The Closet Christian

Rain storm in Colorado

Sometimes it’s hard to walk the talk. And sometimes it’s even more difficult to talk the walk. I shied away from Christianity for many, many years after being frightened by a little ol’ banty rooster of a man. He was a circuit preacher, all hellfire and brimstone. As an adult, I can appreciate where that style of preaching is coming from and what affect it has on my spirit. But, as a seven-year-old, it literally scared the pee out of me and I ran in the opposite direction. I walked a long journey away from Jesus. I couldn’t be an atheist because I knew God. It was this Jesus guy that gave me fits. I rectified that by becoming Jewish for 27 years. It wasn’t till I was 51 that I became a Christian. And, even then, I was a closet Christian.

I never wanted to be that person. You know, that stereotypical church lady who can’t carry on a conversation without “Praise Jesus” this and “Praise Jesus” that. I’ve since learned you can…and SHOULD…let others know that you are a Christian by the way you act and talk. You can do this without shouting “Hallelujah” in the produce section when the Olathe Sweet Corn arrives. (Although, that actually may be justified!) I took closet Christianity to the extreme though. I was like the Unabomber in my hoodie and shades, being very careful not to expose my true identity. Some of that has fallen away with age. I don’t care as much what people think about me. Mostly it’s a conscious decision.

I had lunch with a dear friend Thursday. We met at Bob Evans…a busy chain restaurant where I can get a good breakfast any time of the day. We hadn’t seen each other for quite some time so there was much catching up to do. We talked about the kids and our new loves. We chatted about our travels and holiday plans. And we talked liberally about God and our faith walk. It was an easy conversation…the kind of comfort you only find with close friends.

After about an hour or so, a woman walked over and placed her hand on my arm. “I overheard you talking about the Lord. Thank you! Isn’t He wonderful?” Yes, yes He is. I appreciated the woman’s gesture. She was a true Believer and wanted to share that moment with me. That was fine, but what meant more to me was this…if SHE, as a Believer, overheard our conversation, then there just might have been someone there who may never have had the opportunity to hear someone praising God over hash browns and scrambled eggs.

Incorporating our love for God into our daily conversations doesn’t have to come in the form of that guy with the sandwich board in front of Taco Bell shouting about the end times. That’s the quickest way to turn people off of any religion, in my humble opinion. I prefer a more organic approach.

Don’t hide your light under a basket. Let it shine! ❤️

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:15-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

25 thoughts on “The Closet Christian

  1. Ginny, I love you. I would love to meet you one day. I am currently in Port Aransas with SOTF, and one of the things that impressed me the most on this trip is that the gal in charge of meals insists that we pray before each meal. Each prayer has not only prayed for the food, but has also prayed that we are kept safe and that our work here will please God. There are nearly 100 of us here, and at each meal we have guests who are residents of the island. With the hoplessness and despair that some of these people have experienced, my prayer is that we give them hope for their future. Thank you for being “the light.”

    1. Pat…this is undoubtedly the highest compliment I’ve ever received. Please tell our fellow Sisters how proud of them I am. And tell them I, among many others, am keeping them in prayer. Thank you so much for your giving spirit! ❤️

  2. Why do I feel like I’ve known you all my life? Born in West Virginia, raised in a strong conservative Christian home, etc. But my older sister was, too, and married a Jewish man, had three kids, and even began teaching in the “synagogue” until she had to teach the children that Jesus wasn’t God’s Son, just a nice man basically according to them. The light went on and she knew she couldn’t do that anymore. She ‘came back’ , he divorced her, and many years later she remarried a Christian. She has taught me a lot about so much in life and even divorce.
    You reach so many in more ways than you could know every day. Have a blessed day.

  3. Thanks Ginny. As a Christian I believe our life is our greatest testimony. Do we live it being a Jesus follower or not. People make snap decisions just by the way they see us. I really pray Jesus’ light shines through me before I ever open my mouth! I try to walk the walk and hope I can talk the talk.

  4. Ginny, great message. My current journey is feeling like I need to be more than what I am. Instead of that form of thinking I am renewing my mind and learning all I have to do is love God and ask him for his grace. And your message today is affirmation. I read you every day and you inspire me. God bless all of us.

  5. Very encouraging, Ginny! It reminded me how it’s only through our all-merciful and loving God that we’re drawn into salvation. And, it’s through our relationship with Christ that we can love our neighbor as ourselves and reflect Gods love for all of us…that they will know us (Christians) by our love. It seems to me that the key word is “love”.

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