Have courage, and be strong.
—1 Corinthians 16:13
The Romans were fanatic sports fans. Pelt the field with beer cans, water bottles, and hot dog wrappers? Nope! Rocks!
Telemachus, a monk, was appalled to see two gladiators fighting in the Coliseum, so he stepped into the arena to separate them. The furious crowd stoned him to death. (Theodoret, The Ecclesiastical History.)
The Sanhedrin was enraged by Stephen’s speech accusing them of murdering Jesus. They dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death (Acts 7).
Militants from Antioch and Iconium whipped a crowd in Lystra into a frenzy. “They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead” (Acts 14:19).
Sometimes you have to stand tall and do the right thing. It may cost you an election, a job, even a friend. But it will reward you with a clear conscience.
Don’t do it because it’s the easy thing to do.
Do it because it’s the right thing to do.