Should our Faith be Private?

Recently, I was involved in a discussion about being persecuted for our faith. I thought to myself, that maybe people aren’t persecuted because they’re not actually sharing their faith. When I read in the Bible, during Jesus’ time especially, that people shared their faith all the time. In fact, they couldn’t wait to share what Jesus had done for them. Sometimes Jesus told them not to tell anyone what he had done because He didn’t want to be chased down by the authorities for having done such unexplainable miracles and had garnered a huge following, which was a threat to their religious positions and financial gain. Also, isn’t it interesting how verbally sharing the gospel message is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, rather than “showing” by “doing.” There is power in the Word of God.  Every religion can demonstrate their goodness with good deeds, but nothing is more powerful and life-changing than Jesus working through His own children bringing the lost to Himself.  Sharing the Gospel, and even sharing our testimony without a lot of Scripture, is very powerful indeed, especially when we do so willingly and enthusiastically like they did in the Bible! 

 Why is it so important to share the gospel? Well, I can tell you why right away. It’s not hard to answer this question at all because there is a hell. For all of those who do not accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour, the horrible truth is: hell awaits.  Maybe you don’t have a concern for the lost; after all, they are the ones who are doing the persecuting. They don’t make it easy for us to love them and share the Gospel with them, do they? There are many more reasons why we should reach the lost. Because it is a commandment, because God loves every single person, and He died for every single person.  He wants them to know that.  How will they know if we don’t tell them?

 

2Cor. 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

2Cor. 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

God loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten son. As his children, we are to love the world that is lost just as much. At least we don’t have to die for them, but we at least need to love them and share the good news with them, don’t you think?

 

Some people think they’re not qualified to witness. Well, that’s not true.  We may feel inadequate but so did Isaiah, Moses and almost all of the disciples.  It’s not about us and our talents. It’s about our willingness to obey Him in this very important area.  God has qualified you and I and if you have a mouth and you can speak, and even if you can’t, God has qualified you and He wants to use you wherever you are right now. He has not given us a spirit of fear but of love power and a sound mind; and just so you know, those verses are about witnessing. 

 

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2Ti 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

 

Recall the book of Acts in the beginning and how the first church reached thousands of people who became believers when the first Christians received power from on high.  The Lord does the same thing today to all who ask.  He’s going to send you power on high which will give you a boost to help you in your witnessing.  In fact, He’s going to be the one doing the witnessing; you’re just going be the mouthpiece, and the vessel He uses. So at the very least we each need to be open and available at all times to let our Saviour speak through us and love through us. That’s our job. There’s no option here; that’s our job.

 

Always keep in mind, your neighbour may be going to hell.  Many people have passed away this year.  Many more likely will.  If they are lost, they are going to hell. Some may have to go through the tribulation if they don’t get saved or die first, they have no future. They will be punished in hell. They will never communicate with God or their loved ones ever again, and they will be cut off from all of life.  They will never see or experience nature or see even a leaf or a blade of grass ever again.  There is no escape.  They will never see the light of day. They will go into a pit of darkness forever. They will not be remembered. Now this should be enough to make us cry and weep for them. What a doom and gloom future they have. Who are we to deny them the truth that there is a way out, that there is an escape?

 

And the truth is there’s no other way for them to get to heaven except through Jesus.

 

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

So this falls on us to share Jesus.  It  also says in the word that their blood is on our hands because we know the truth and didn’t share it. And we are to admonish other believers and warn them when they are gone astray, that they need to come back to the Lord. These are the sobering verses:

 

Eze 3:17  Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

Eze 3:18  When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Eze 3:19  Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Eze 3:20  Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Eze 3:21  Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

 

It is no surprise that Jesus last words on earth were the great commission; out of all the things we are to do as a Christian, it is the greatest example of sharing our faith that you’ll find in the Bible.  It is all about “Good News.” That is a huge job we all have, and God has qualified us and is counting on us to get the job done.  It’s interesting that I’ve heard lots of Christians say that they want the Lord to return due to the many troubles inflicted on us by this evil world system.  But the truth is, Jesus said He wouldn’t return until the Gospel had been preached around the whole world.  The sooner we get out there and share the Good News, perhaps the sooner He will return.

 

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.