Shine
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Entertainment Editor
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
It was a year after I had graduated college and I had just moved into my first apartment. The whole process of leaving home had been surreal for me. For the first time in my life I was on my own, making my own meals, working my own job, the sense of independence was almost overwhelming. On top of it all, I was no longer living under the umbrella of the Church. Ever since I was a child there had always been some kind of Christian influence in my life, now it was all left up to me.
I suppose I could say this is when I started having wild parties and committing unspeakable sins, but the truth is I’m not that interesting. In fact, nothing about my life really changed except for one small detail: I stopped telling people I was a Christian. I didn’t seem like that big of a deal, and a small part of me had always chaffed at being the "good Christian boy," so I kept my faith quiet as I went out into my new life. I didn’t realize what a stupid mistake I’d made until much later, with a little help from the following verse,
"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. ‘For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.’ And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. And it was reported to Him, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it." – Luke 8:16-21
I understand how life is getting more and more difficult for young Christians. We are demonized in the media, called “outdated” by society, and often caught in the crossfire of politics. In this environment it is so tempting to just shut our beliefs behind a door and keep it all to ourselves, but that is not what God has commanded us to do. Like it says in Luke 8, our faith was not meant to be kept secret, but to be held high proudly so that the world may see it. We have a family in Christ, one we should never deny.
Intersecting Faith and Life: Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is by his sacrifice that we are saved.
Further Reading
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