Going Public

Going Public

This precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own. –2 Corinthians 4:7

I had sat in on hundreds of media interviews with authors as they talked about matters of faith and conviction. But this time I was the one being interviewed. That night, after a long conversation during which the reporter took copious notes in preparation for quoting me in a national newspaper, I lay in bed feeling as if I had walked out on a plank and was getting ready to take a dive. This time it was my voice, my reputation, me. I realized that it is one thing for people around me to know that I go to church and work in Christian publishing, but another thing to proclaim publicly what I believe, to openly profess my devotion to Jesus in front of those who may ridicule or reject me.

Hardship often presents us with the opportunity to go public in big and small ways with what we really believe. Sometimes it is simple, such as telling those who ask how you’re doing that you are determined to trust God with what is ahead. Going deeper with God means that we don’t use religious-sounding language to discuss our lives with our church friends and a different set of vocabulary for our unbelieving neighbors and coworkers. We become authentic, no matter who we’re talking to, expressing our very real fears and failures along with our desire to trust God, know God, and see him at work.

Perhaps we’re hesitant to go public with our faith because we don’t want to be held accountable for living a life that the world expects of those who claim to be Jesus’ followers. But it is good for us to be held to a higher standard than those who make no claim of Christ, isn’t it? Going public doesn’t mean becoming perfect, but it does mean we never want to do anything that would bring shame to the name of Christ. When our desire to honor Christ overrides our desire to indulge in a little gossip, join the crowd in complaining, or compromise to get ahead, we know we’ve gone deeper with God. If you’re really serious about going deeper with God, isn’t it time you went public?

I’m ready to tell the world that you are mine and I am yours, Jesus. How I want you to shine beautifully in my life so that others see you in me.

DIGGING DEEPER