Isn’t it lovely to live in a world where “tolerance” is the rule of the day? What? You hesitate to agree? Watch the news or keep up in social media and you will see plenty of tolerance. Tolerance for the killing of innocent pre-born babies. Tolerance for violence against anyone who might hold a conservative viewpoint. Tolerance for electing government officials who have openly denigrated the United States and anyone who has a love for Israel. Tolerance within many “churches” for welcoming with open arms those who openly preach and teach false doctrine. Tolerance for allowing men to participate in women’s sports…and on the list could go.
As a Christian, you may feel the need to pull back, to shrink as small as possible so as not be noticed and, therefore, not cause any “problems.” But, you know what? We are NOT called to go crawl into a corner and hide, but to be BOLD in our witness to the great love of God. We can be bold without being belligerent.
“Oh mine is a personal faith. I keep it to myself”…”You shouldn’t try to force your belief system on someone else!”…”What? You think you’re better than anyone else?”
Ever hear those words or something similar when you try and share your faith in Christ? You are basically told to keep it to yourself. Keep a lid on it. Sit down. Shut up. Don’t rock the boat. The disturbing thing is…sometimes this opposition comes from within the Christian community. The mentality is that we should somehow “not make a display” and therefore shine too much light on us…
BALONEY!
If you have given your life to Jesus, you have been called to speak to others about what He has done! His message is a message to be shared, not kept to yourself, locked away in a closet. His is a message of SALVATION, not of sanctimony. He calls us to RELATIONSHIP, not religion.
Does sharing your faith mean you have to stand on a street corner and yell at everyone who walks, runs, pedals, or drives by? No. Does it mean you have to get a degree in religious studies before opening your mouth? No. What it DOES mean is that when you see opportunities to introduce Jesus to someone else, you don’t shy away from it.
Let me share a verse found in the book of Acts. It concerns Apollos, a man who had studied the Jewish Scriptures and found truth embedded in it. A Christian couple, Aquila and Priscilla, after hearing him speak, explained to him about Jesus more thoroughly than he had heard. Instead of being defensive or bent out of shape, he become even bolder in his sharing of the Gospel,
“For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.” Acts 18:28
A few of things to notice about what is said in this verse:
1) Apollos “vigorously refuted.” Not maliciously. He didn’t do so with a self-righteous attitude. But, neither did he give ground. He stood on the solid ground of Scripture and would not back down;
2) Apollos refuted his “opponents,” not enemies. Because someone may disagree with us does not make them our enemy. They may oppose our message, but we are called to love them anyway;
3) Apollos stood up and did this “in public debate.” He did not try to be discreet. Apollos knew the light of the message of Jesus needed to shine where it was needed most: in the public square!
Let us take the Light of the World where He is needed most!
