Holding strong to the gospel and Christian Discipleship

Many denominations these days are fighting internally about social issues.  The Episcopal church, PCUSA, Methodist, and the list could go on.  It is argued that we must be more tolerant of others and their distinct views of Christian discipleship.  There are some who argue that we should allow men and women living in sin to participate fully in the life of the church, and in the offices of the church.  Presumably they think that the gospel doesn't speak to holiness.  But there are others, and those are who I want to address today, who don't feel like it is worth taking a stand on these issues at all, they are irrelevant to life.  Their perspective seems to echo the belief that: 

"The stronger our [opponent] gets, the better for us; and if he gets strong enough - preferably as strong as we or stronger - we shall have nothing to worry about." Burnham's Suicide of the West, pg. 305

I would like to challenge each of us to consider the absurdity of such a statement.  To believe that we ought not to take a stand on the great issues facing us as denominations is to passively hand over the reigns of leadership to others.  We must stand strong in the beliefs that the gospel and Christian discipleship go hand in hand and sinful  living is inconsistent with following Christ and shepherding the Church.  Let's not let the opponent inside our own lives, or inside our own denominations be our downfall, but lets stand strong and grow stronger in the Lord.