The Right Kind of Strong: Stand Your Ground

In this best-selling book, The Right Kind of Strong: Surprisingly Simple Habits of a Spiritually Strong Woman, award-winning author Mary Kassian provides readers a biblical guide to becoming the strong, resilient, capable women God created them to be.

One of the habits that resonate with me is the Habit 6: Stand Your Ground, where Paul was condemning how the women in Ephesus had no convictions and they get easily swayed by new intellectual teachings.

The chapter describes four philosophical schools flourished that addressed the popular question of what would bring people happiness: the Skeptics, Cynics, Epicureans, and Stoics. Here's an excerpt from the chapter:

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Skepticism refers to a questioning and doubtful state of mind. The word comes from the Greek word skeptomai, which means to look carefully, to reflect. Skeptics believe that knowing truth was impossible, that there was no such thing as certainty in human knowledge. 

Skeptics will say: "There is no way to know for sure what's true. Don't you dare tell me that your way is right and my way is wrong. You believe what you want to believe. I'll believe what I want to believe. That's what will make us happy."

Cynics believed that happiness was gained by satisfying one's natural urges for food, sex, and shelter in the simplest manner, free from social constraints. The word cynical means to show contempt for accepting standards, to be bitterly of sneeringly distrustful and contemptuous. Cynics rejected religion, marriage, power, and fame. And they tried to live a life free from all possessions and property.

Cynics will say: "I don't trust you. I resent that you have power and are trying to dictate my behavior. I do what I feel is right and am happy when I do what comes naturally."

Epicureans claimed that happiness came from being content and finding pleasure in the here and now. The modern use of the term epicurean is associated with the saying "Eat, drink and be merry." Epicurus, the philosopher behind this school of thought, encouraged his followers to enjoy their current state. He promoted self-sufficiency and self-determination. He said, "It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself."

Epicureans will say: "This life is all there is, so I'm going to make the most of it. As long as I don't harm anyone, I'm free to do whatever makes me happy."

Stoics believed that the path to happiness was to accept each moment as it is presented itself. They aimed to be self-controlled and unmoved by emotion regardless of what life brought their way. Stoics believed that you should take responsibility for the things that you have control over but remain emotionless and unmoved about things that you don't have control over. Stoics put the onus on the individual to suppress their emotions and take calm, measured action in response to the things that happen in his or her life.

Stoics will say: "I can't control what happens to me, but I can control how I respond to it. Happiness means being calm and in control of my emotions"

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The chapter did not only lists some of the popular philosophies during Paul's time but also provided advice on how to discern if the teaching is fake or real. Mary provided the following questions to answer in the search for truth:

1. Is it based on the truth of Scripture?

2. Does it uphold the person and work of Jesus Christ?

3. Does it have a proven track record?

4. Are the people who embrace it increasing in Godliness?

5. Is it producing more or less certainty?

6. Does it demonstrate the right approach?

7. Does it have a staying power?

Just like the women of Ephesus, we face a lot of new ideologies and teachings in our time. Some even sound compelling and truthful in bits and pieces. That's why it's as important for us to search, to know, and believe in the truth that is anchored on the word of God. To have convictions that we are willing to die for. To be the kind of woman who speaks the truth with the spirit of grace and love and humility.

Be brave for truth.