stephen R Harrison

Standing your ground may sometimes be necessary, so ensure you are on solid ground.  I loved playing paintball in college. One game we played was “Capture the Flag.” Each team would have to protect its flag from being seized by the opposing team.  I liked being the guy who would stand my ground near the flag and “pick off” the “enemies” as they attempted to invade our territory. Of course, it was just as fun trying to attack and steal the other team’s flag. I remember once when the whistle blew, I ran as fast as I could without stopping, captured the flag, and ran it back to our base before anyone knew what happened. That only happened once, as they were ready for that tactic the next time. They stood their ground and defended their flag.

When Paul says, “stand firm” or “stand your ground” in Philippians 1:27, he is using a word that means to hold one’s ground no matter the danger that may come.  It symbolizes a soldier protecting their position to laying down their life. He admonishes the Philippian believers to stand their ground together “in one spirit.” To be united in their stance, they had to have a plan before being attacked by Satan, fiction, and sin. To stand firm meant to keep the Word as your foundation, the truth of the gospel as your base, and Christ as your focus.  They did not need to give them up.  They must “have one another’s back” in this spiritual warfare, praying for one another, reminding each other of truth, and protecting each other from the enemy’s fiery darts.  

Paul insisted the Philippians be of one heart, mind, and action as they stood with their gospel shoes on the gospel truth.  We can stand on an inferior substance if we are not careful.  While it may seem like the truth, we must be cautious that it’s not our opinion or desire.  I remember my pastor always saying, “Is this the hill you want to die on” when opposition arose.  I had to decide at that moment whether I wanted to stand my ground on something trivial in the grand scheme of life, detrimental to relationships, or lacking eternal worth.  We need other believers to stand with us on the truth of the Word and the gospel.  We must guard these dearly as they are precious and life-giving.