A Challenge for a Clear Testimony in a Dark World
Levi Crumley
In a recent service we were ecstatic to have a new couple in our church get baptized. That is such a great encouragement to see people making a public declaration to follow the Lord.
It seems far too often these days that Christians are timid and afraid to display their faith publicly. While it is true that Christians are persecuted left and right for nothing more than adhering to the word of God, and although this is a great tragedy and a display of the downfall of our country’s vision of good and evil; this is not the time for Christians to sit back and stay quiet.
Many Christians feel the pressure every day to keep their faith to themselves or to not follow God entirely. This has been the case since the beginning of time. In a world as filthy and sinful as ours, it is normal to expect great opposition when doing the right thing and following the Lord. However even in the times of great difficulty it is we who are Christians who should be standing up. We have to display to everyone that God is not dead, and God is not done.
What happens if people judge me or ridicule me? It’s not a matter of if it’s a matter of when. But in John 15:18 Jesus says “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.” Remember when Jesus was crucified he was mocked, ridiculed, cursed at, and all other manners of persecution. Remember that sacrifice of his.
It says in 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Again, it’s not a matter of if but when. But we have to remember who the ultimate judge is, and that’s our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We can’t concern ourselves with impressing other people. Putting faith in men can be one of the biggest mistakes people can make. You have to put your faith in God, and concern yourself with how he sees you and how you follow his commandments.1 Peter 3:17 says “For [it is] better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”
Some people look at serving God as a part time job. They think that their relationship with Christ begins and ends at church. While worshiping God and fellowshipping in church is very important in our Christian lives, we are to continue that relationship with God all of the time. A good friend of mine put it this way: “Only spending time with the Lord on Sundays and Wednesdays is like telling your wife or husband that you will only be spending time with them twice a week.” Why do we think that this is an acceptable way to worship God? God wants our attention and praise and he is truly worthy of it. We can’t worship God half way.
We have to stand up now more than ever as Christians and proclaim our faith. The only way we can turn this nation back toward God, is to improve our own walk with Christ and spread his true word without being timid or afraid of persecution. God will always bless those that are faithful to him, both in this life, and the next.
Levi Crumley is a member of Bluestone Baptist Church in Danielsville, GA.