Why a "private Christian faith" is a contradiction
Posted on August 18, 2009 by Pastor Tom
It is very common today for people to affirm our faith if we keep it private or for us to think we’re doing pretty good if we prayed once today. But the Christian faith was never meant to be kept private. That’s because the Gospel was to have world transforming impact. Rich Stearns, in his book “The Hole in our Gospel” makes this plain.
“Being a Christian, or follower of Jesus Christ requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God. It also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world.”
“We are the carriers of the gospel – the good news that was meant to change the world. Belief is not enough. Worship is not enough. Personal morality is not enough. And Christian community is not enough. God has always demanded more.”
“When we committed ourselves to following Christ, we also committed to living out lives in such a way that a watching world would catch a glimpse of God’s character – His love, justice and mercy – through our words, actions and behavior. . . . God chose us to be His representatives. He called us to go out and proclaim the “good news” – to be the “good news” – and to change the world. Living out our faith privately was never meant to be an option.”
Thoughts?
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