Undercover Christianity

On my drive to work this morning I flipped on my usual sports channel to listen to "Mike & Mike" discuss who would win the Thanksgiving Day football games.  Some mornings I change the station over to WFIL Christian radio to listen to James McDonald from Harvest Bible Chapel near Chicago, IL.  I have been in a pattern recently though of sticking with sports for my entire drive, but this morning I felt the need to listen to Pastor James.  The first thing I heard was this question, "Are there such things as undercover Christians?"  He went on to ponder if God has a large battalion of undercover "agents" just hiding and waiting for the right time to reveal themselves. 

Pastor McDonald shared a story of a woman in his church who approached him one Sunday after the service and confessed that she did not know if she was a Christian.  "No one at work knows I am a Christian," she stated.  "My one neighbor knows I go to church and nothing more, the other has no idea and no one in my family knows if I am a Christian.  So, am I a Christian?"  This story struck a nerve in me because of the way I know I have lived for many, many years.  My family and friends know I am a Christian and if asked by a coworker, I cannot recall a time when I denied my faith.  However, I have not made it obvious to those around me at work or in my neighborhood.  “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)

Why have I not been more open about my faith?  I have spent years convincing myself that I was afraid or ashamed, and while that is part of the story, I am learning that it boils down to a lack of love for others.

In college I had a roommate who drove me crazy because he was always talking about God...everything to him was about God and He made sure everyone around him knew it.  Yeah, if you read "My Story" you know that I went to a Christian college and this shows how "lukewarm" I was even in those surroundings. The fact is that this guy loved people and he could not help but talk about God.  We Christians profess to have "the cure" and yet we act like we're on a special undercover mission from God, just waiting for the signal to put the plan into action.  How are we showing God's love by keeping it "under a bushel"?

A few weeks ago, the CEO of our parent company, based in the U.K. came here to our office for his annual visit, and to announce his retirement at the end of the year.  We had a small party for him including cake and ice cream and he was asked to give a brief speech.  After thanking those who have worked closely with him and thanking us for all of our support of him and the company, he paused briefly then said, "In the spirit of giving credit where credit is due, and given the fact that I am a Christian, I need to thank God for all that he has blessed me with over the years working at Pandrol."  Here was the top guy in my company professing his faith and did not miss this opportunity as 30 people hung on his every word.  I was floored and most impressed because a short time before he said this, a few of the top managers here thanked him for the way he treated people, even the people lowest on the pay scale.  Here was a man who treated people with respect and love and now all these people know why...God.

To round out this story, I was impressed and had a desire to discuss it and let him know that I too was a Christian and that I appreciated the example he set for me.  Getting time with the boss is difficult, so I had to jot him a quick email not really expecting a reply.  Not only did I get a reply, but he made a point to visit me the next morning.  As I was leaving work that day, ou receptionist stayed and seemed to be waiting for me so she could ask what it was all about.  Following Mr. Beal-Preston's example I told here I was a Christian and that he and I spent 10 minutes discussing our faith with one another. 

Do people around you KNOW you are a Christian?  Or have you been living like me, working as an undercover Christian waiting for the perfect time?  Aren't we in effect denying Christ if we keep Him to ourselves?