“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” - Psalms 27:1 (NIV)
Anyone who has travelled to the Far East will quickly notice how most people there are never shy of revealing their faith. In a hotel I was once booked in while in Thailand the entrance was lit with Buddhist idols that were fed and worshiped every morning. Hindus everywhere love to hung up portraits of their gods in their shops which they ask for blessings. So often shrines are tucked somewhere in their shops encircled with bright incense.
The unabashed mix of faith and public life seems to strike many Christians as odd. For example, how often have we found believers clearly pointing out whom they believe and trust for success in their business or office life? The faith of most believers is kept as a secret that even the Bible, the book which is a source of their inspiration, is kept far out of view. A number when asked to pray will not dare pray in the name of Jesus Christ because, well, they might upset someone!
For this we must then wonder why many Christians are exceedingly reserved in revealing their faith. We know there are many African ancestor worshippers whose compounds are pictured with huge shrines. Unless they have chosen to be secular, Jews are very open with their faith and the more orthodox ones wear a cap called Kippah.
The scriptures do ask, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14). When Christians are shy or rather apologetic of sharing their faith, in open spaces, preferring to keep it at arm’s length in their work, it is rather unfortunate, especially given its power to bless as many.
While outward symbols do not add anything to one’s faith they in themselves are a sign of confidence to the world what one believes. Perhaps Christians too, other then keeping their Bibles hidden somewhere, or crosses shrouded and only to be found locked in churches, may rise, too, and feel free to show to the world what they believe, just as many other faiths do anyway.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God in heaven, thank you for saving me through your son Jesus Christ and may I go out today to gladly share they joy of salvation.
