What About Faith on Public Display?
I will admit it. It is not always fun answering the front door and finding a person on my porch holding a religious pamphlet. I don’t necessarily relish the idea of someone coming to my house at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning and wanting to talk about eternity with me. I might not be ready to talk about it in that moment. I might feel invaded or become defensive. I might wish I had never answered the door.
So we should not be surprised when we are public about our faith that others may feel the same way. And yet Jesus sent his disciples from house to house. And the reality is that some of the greatest modern day heroes of faith were converted themselves because someone came to their door to tell them about salvation and the New Testament church. The great commission simply says, “Go.” Jesus did not specify how to go. This must mean he intended for the gospel to be spread by any means possible.
Since Christ told his followers to be salt and light, then from the get-go it is evident that God wants faith to be seen so that men can be saved and he can be glorified. There is something about seeing a baptism that is more powerful than hearing one has occurred. When Jesus saw the widow put in her two mites he was moved in a special way that was better than receiving a report. When a person is on the front pew crying it usually isn’t long before the rest of the church is crying. There is a reason why faith is to be shared and witnessed and experienced. When we are in the presence of something that transcends our temporal surroundings we begin to see more clearly ourselves through eyes of faith.
Our Savior did not intend for us to shine our own lights, but he did expect for his light to shine through us. We are to continue to pray in closets, give what nobody else sees, and do every good work as to the Lord and not to men. But it is not wrong to show our faith to the world. Christianity is dying and false world religions are spreading because the lie is now bold while the truth has vacated into the shadows. Tolerance of every evil is being shouted while anything in the name of Christ or God or the church is being ridiculed. The devil has things right where he wants them. It is cool to be different as long as different has nothing to do with heavenly ordinances or moral absolutes.
So what are Christians to do? How do we continue to proclaim the best news the world has ever known or will ever know without being touted as haters? The answer is found when we look at the way that Jesus came and preached peace and changed the world. We must go about doing good, healing those oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). We must speak and teach boldly, backed by the authority that is greater than the common day religious ideology (Matt. 7:29). We must love those in the world and love them to the very end (John 13:1). We must pray to the Father for the strength we need to finish the task He has given us to do, that He alone might be glorified (John 12:28).
God intended for our faith to be seen and heard (Matt. 28:19-20). We learn by a communicated message (1 Cor. 1:21). We believe according to physical evidence (Rom. 1:20). We repent before God and men and ask for forgiveness and pray for one another (James 5:16). We confess the good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Tim. 6:12). We are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins and even the angels in heaven know about it and rejoice (Luke 15:7).
So what about faith on public display? We live in a culture that says, “No.” But in the meantime, and for all time, there is a heavenly Witness who says, “Yes.” At the end of the day, there will only be one Judge who will be evaluating whether or not there has been enough evidence in us to convict us of the allegation that we are Christians.
“…nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” – Luke 8:8
—————
To Receive Every Post via Email for Free, Click Here
Photo background credit: Elvert Barnes on Creative Commons
