“But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven” Matthew 10:33.
We are in a time when nearly every day, the headlines talk about someone coming out of the closet regarding their sexual identity or some skeleton they had hidden. Things that were hidden for years are open for all to see and hear and many see this as a good thing.
Unfortunately, too many Christians keep their Christianity in a small closet. They follow the old admonishment not to discuss religion or politics. The two things that shape a person’s life are not to be discussed. Jesus did not call us to be closet disciples. Indeed, He gives some stern warnings about denying Him. Jesus wants to be in our home, but He also told us to go into all the world with Him. Our faith was made to be made public because we are called to evangelize the world, and we cannot do that silently.
Admittedly, there have been times from the 1st century until now when it was not very advantageous to be publicly known as Christians. Indeed, Joseph of Arimathea was a closet believer until he came forward to claim the body of Christ. Peter denied he knew Jesus when things got sticky. The Disciples did hide until Pentecost. During the Inquisitions, it was not suitable to be known as a Christian that was not a Roman Catholic. In Nazi Germany, it was good to be a quiet Christian and certainly one that did not hide Jews. Being a Christian in communist countries from Stalin on was very treacherous. Christians in areas dominated by non-Christian faith groups live in a day-to-day brink of death mode. In Canada, it is certainly not popular to be an actual or biblical Christian that lives the faith. Nicole, warning people about Hell and Jesus being the only way to salvation will not get you invited to many places. Christ did not call us to a comfortable Christianity. In all those not so convenient times, God has called His people to stand up for Him and be ambassadors and witnesses. He saved them to share until He returns or calls them home.
Joseph of Arimathea did come out in public. When filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter did repent and stood before thousands of people boldly preaching the Gospel. We are also called to fight the good fight, and you cannot do that by staying at home or denying the faith when it looks like it will not go well.
Christians, “let’s come out of the closet and share the good news”.