“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)
How do you spot the Christian in the crowd, how does one recognize those who are shining brighter and brighter until the glorious day from the wicked who hide, and even relish in, the darkness?
Many who wear a cross on a silver chain around their neck do not do so as a reference to the One who was raised from the dead as the propitiation for our sins, they may do so as a personal memory of His sacrifice for us, but over the decades I have found few that wear that cross who have His Word in their heart, it seems to be no more than at best an additional accoutrement to the assurance of their salvation that is lacking, and at worse, nothing more than a “lucky charm,” something worn not in the hopes of using it as a means to initiate conversations about our Savior, but as a protection against evil.
I know of a brother in Christ who has taken to wearing bracelets of a specific Scriptural nature in the hope that someone will inquire about them, and then he can begin to profess his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
I pass no judgment on these items, save for this, why would those who have been born-again seek to stand out by modifying their exterior when they have the ability to speak?
My beautiful wife has given me gifts of t-shirts with Scriptural statements on them, and each time someone has commented on them, I begin to speak, and rarely is it only a singular reply. I do not begin to speak of my faith, but instead I question them of theirs, and I have rarely met a person, wearing a cross or not, that desires to converse for very long.
Is the pastor the one in the group with the suit, tie and the proper haircut, or the one with hair considered by some a little too long, a scraggly beard and jeans on?
The Roman Catholic cult has perfected the art of deception in this regard, the collar with a white space in it, and nearly all in their congregation wear that lucky charm around their neck, even using ashes during a specific time of the year to place that symbol upon their forehead.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2)
Which we have turned into a symbol of hope, of protection, of association.
I offer you a way to be recognized in the crowd, one that works every time no matter what attire you have on, no matter what your outward appearance looks like. Open your mouth and start speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ, giving God the Father glory as you do so.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1st Peter 3:15)
Have you ever had one lost person, one unrepentant soul come up to you and ask you about your love of the Savior? Probably not, He is not on their mind. You must be the initiator, you must move that innocuous conversation towards the Lord, you are the one that has been charged with leading them to the cross, not to wear it around your neck in hopes that they will question you about the reason why you wear it, or any other exterior symbol.
If you are waiting for them my friends, you will be waiting a long time.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2nd Tim. 4:2)
Vary rarely do I wear those t-shirts, but quite often I have been known to open my mouth, listen to the response, and then meet those I am speaking with where they are.
“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1st Cor. 9:16)
How do you spot the one who has born-again in the crowd? Usually, they are the ones that no one is speaking to.
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1st Cor. 1:18)
