Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
January 17, 2001 Randall Caselman
Confessing Our Faith
Christianity cannot be lived anonymously. We cannot hide our faith and be pleasing to God. Jesus said, You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Salt nor light can be ignored. Their presence is known to everybody who tastes or sees them.
The early Christians understood their responsibility to enrich and enlighten their world. When scattered abroad due to persecution, those in Acts chapter eight, went everywhere preaching the Word. The early church was not content to hide their faith, but were persecuted and put to death because they would not deny Jesus and proclaim Caesar as Lord. When facing certain death because of his faith, the Roman soldiers encouraged Polycarp to just say, Caesar is Lord... Then go on living for Jesus. Polycarp would not even think about compromising his faith in such a manner, so we hear him say, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?” As he completed this confession, the fire was lit that consumed his body.
How about us? We should be ashamed when so easily we keep quiet when we should speak up for Jesus. Too many of us do not want others to know that we are Bible believing, Christ exalting children of God. If we did, then we would confess our faith more quickly and firmly. I am genuinely sorry for the times that I should have been salt and light to my children and was not. God help us to stop trying to live our faith anonymously. Instead... Let us, with boldness, stand up and be counted as believers faithful to the God we serve... Amen? Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus... So we say with boldness, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me... And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming. (Hebrews 10.19, 13.6 & & 1 John 2.28)
There is no better way to boldly demonstrate our faith, to enrich and enlighten, anymore than to be a willing teacher of the Word. Our church is blessed with many who are willing to confess Jesus by teaching others. Our Eldership takes this opportunity to publicly say... Thank you for confessing your faith this quarter.
Randall Caselman
