Bible Question:
My boyfriend and I are having a debate about wether or not Christians are to show any of their spiritual beliefs, like some religions do.
Carolyn J./ Jackson, Mississippi
Bible Answer:
Christian Practice In Public:
Matthew 6:5,6 NIV
5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Oh how the enemy of our souls is a alive and well, trying his best to trip up the Christian.
His goal is to get one too far to the right/ or too far to the left.
So righteous he is no earthly good to anyone, completely evil so as to only be a curse to mankind.
Matthew 7:13,14 NIV (Very important words of Jesus.)
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Our enemy, longs to get us “Off-Center." Too far to the right, or too far to the left.
Our Lord, has called us to the Narrow Road, the road that is straight down the middle of His will.
The Pharisees (exhibitionists) loved to say their prayers in public, so that they would appear more devoute than others. And the church has lost many things over the years because of these kind of individuals, who wreck good things for everyone else. (more could be said, but enough.)
We can't allow the actions of a few misguided individuals, who we will have with us until the end, to ruin what is good and right in the church and in our lives!
But you may say, didn't Jesus say we are to do our praying in the closet? Yes, He sure did, but let us remember that He was talking about “Devotional Praying.”
Christian people, we are loosing.
Loosing ground to the enemy.
Worldly individuals, wouldn't recognize a Christian, if they saw one. And whose fault is that?
Why of course, it is our fault and no one elses!
I Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
The feeding of the five thousand.
Matthew 14:19 NIV “And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.”
Jesus prayed publically!
Luke 9:26 “For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.”
Matthew 5:14-16
[14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
[15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
[16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Everyday we open our newspapers, or turn on our T.V's to see other people in their religious beliefs, bowing down to the ground, in respect and awe of their god. And everyday, we hear of one more group, “Coming-Out-Of-The-Closset,” all the while Christian people are seemingly running in to hid.
God help us, what have we become, what are we afraid of?
Pray before you eat... (II Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”)
Pray at home or when you go out to eat, bow your heads and give thanks to the Lord!
My friends and I do this one better, we have a scripture box, and we each pull out a verse and read it before we pray and eat!
Here is one you probably didn't know.
Deuteronomy 8:10 “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which He hath given thee.”
One of the most fond memories I have is, (no some 40 years later) when my wife and I had gone out to eat in a restaurant, we saw a group of ladies, who after they had eaten, took each others hands and sang, quietly, a song of thanksgiving to the Lord.
Christian, where is the world's example of how Christians live? Is it fond on T.V., the movies, the theater?
Witnessing, ...(II Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”)
Christian you are called to be a witness of your Saviour!
Romans 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Matthew 10:32 “ Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”
Luke 9:26 “ For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.”
Take the Bible...(II Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”)
Christian, when was the last time you took your Bible downtown with you, for all to see?
What are you afraid of?
Take your Bible with you, read it on the bus, the train, the air plane.
Read it on your lunch break on the job.
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
II Timothy 1:8 “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,...”
II Timothy 1:12 “... I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”
I Peter 4:16,17
16...if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
I John 2:28 “ And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at his coming.”
