As followers of Jesus our lives should speak of our master. We are commanded to share our encounter with Him to everyone we meet. Following Jesus is not like joining a secret society with secret handshakes.
However Jesus also to keep some acts of our Christianity on the quiet. Yes we are to do them but we should do them in secret.
Giving to the poor, prayer & fasting we are all encouraged to keep it quiet between us and God.
Matthew 6
Giving
2 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Praying
5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Fasting
16 "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
All vital parts of following Jesus but somehow God knows us only too well. Our ego and pride keep sneaking up to us and getting in our way. Somehow we can even take godly disciplines and acts of worship to a holy God and turn them into: look at me!
God help me to hit the stealth pedal and forgo a reward in the hear and now that will disappear so quickly and invest in eternity.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Stealth Christianity
Posted by Billy Ritchie at 8:40 am
Labels: Bible Reading, Christian Life, Essential Jesus
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3 comments:
Enjoyed reading your blog. I'll be back to visit!
www.lifejustsaying.blogspot.com
I've been wrestling with this exact thing lately... the balance of sharing Jesus without looking like "I am the one with the answers". This post was one more shove (from the Holy Spirit) to chew on it a little more. Thanks!
www.meetmeatthefence.blogspot.com
I've always been bothered that Jesus makes giving about the giver, rather than about the needy. How are the needy harmed if I make a public spectacle of my giving? In fact, if I make a big deal out of my charity, then perhaps it will encourage other people to give who might not have done anything. Also, Jesus talks about getting a reward for giving secretly; what about the reward of just knowing that I've done something good for someone who needed help? Why would Jesus reward us for giving to the needy?
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