I noticed a tag line on Yahoo recently that read: “Extreme Abortion Measure Blocked.” At first glance you may wonder in which direction was the measure extreme. Was it extreme in a good sense or a bad sense? If you are familiar at all with Yahoo, it will be readily obvious that extreme in this case means the bill favored the pro-life position. Any measure restricting or opposing abortion is, in their view, extreme.

On Monday, Governor Phil Bryant of Mississippi signed a bill into law that would restrict almost all abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. In his words, signing the bill was “saving the unborn.” He was quickly sued by the only abortion clinic in the state, and a federal judge blocked the measure the very next day.

Christians need to comprehend that in America today there is an ever-mounting notion that our beliefs are viewed as extreme. Holding a biblical worldview is increasingly considered outside the realm of what is normal or ordinary. Our convictions about marriage, sexuality, and human life are seen as anachronistic and out of touch with reality. You may have sensed this the last time you hesitated to share your opinion because you were afraid it might offend someone.

As a Christian, and as a man, I believe the time has come to make our beliefs public no matter the cost. The question we must answer is whether our fear of offending others is greater than our desire to glorify and honor God. Am I more fearful of my beliefs being perceived as cruel, insensitive, or hateful, or do I truly desire to defend truth and glorify God? When I was a teenager trying to take a stand for Jesus in high school my youth pastor said something to me I’ve never forgotten: “If you’re in the will of God, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, says, or does.” I still believe that.

The question we must answer is whether our fear of offending others is greater than our desire to glorify and honor God.

I’ll leave you with two quotes. The first by Robert F. Kennedy spoken over 50 years ago: “What is objectionable, what is dangerous, about extremists is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents.”

In the same way, we Christians should be extreme in our personal commitment to Christ, sharing the gospel, and taking a public stand for truth. And we should do this with love in our hearts, not a chip on our shoulder towards those who reject Christ.

The last quote is by the Apostle Paul. It needs to be shouted from the mountain tops and engraved on the heart of every Christian man: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Cor 16:13-14)