Closet Christian

A young man walked into his office one morning to find out he had been relieved of his duties. The terse letter read his services were no longer required in view of the organization’s financial challenges. On closer look however, he was actually let go because of his uncompromising stand on his beliefs. As a child of God, he had chosen to not only bear the name of Christ but to walk as He did. His case is one of many sons of God that are going through one form of persecution or the other in the work place, family, school or community because of their faith. No matter where you are placed, if you are going through persecutions because you are a child of God, do not despair or lose faith; respite is on its way in Jesus Christ name. However, this article is not written with you in mind, but you that are in a position of authority (no matter how small) to turn the tide of events in your environment but have chosen to be silent about your faith in order to advance your career. There was a man in the Bible named Nehemiah that did the exact opposite. He was appointed to be governor of Judah and his primary assignment was to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem with the resources available to him.  As a governor, he and his subordinates were entitled to all the trappings of the office plus a great opportunity to amass wealth. Unlike the governors before him, he chose to do the contrary by only receiving from the people that which he and his subordinates realistically needed. He did this because he had the fear of God in him. He chose to externalize his faith in all he did. He used his position to secure the people, thus, creating avenues for them to grow. Friend it is not coincidental you are occupying the position you are in right now; God placed you there so you can help further His Kingdom! If I may ask you, how much of this have you done since you started at that position? You may argue that your organization is not a Church neither is your position pastoral; you may even go further to argue that you didn’t get the job or the position because you are a child of God. True and good! But those excuses only point to the quality of character you have! You are a closet Christian! 

Friend, as a child of God, you have been called out of the world’s way of living to showcase the light of God in all ramifications. You were not saved to be a light in some areas and darkness in others. You have been called to be an ambassador of the Heavenly Kingdom! Nehemiah was not a priest neither was he occupying the office of a pastor but he decided to make the Fear of God the foundation of ALL he did as a result he prospered greatly spiritually. So many sons of God are occupying great secular positions that have prospered them physically but have rendered them paupers spiritually. The people under Nehemiah were emboldened to do exploit because they knew he had their backs. How are the people under you faring spiritually?  In spite of the intrigues, blackmails and bribes the world threw at Nehemiah, he was able to withstand them because of his strong convictions and spiritual wealth. Friend, if you as a leader succumb to the antics of the enemy at your workplace, no wonder the enemy is able to pick out and crush the sons of the Kingdom under you. True, there will be some that will fall prey because of their weak character and poor attitudes; but God expects you to stand strong in the face of the onslaught of darkness. It is quite amusing and a pitiable sight when such ‘godly’ leaders deride the government or system of the day for their greed and insensitivity to the plight of the ordinary man in the country; whilst they themselves are doing the same to their subordinates in their offices and environment. Friend, just like what Mordecai sent to Esther when she felt she was secure with her position and location, God is saying the same to you as well: “…Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this” (Esther 4:13b-14). Enough of being a closet child of God; stand up for your convictions in Christ Jesus and let the fear of God be the foundation for all your dealings because there is no time: “Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to repay each person according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12). God bless you as you take a decision for Him!