to do the right thing.

This verse says, "Kick out the old man!"

"put off...the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Eph 4:22-24)

And here's a video challenge focusing on fear -- of getting dirty.

IF YOU LIKED THIS POST TRY:  Fighting Valiantly 

Defiance Not Fear

Peter denied Jesus three times.  Peter was the chief apostle, the one to lead the church after Jesus died.  Jesus knew Peter would deny him before he did it.  (Luke 22:34)  

What does this say about Jesus?
Jesus knows our weak points.  He has already seen what we will do.  He has already paid the price of our sins before we commit them.

What does this say about Peter?
Peter was valuable to Jesus as a leader.  Jesus picked him to be the chief apostle, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you"  (John 15:16)  Peter was weak but when he saw that Jesus didn't reject him, he became strong.  He could have hidden in his shame and stayed weak.  Instead he changed from weak and fearful to courageous -- even defiant.  Maybe he said to himself, "I was weak once, but never again."

Jesus calls for us to be strong for him.  He calls us even when we are weak.  He doesn't want us to allow our guilty consciences to stop us.  He wants us to grow stronger.  It is Satan who says make aprons of fig leaves and hide.

Another Bible figure messed up royally and was still "called" to do a great work.  Aaron made a golden calf for the Children of Israel to worship.  "And the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him..." (Deut 9:20)  But Moses offered a sin offering in his behalf and pled with the Lord.  Aaron eventually was given the solemn responsibility to minister in the holiest places of the temple. (Ex 28:35)  He changed from weak to strong.

These examples show that being strong often comes after being weak.  It is never good to sin but as weakness changes to strength, righteous defiance replaces fear.

How do weaknesses become strengths?

We have to humble ourselves before God and accept responsibility for our choices. 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. " (Ether 12:27) 

We stand in honesty before God and offer to change because we love Him.  There is no stronger motive.  Change brings new life.  It is the beginning of better days.

If you liked this post you might also like this post about courage:  In Confidence is Your Strength  

The title for this post comes from Henry W Longfellow's poem Paul Revere's Ride.  It says, "A cry of defiance and not of fear, A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, And a word that shall echo forever-more!"

The painting of Peter's denial by Carl Bloch is used with permission