Jesus said that if we deny Him before people, He will deny us before the Father in heaven. So what do you think of those we call "secret believers". What do we think - more important, how should we pray for those who are secret believers.
I can empathize with Christian teens who are fearful of identifying as a believer because their "crowd" mock anyone who is a Christian. I recognize that some Christian men stay silent about their faith because their co-workers in the factory or on the faculty, on the job site or in the office, ridicule anyone who is a "born againer". Evangelicals have a bad name in much of North America and Europe and it is not comfortable to be identified as a follower of Jesus.
I am glad that Joseph was there to take care of the body of Jesus after the crucifixion. Joseph, who was "a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews." Joseph was helped by Nicodemus who was also, as far as we know, a secret disciple. John 19:38, 39 Was that when they finally "came out" and were known as Christ followers?
Secret believers need our prayers. For those in North America or Europe perhaps all we need to pray for is courage - courage to "risk their reputation", to risk losing a few friends and in worst cases perhaps losing a job promotion.
But in other parts of the world, secret believers know their is much more at stake. How would you advise someone who has just come to faith living in a country where, when they identify as Jesus followers they are likely to be disowned by their family; perhaps killed by a family member protecting the "family honour"; perhaps arrested and imprisoned or even executed by authorities; perhaps have their children taken from them?
Is there a time and place when it is OK, to be a secret believer? What about the example of Naaman in II Kings 5:18, 19? These questions can only be easily answered in a classroom far from any persecution. But they are questions some are asking today, for themselves - at personal and family risk.
How would you advise parents who know that if they identify as believers they may lose the monthly government financial help that everyone else in the village receives; their children may not be allowed to attend the best schools and may be denied university entrance?
Should they "come out" as believers? If so, when should they do that? If so, how should they do it?
Secret believers in many countries need our prayers. Prayers for courage but especially for great wisdom and clear guidance by the Holy Spirit. Pray for mature believers who give them counsel.
I can empathize with Christian teens who are fearful of identifying as a believer because their "crowd" mock anyone who is a Christian. I recognize that some Christian men stay silent about their faith because their co-workers in the factory or on the faculty, on the job site or in the office, ridicule anyone who is a "born againer". Evangelicals have a bad name in much of North America and Europe and it is not comfortable to be identified as a follower of Jesus.
I am glad that Joseph was there to take care of the body of Jesus after the crucifixion. Joseph, who was "a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews." Joseph was helped by Nicodemus who was also, as far as we know, a secret disciple. John 19:38, 39 Was that when they finally "came out" and were known as Christ followers?
Secret believers need our prayers. For those in North America or Europe perhaps all we need to pray for is courage - courage to "risk their reputation", to risk losing a few friends and in worst cases perhaps losing a job promotion.
But in other parts of the world, secret believers know their is much more at stake. How would you advise someone who has just come to faith living in a country where, when they identify as Jesus followers they are likely to be disowned by their family; perhaps killed by a family member protecting the "family honour"; perhaps arrested and imprisoned or even executed by authorities; perhaps have their children taken from them?
Is there a time and place when it is OK, to be a secret believer? What about the example of Naaman in II Kings 5:18, 19? These questions can only be easily answered in a classroom far from any persecution. But they are questions some are asking today, for themselves - at personal and family risk.
How would you advise parents who know that if they identify as believers they may lose the monthly government financial help that everyone else in the village receives; their children may not be allowed to attend the best schools and may be denied university entrance?
Should they "come out" as believers? If so, when should they do that? If so, how should they do it?
Secret believers in many countries need our prayers. Prayers for courage but especially for great wisdom and clear guidance by the Holy Spirit. Pray for mature believers who give them counsel.
No comments:
Post a Comment