How would you answer? If another Christian asks, it's easy and actually positive to say "yes". But what about everyone else? Would you say yes if a hostile classmate asked? An atheistic professor? A radical holding a machete over your exposed neck?
Now, I sincerely hope that none of us ever have to deal with the last one. But it is unreasonable to believe that you will not be asked by someone who may not like you because of your faith. Some may not be hostile, but many will want you to put your light in a box. They may not care what you believe, but they want no part of it.
So what will you say when, like Peter, you are asked if you follow Jesus? Will you deny Him? Or will you boldly proclaim that He is your Savior and God? I hope that I would say yes, that I am a Christian. But it is a question that sometimes you have to ask yourself.
Sometimes, though, it isn't that simple. It isn't a "yes/no" question. It is a matter of lifestyle. Will you live as a follower of Christ, go against the flow, witness to someone in need of the gospel? Even if it's hard? Even if you have to pass up an opportunity to do something you want to do because it goes against your convictions? Even if you're so shy that you don't think you can do it?
I heard a speaker at a retreat tell about a friend in college who was "so Christian" that at first, the speaker was intimidated. She thought her friend was weird, even though she called herself a Christian too. But when her friend eventually brought her closer to God, she realized that her friend wasn't being fake...she was just glowing with God's light.
"Since we have such a hope, we are very bold" (2 Corinthians 3:12)
How amazing would it be if we were so excited about the gospel that other people couldn't be around us without thinking we were weird? I mean, is it possible to be "too Christian"? Could I realistically be so passionate about God that I just couldn't help but tell others about it, if not with my words then with my life? Wouldn't you like to be that way?
I try to imagine what that would be like. I honestly can't even get an image of someone so genuinely in love with God that he or she could draw people to the gospel without even trying. But I would love to be that kind of person. Wouldn't you?
How can we become such a person, bold and unashamed of the God who held back nothing in order to save us? Well, it's no easy calling. I don't think there is a prescribed way to do it. But I have a few ideas that just maybe can get us on the right track.
1. First and foremost and always, spend time with God. Read His word, meditate, pray, repeat.
2. See #1.
3. See #2.
4. Spend time with fellow Christians and encourage each other to be radical for God. And see #3.
5. See #1.
I think you get the point. Nothing is going to happen in our lives as Christians until we spend time with the One who IS Christianity. We are not followers of a religion of rules and formulas. We are followers of the One True King, the Creator, the Savior, the living God, the great I AM.
If you try all five steps and nothing happens...don't get discouraged. Like I said, it's not a formula. It's about a relationship. And it is a relationship that will change your life forever.
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