Uncommon Courage

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” Acts 18:9 (NIV)

There are many parts of the Bible that most people have no problems embracing—like helping the poor. That’s something nearly everyone agrees on. But other parts of Scripture can be harder for the world to accept, and that can make it challenging for Christians to stand firm in their faith.

Some people won’t just disagree with me on these topics—they’ll feel strongly and won’t hesitate to challenge my perspective.

It takes an uncommon courage to stand up against that kind of pressure.

Here are three issues related to sanctity that Christ followers today need to stand up for.

The sanctity of life: God has a purpose for every unborn child. God planned your life before you were born: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:16 NLT).

When I put my faith in Jesus, it shapes how I see the world—including the belief that every life, born or unborn, has purpose and value.

The sanctity of sex: Sex is only for marriage. Sex is God’s idea. It isn’t dirty or wrong; sex is holy. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (NIV).

God’s instructions never change: Premarital sex and living together without being married are unacceptable to God. Adultery and pornography and the objectification of women are unacceptable to God.

The sanctity of marriage: One man and one woman for life. That is God’s intended, original design. The Bible is very clear on the issue of marriage: “Haven’t you read . . . that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:4-6 NIV).

People of goodwill can disagree over many issues in life. But as a believer, it’s important to line up with what God says about the sanctity of life, sex, and marriage. And I need to have the courage to stand up for them—even when it’s not the popular or politically correct thing to do.

In Summary:

Acts 18:9 reminds believers to speak boldly and not remain silent, even when the truth is unpopular. While some biblical values—like helping the poor—are widely accepted, others require uncommon courage to defend, especially in a culture that increasingly challenges Christian convictions. Christ followers are called to stand firmly for the sanctity of life, sex, and marriage. Every unborn life has God-given value and purpose; sex is a sacred gift reserved for marriage; and marriage is God’s design between one man and one woman for life. These truths may not align with society’s views, but they are clearly outlined in Scripture. As believers, we must remain faithful to God’s Word and courageous enough to speak it—lovingly and without compromise.

Bottom Line:

God calls me to stand with courage and speak His truth—especially about life, sex, and marriage—even when it’s unpopular or challenged by the world.