[This was originally published on June 29th in my home church’s monthly newsletter. Although I am the author of the article, because of copyright laws, it must be acknowledged that it has been previously published and is available online by visiting the Gospel Light Baptist Church website.]
As Christians, it has either happened or will happen to all of us. For some reason, we become concerned with how we appear to not only our church family, but we become concerned with how the lost we daily encounter see us. While this can be good if it serves to remind us to watch our conduct as to not be an impediment to a lost person that needs the Lord or a younger or weaker brother or sister in the faith so that they do not stumble, often it is not the case. We have become worried to how the world views our devotion to our faith in and love of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anyone that watches sports knows the depths of being a fan of a favorite team. If you watch the games on television, you will always see these fans dressed in outrageous garb, maybe they have their face or body painted with team colors and logos, and they never miss the opportunity to cheer at the top of their lungs as another score appears on the scoreboard as a result of their team’s abilities and skills. We see the sports apparel everywhere—some wear it while others will adorn their homes, cars, Facebook pages, or blogs with the icons of their favorite team. Some go a step further and will memorize the statistics of the players of the team! Not once does the world consider their devotion to their favorite team as fanatical or even radical.
Yet when it comes to Christianity—a matter of spiritual life and death—there are many who claim to love the Lord yet for some reason, become too afraid of the ridicule and criticism of the world should their devotion to the faith be visibly demonstrated for all to see. Isaiah, a prophet who was lead by the Lord, wrote, Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their reviling (Isaiah 51:7). As Christians, we know righteousness through the Lord Jesus Christ and in this passage, he is reminding us through Isaiah that we should not fear what others think when it comes to us following after God. Don’t worry about the ridicule, the teasing, or other things they will do in an effort to discredit your faith.
During his earthly ministry on Earth, the Lord Jesus Christ also spoke of the importance of not allowing the world to dissuade us of following after him in public. He told all who would listen, What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:27-28). Even the Book of Revelation warns Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
