₦airaland Forum

Is it wrong to live lives as secret Christians for fear of reprisal or even death? Should Christians be willing to die for confessing the name of Jesus? Should we keep our faith secret in order to preserve our lives? This is a question that is only hypothetical for Christians in many parts of the world, with the worst persecution they could receive being ridicule and/or insults. However, for Christians in some parts of the world, this question is very real and practical—their lives literally are at risk. It is one thing to not be as bold as you would like in order to protect your own life and/or the lives of your family. It is another thing entirely to make your own life a higher priority than serving, honouring, worshipping, and obeying Christ. So, with that said, is it wrong to keep your faith in Christ a secret?

Jesus Himself gives us the answer:
Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak you in light: and what you hear in the ear, that preach you upon the housetops.

10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

10:31 Fear you not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.

10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

10:37 He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and following after me, is not worthy of me.

10:39 He that funds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.

10:40 He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives him that sent me. 10:41 He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Christ made it clear to us that.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.

15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hated you.

15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

CandidSeeker:
Response To Persecution.

God gave you the message, but your body is the horse you will climb to deliver the message; If you allow your horse to be maimed or killed you will not be able to deliver your message.

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another…… – Matt.10:23

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. - 1Cor.10:13

-Peace.