Standing For or Against?

I've been reading Acts 19:21-41, and a couple of thoughts come to mind.

First... why don't Christians today have the same impact they had during Paul's time? There were only a handful of Christians back then. Today, there are over 2,000,000 (estimated) Christians around the world. What's stopping us?

Second... I love verses 35-41. A crowd had risen up against Paul and was ready to riot. Did Paul quell the angry mob? No. The local town clerk did, because he recognized something. Paul spoke of what he stood for. But... he didn't attack the enemy. He didn't bad-mouth the god of these Ephesians.

Paul didn't have to. Why? Paul's God - our God - is the Great I AM. Simply, the Creator does not have to defend Himself to His Creation. This is so important when we consider our approach to apologetics. Apologetics is not having to say we're sorry for what we believe. Apologetics, boiled down, is "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you... with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame" (1 Peter 3:15-16, ESV).

In other words... we must know what we stand for. We need to be ready to explain not only what we believe, but why. It is far better to stand for what we believe in than to stand against someone else's faith. But along with having a defense for our faith, we have to live it. We have to be walking, talking, living, breathing examples of our faith - of Christ. Otherwise, we're hypocrites, and our actions will betray us, ruining our credibility.

If we live following the example of Christ, then we will have the impact we need to lead the world to Christ and away from the glitter of false idols.