Going Public

Jesus said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." – Mark 5:19

Large crowds followed Jesus wherever He went, literally thousands of people each day from all over Israel. His miracles, his teaching, and his compassion for the people drew them in. When he delivered the man of the tombs from the legion of demons that haunted him, the man wanted to follow as well. But instead of allowing him to also follow him, Jesus sends the man home to tell his story to those who knew him.

I am not particularly young, but there is an "older than myself" generation that has grown up with the idea of keeping their faith and religious issues private. I have had them tell me that such matters are private and that I should not be speaking of such things in public conversations.

Now, the next generation that is "younger than me" is being pressured into privatizing their faith as well. You can believe whatever you want, but don’t take your faith into the public arena and force your faith on others. These social pressures are everywhere from the university to the political world that are telling them to be silent.

This of course, I think, is a powerful tactic of Satan to silence the people of God. If we remain silent; the debate ends, the controversy dies, and the world’s point of view wins by default because we said nothing. Jesus told the man to go home and publicly proclaim the works of God that had taken place in his life. Why? Because the testimony of a radically changed life is difficult to argue with. The works of God publicly displayed are difficult to argue with as well, no matter your point of view.

When God delivered Israel from the land and power of Egypt, it was public. (Exodus 4-15) When Jesus came and offered Himself as the necessary sacrifice for the sins of all of humanity, it was public. (Colossians 2:15)

Because I have a tendency to think apologetically, consider this. As they are telling you to be silent because you have no right to force your religious views on others…they are forcing their religious views on you. Their religious view is that you should be silent. This is a contradictory demand and point of view. So I encourage you all, do not be silent. Tell those you know about the great works of God in your life and about the compassion God has had on you. It is time to go public!