Out of the Closet
Living in denial afraid of persecution. This describes the state of Christianity as a whole in the United States. There is both old and young who live their lives as closet Christians. These are people who claim to be Christians even thought their co-workers, or people they go to school with do not know of their faith. These are people who want to see God prevail in everything and desire good things but have failed to voice their conscious on things they truly feel strong about. Other's feel that they just don't want to get involved that they prefer to keep their faith and beliefs as something personal. These are those who do not share the gospel which they claim to believe with anyone else. My question is this, "What type of love do you really have in your heart?" If you truly had the love of Christ, which knows no boundaries, then why wouldn't you share this great gift with those closest to you? The world brags and boasts about their sins and state of decay and promotes their way of living glamorously in flaunting fashion for everyone to see. They pump their messages of sex, decadence, foolishness and madness into our homes through television and radio. The billboards along the interstate reflect their hearts. It seems that today that themes and subjects like sex, freaks, aliens, cloning, sports etc take the forefront of the media while good deeds go unspoken. This is the world in all of its pride. The world is not ashamed of how it behaves until it breaks the law and is punished. Then it is not sorry for the crime but sorry because they got caught, convicted and punished. The closet Christian must be the voice of God in this dying decayed world of excess and extreme! Come out of the closet as God commands! Your salvation was won by the painful, demoralization of our Saviour who took your place upon the cross and shed his blood willingly in obedience to his Father's will. Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation." 2 Timothy 1:12 "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know who I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto hi against that day." 1 Peter 4:16 "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." 1 John 2:28 "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." So according to the above scriptures it is wrong to be ashamed of the gospel. What do we do about our Christian Silence? Believers/Followers of Christ are in spiritual warfare and the bible says we are soldiers under God's command (2 Timothy 2:3-4). Romans 13:12 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." When we received Jesus Christ into our hearts we not only inherited eternal life and were adopted into the family of God, but we also were called to serve in God's army as soldiers of the light. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 "You are the children of the light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night nor of darkness." How did we become the "children of the light?" John 12:46 "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). He was clothed in light. We who receive him put on Christ or put on that same light which he was clothed with. We as Christians are clothed in God's light! Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." But unfortunately so many whom think of themselves as Christians exist with hushed mouths and their statement of faith is silent to others. Conformity and fear of what others might think or say compromise their witness. John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Why do men love darkness so much? It is because we all were born in darkness and until we are enlightened by the truth we feed our flesh the things, which spawns from the absence of light. Even after a person becomes a Christian the darkness calls to that person. The bible says to resist this calling and the devil will flee. As long as we live in the flesh under the consideration of what the world thinks we will continue to feed the flesh. It is only after a person seeks God with their entire mind; soul and spirit that they can begin to feed that spiritual person within. As more light is revealed there will be a hunger for righteousness a thirst for more truth. As a person draws closer to God he/she becomes a beacon for God in a dark world. They will want to stop feeding the old man. They will no longer want to be identified with works of darkness and transgressions. As Christians our desire is to be known of God. To be identified as a people who loves God with all of our might and strength. Please take all of this into consideration as you walk through life and never be ashamed to shout Jesus in a crowded theater.
In Christ Jesus,
Dale Thompson