Are You a Closet Christian?

 Matthew 10:32-33

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."

This is part of Jesus' sermon when he was sending out the twelve.  This comes toward the end, after Jesus had gone through many warnings that people would reject the disciples because of him.  He was preparing them for the rejection they would face by many because of their attachment to Jesus.  This warning, however, is for the disciples- all of his disciples, of all time.

This warning is still just as relevant for us today as it was for the disciples 2000 years ago.  Jesus doesn't want us to just "be Christians" on Sundays.  He doesn't want timid disciples who are more afraid of what the world thinks of them than what their Heavenly Father thinks of them.  Who's opinion matters more:  God's or the world's?  "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul.  Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)

The Great Commission doesn't say anything about making disciples only when it's comfortable, or when it's convenient, or when you feel like it.  God's Word doesn't give us that out.  In fact it says the opposite, just look at the verses above.

Here's how Paul says it:

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. -Romans 1:16

Fear of the world is a great temptation.  Everyone wants to be cool, to fit in.  No one wants to made fun of and persecuted.  But the reality is that when you value the world's opinion over God's, you have made the world your god.  You have broken the 1st Commandment.  The world has become your idol.  The irony is that when you disown God to try to fit in with the world, the world will still hate you.  Without Jesus, no one is truly capable of love.  The world will still hate you, because hate is the by-product of sin.  Those who are still dead in their sins are not capable of love, despite how much they mouth platitudes of love and equality.  Their ideas of love and equality are hating and persecuting anyone who disagrees with them and their worldview.

That's the world you trying to please and fit into when you disown Jesus for their approval.  The reality is that if you are truly a Christian the world is going to hate you because you are no longer of this world.  The world hates Jesus, so it's going to hate you for following him.  This is not a justification to be a "closet Christian", but it is the knowledge that should empower you to boldly live out your faith in the light.  Shining Jesus into the world in everything you do and say.  

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." -Romans 1:17.

Jesus love you.  He saved you through his death and resurrection.  He wants all people to be saved by coming to faith in him.  Let us share that good news everyday, in everything we do and say.

God bless.

Jason Fredrick