FAITHteen | Issue #12

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What’s up with that?
Stand Up for What You Believe in 3 Easy Steps
by Rod Hetherton

What do you believe in? What gives you passion, energy, and guts? Are you the great defender of the faith, of the less fortunate, of the persecuted? Or do you spend most of your time on the sideline watching the drama of life pass on by?

Step 1: Know What You Believe

Again, I ask, "What do you believe in?" Sometimes this isn’t so clear; sometimes your thoughts are all tangled up. If that is the case, check out the October 2003 article on how to organize your thoughts.

First, learn about your Catholic faith, and then ask yourself, "What motivates me?" Do you have a special gift, talent or excitement that also coincides with one of your core beliefs?

Maybe you feel particularly called to work for justice, service or evangelization. There are lots of ideals out there to grab a hold of. Don’t be afraid to pick something, because I believe the following statement rings hard and true:
If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. So take the time to decide what you believe.

Step 2: Act According to Your Beliefs

Heard this one before? Your actions speak louder than your words. It is true. Jesus told us many stories about how to act, but more importantly, He actively lived out these stories. It was His compassion, forgiveness and love that brought people to Him.

Show people your faith and convictions. Stand up for the kid who always gets picked on at lunch. Take a stand against the big plot to cheat on the geometry test. Let your friends know that you don’t agree with their use of alcohol or drugs. Start your own food drive for the poor.

Be Christ’s light. Take action!

Step 3: Stand Firm in Your Beliefs

No one ever said being a Christian is easy. You very well may face ridicule for standing up for what you believe in. People are going to try to knock you down, and they will challenge your beliefs.

You may get teased for standing up for the "geek". You may get ridiculed for be a "goody-goody". People may try to tell you that everyone is "doing it".

And if they see any hesitation or any sign of weakness, they will jump all over it. Be strong. Know your passions. Remember that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us all.

Be more Christ-like. Know what you believe. Act according to those beliefs. Then, stand firm in those beliefs. You'll be glad you did.

Life Application:

Have you ever been persecuted, or stood up for someone who was being persecuted?
Do you find it hard to put your beliefs into actions?
How do you handle ridicule and harassment?

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