Discipleship - Secret or Open?
A disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews. - Jn. 19: 38.
Discipleship - Secret or Open?
A disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews. - Jn. 19: 38.
DURING our recent travels in Mohammedan areas a Christian missionary introduced me to a well-dressed Moslem young man, a day-school teacher; one of the finest-looking young Moslem intellectuals one could meet anywhere. In his spare time he was helping the missionary with translation work.
When I asked the missionary if this young man was a Christian, the answer was a regretful shake of the head; but the young Moslem then divulged that deep in his heart he believed on the Lord Jesus, and had accepted Him as Saviour almost a year earlier. He then went on to explain that he simply had to keep it secret or else lose everything. When his people had found out his interest in Christianity they had threatened him with expulsion and disgrace.
He had been taken before high officials who guaranteed him a brilliant future for his superior gifts if he remained a Moslem, but warned him of sinister consequences if he became a Christian. What can I do? he asked me. I have good qualifications and can command high position; but if it leaked out that I had become a Christian I should lose everything, and they would secretly put poison in my food to kill me. So I think it best to be a believer on Jesus secretly.
That young Moslem and I looked steadily into each other's eyes. Then I said to him: I am thankful to know that you are a believer upon the Lord Jesus. As for confessing Him openly, you understand your own circumstances better than anyone else. It is not for me or anyone else to dictate to you. That matter is between yourself and Christ alone. But I would ask you one question: 'When our Lord returns, or when you pass into the beyond to meet Him, and you tell Him why you remained a secret disciple, how will you feel when HE and you look into each other's eyes, and He reminds you that He went even to the Cross for you?'
If the look which spread over that young Moslem's face truly indicated his mind, he had found himself suddenly plunged into disturbing reflections. I did not stay. I thought it better to leave him alone, to struggle it out on his knees before his Lord. I hope he took the brave way, the costly way, the really Christian way. I hope he did so for his own sake.
The only Christian discipleship which really overjoys the heart is that which is open, public, unashamed.
On one mission field after another we found evidence of that. Some of the most radiant, Christ-conscious believers we ever met were dark-skinned Christian brothers and sisters in other lands, who, like Paul, had suffered the loss of all things , with expulsion and physical tribulations as well.
Did they regret the open stand they had taken? A thousand times, No! On the other hand, we were told of those who had withheld open confession, and who for that reason had never known the true joy of the Christian life, but had remained spiritually feeble, or else had gradually drifted back to their former darkness.
For his own sake, then, I hope that the young Mohammedan teacher took the, way of brave, open confession. I hope, also, that he did so for others sake. And supremely I hope that he did so for the Lordβs sake.
Circumstances are different perhaps in our own case; but the need for public confession was never greater than today.
What about you and me?
SOURCE: Β© J. Sidlow Baxter ~ Awake My Heart