1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (KJV)
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Many times we as Christians feel that we have to hide who we are just to get along with those around us. We don’t want to stand out. We want to fit in. We make compromises. Or we act superior because we have been a Christian for a long time and we think that we can do whatever we want. But what is the correct way we are to act as Christians?
Many Christians will hide who they are. This is especially true when it comes to the work place. We are told to leave our religion at the door when we come in. Or they feel uncomfortable letting others know what they are Christians.
We go to the store and we see someone from church. We go the other way because this person will want to talk about Jesus right there in the store. Or we tell them that we are in a hurry. We don’t want to leave the comfort zone of our lives. The thinking is that God is good for church, but nowhere else in our lives. We want to keep our Christian life separate from our everyday life.
But Jesus says that we are not to do this:
Luke 8:16-18 (KJV)
16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Mark 4:21-25 (KJV)
21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
Christ himself says in these parables we are to shine. We are not to hide what we are. Even if we do hide the fact that we are Christians it will be found out at some point anyway. As Jesus said, “for there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither is any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad”. (Mark 4:22)
Then there are those that will make compromises. We tell others that what they are doing is wrong, but we allow them to do those things anyway. We look the other way. Or we just “fail” to notice what they did. We tell them to go ahead and do it, but we don’t have a part in it. We salve our consciences by telling them they are wrong. And when we know that they have done it, we say that we had no knowledge of what they were doing.
The problem with that type of thinking is that the courts would not see it that way. If someone robs a bank and they tell someone about it, that person is still as guilty as if they had done themselves. They may not have been there, but they knew that it was going to happen. If they do not tell the police and it is found out they knew, THEY ARE JUST AS GUILTY. It is like they had done it, too.
That is what God says in Ezekiel 33. When the watchman sees coming trouble, he is supposed to do something about it. He is supposed to blow a trumpet. He is supposed to warn others that trouble is coming. If the watchman does not do this, then all the blood shed of those that are under his care will be placed upon his head and hands. He is just as guilty of killing them as those that did the killing.
We are called to stand out. We are called to give warning to the coming danger. When we do this and they do not listen. We are innocent. Their blood is on their own heads for not heeding the warning. We are told that we have an active part as being a follower of Christ. We are to fight as well as warn:
Matthew 11:12 (KJV)
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
We are to be like salt and have a little kick to us:
Matthew 5:13 (KJV)
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
We are to be bitter where the world is concerned. We are supposed to “irritate” the wounds that the world has inflicted on man.
Then there are times that the older brother’s and sister’s forget of where they come from. As long as they are doing what they know to be true, they don’t care about anyone else. Paul mentions this in the passage of eating meat offered to idols. (1 Cor. 8) Some Christians of that time had no problem with eating meat offered to idols. They knew that an idol was nothing.
But there were those that had just come out of that lifestyle and for them it was completely wrong. This would have one of two different immediate effects. One, the younger Christian would consider the older a hypocrite. Or they would begin to eat the meat themselves and end up back where they began. In either case the older Christian would be wrong as their actions caused a younger brother to stumble.
Paul himself said this himself.
1 Corinthians 8:9 (KJV)
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
We need to be careful that we don’t cause others to stumble.
In my own life I came across this. I used to listen to secular music. When I came to the saving knowledge of Christ and became a Christian, I could not stand to be in a secular music store longer than a couple of minutes. I became uncomfortable quick. I had to leave. For me it was wrong to be in the store.
Paul, in order to do the missionary work, had to become like all men. That is he would, without crossing the line, would become like the people he would minister to. When he was talking to the greeks, he talked about their gods and goddesses. He talked like them using logic and reasoning. He used what he knew about their culture and brought it to the truth of Christ. This is seen in Acts 17.
Acts 17:23 (KJV)
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Paul, did not stay on the side lines. He fought for the truth. He “became” like the culture he was ministering to at the moment. We are called to do the same. We are called to be in the world, but not of it. We are called to be the watchmen of our time. And the time is growing short. We need to put on the armor of God (Eph 6:11-18) and get militant. We need to warn others of the coming disaster that approaches.
In God’s kingdom everyone is a team player. There are none of his soldiers on the sidelines. We can do small things at work to show that we are a Christian. We need to have the boldness to proclaim who we live for and why. We need to take a stand and not back down when things get tough. We need to quit being spiritual wimps and allow God to use us.
