Cupboard Christians?

‘Those who declare publicly that they belong to me, I will do the same for them before my Father in heaven. But those who reject me publicly, I will reject before my Father in heaven.’ (verses 32,33)

Read Matthew 10:24-33

How easy is it for you to declare in public that you are a Christian? It’s easy within the four walls of our churches and homes. You are automatically considered to be a Christian if you attend church, otherwise why would you go? Everyone in your home would know that you are a Christian. But what about the people you meet at the checkout, the person you meet in the street, the people you come in contact with every day, your doctor or dentist? Is it easy to acknowledge God before them? Are you afraid of what people might think of you if you confess that you are a Christian? Are you in fact a cupboard Christian, afraid to go out of the comfort zone of your four walls?

We are blessed in our country that we have free speech and are not penalised for speaking about our faith, although even here there are some restrictions. I have heard that teachers in some state schools are not allowed to speak about God. In her university course young Erin was asked to write about ‘What makes me me?’ She was failed because she wrote about being a Christian.

How would I rate in such situations? I pray that I am never put into such a situation. I also pray that if I were in that situation, God would give me the courage to stand up for my faith.

God, sometimes it is hard and frightening to speak openly about you. Forgive me for the times I fail you. Give me the courage to speak out about my faith in you. Amen.

Written by Merna Thamm from “Living Water for each day” (LCA, Openbook Publishers, 2001)

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