For Jeremy, sharing his faith is much more difficult than living it privately. Jeremy is a quiet man. He keeps mostly to himself and would probably describe himself as an introvert.

He is also a devout Christian. He studies Scripture every day, attends church every week, and regularly volunteers at church events. His parents and Christian friends know how much his faith means to him.

But when Jeremy steps outside his Christian circle, something changes.

His coworkers do not know he is a Christian. Neither do the members of his motorcycle club or the people on his softball team. Jeremy rarely talks about God or shares what Jesus Christ has done in his life.

In the physical world, Jeremy is a secret Christian.

Why?

Because talking about God with unbelievers makes him uncomfortable.

Living Between Two Worlds

Jeremy has carefully separated his spiritual life from his secular life.

He loves his spiritual world. He enjoys worshiping with other believers, studying God’s Word, and serving at church.

But he also enjoys his secular world. He values the camaraderie he shares with his coworkers, teammates, and friends. He does not want to offend them, make them uncomfortable, or risk being viewed differently.

Jeremy wants to enjoy the best of both worlds while keeping the two worlds safely separated.

He understands that Jesus is the light of the world:

“… Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”—John 8:12

Jeremy understands where the light comes from. What he has not yet fully accepted is what Jesus intends to do with that light.

Christ does not give us His light merely so that we can enjoy it privately. He intends for His light to shine through us into the lives of others.

God Wants the Whole Heart

Eventually, every believer must confront an uncomfortable truth: God is a jealous God.

“They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger.—Deuteronomy 32:16

God’s jealousy is not the petty jealousy we sometimes see in human relationships. It is His righteous insistence that those who belong to Him must not give their ultimate love and loyalty to anyone or anything else.

Once we open our hearts to God, He wants the whole heart.

He does not want to be treated like a secret friend whom we acknowledge only when we are around other Christians. He does not call us to withdraw from unbelievers, but neither does He want us to conceal our allegiance to Him in order to preserve their approval.

Jesus sends us into the world as His representatives.

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”—Ephesians 5:8

Notice that Paul does not merely say we once walked in darkness. He says we were darkness. Likewise, he does not simply say that we have received light. We are now “light in the Lord.”

That light is meant to be seen.

Light on Dark Water

When sailing at night, it is important to keep the lights below deck dim. Bright interior lights can impair the helmsman’s night vision, making it difficult to see what lies across the water ahead.

That is often what the physical world does to us spiritually.

Its pleasures, possessions, ambitions, entertainment, and distractions shine so brightly that they impair our spiritual vision. They demand our attention and tempt us to focus on what is immediately in front of us rather than on God.

But there are lights a helmsman welcomes.

A lighthouse warns of danger and provides a visible reference point in the darkness. Its beacon helps the helmsman recognize where he is and whether his course is carrying him toward safety or danger.

Moonlight also shines across the water, illuminating what would otherwise remain hidden. That light can reveal waves, approaching vessels, or dangerous debris. Cargo containers are sometimes swept from ships during severe storms. They may float partially submerged and can be almost impossible to see on a moonless night. Striking one could be catastrophic for a sailboat.

The light does not create the danger. It reveals the danger in time for the helmsman to respond.

That is part of what God calls Christians to do in this world.

We are to serve as visible markers pointing people toward Christ. We are to shine His truth into the darkness, helping others recognize the spiritual dangers they cannot yet see.

And there is something especially fitting about moonlight: the moon produces no light of its own. It merely reflects the light of the sun.

In the same way, Christians do not produce their own spiritual light. We reflect the light of the Son.

Jesus said:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”—Matthew 5:14–16

A lighthouse is built high and made visible for a reason. A lamp is placed on a stand for a reason. The moon reflects light across dark water for a reason.

And Christians have been placed in the lives of other people for a reason.

Why Sharing Your Faith Can Feel Uncomfortable

I understand Jeremy because I once felt much the same way.

My spiritual awakening overwhelmed me. God filled me with a tremendous peace that truly surpassed all understanding. My heart was being transformed, but I was not eager to share that transformation with the physical world.

Fear of what others may think can become another kind of hiding place—a modern day fig leaf we use to avoid being fully seen.

I was afraid people would see me as an odd duck. Before my own awakening, that was how I viewed “Bible thumpers.” I did not want others placing that label on me.

And it is not only unbelievers who may look at you differently. Even some people who practice religion can become uncomfortable when they encounter someone who speaks openly and personally about Jesus Christ.

But Christians do not all express their faith in the same way.

Some cannot wait to tell everyone about their love for the Lord. A few grab bullhorns and preach on street corners. Others share Christ through quiet conversations, acts of compassion, personal testimony, or the courage to answer honestly when someone asks about the hope within them.

God does not require every believer to have the same personality or method. He does not demand that an introvert become an extrovert.

But He does call every believer to be faithful.

A quiet Christian can still be a visible Christian. Gentleness is not the same as silence. Humility is not the same as hiding. Loving unbelievers does not require concealing our love for Christ.

We should be prepared to explain our hope “with gentleness and respect” when God provides the opportunity (1 Peter 3:15).

Isaiah declared:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”—Isaiah 60:1

Come Out From Under the Basket

Jeremy is not his real name, but he does exist. My guess is that there are a lot of Jeremy’s in the world.

Perhaps you are Jeremy. Perhaps you love the Lord deeply but have hidden that love from the people around you. You are afraid of offending someone, losing a friendship, being ridiculed, or becoming known as the religious person in the room.

God is not necessarily calling you to carry a bullhorn. He may not be asking you to preach on a street corner or turn every conversation into a sermon.

But He did not place His light within you so that you could hide it under a basket.

He placed you in your workplace, neighborhood, family, softball team, motorcycle club, or circle of friends for a reason. Some of the people around you may never walk into a church. You may be the only reflection of Christ they regularly encounter.

Do not fight your calling because you are afraid of how the world might respond.

Pray about where God has placed you. Ask Him to reveal the opportunities already around you. Ask for the wisdom to speak with gentleness and the courage to speak when the time comes.

Sharing your faith may begin with something as simple as acknowledging what Jesus has done in your life.

You do not have to manufacture the light.

You only have to stop hiding it.

Has fear ever kept you from sharing your faith? What helped you become more open about your relationship with Jesus Christ? Please share your experience in the comments.

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