Private and Public Faith

Have you ever had anyone say to you, "My faith is a private matter. I don't feel comfortable talking about it with other people?" Many of us respect that because we live in a society which places a high value on individualism. However, God never intended for our faith to be a personal, private matter.

Deuteronomy 6:4-8 says, "Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your sould and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

Authors Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen summarize this passage well: The LORD intends that he should instruct Israel in every area of life. Only then will Israel truly become a light to the nations. "There is not a square inch of life which he does not say, 'That is mine!'" Religion is no merely private affair: the LORD wants his law (torah, "instruction") to permeate every part of his people's experience. His words should frame the personal life of each individual (being present in the mind and the heart, whether one is waking or lying down). They should shape the thoughts and actions of all his people, each day of their lives (being present on both the "forehead" and the "hand"). The torah claims both family life and public life. Upon leaving the house one sees God's words of instruction written on the gate. Upon returning, one sees them again, written on the door of the house. (The Drama of Scripture, 77)

So, the next time someone tells you that their faith is merely a private matter, you should challenge them on that with Scripture. Our faith in Jesus should be both private and public. Christians have the ability to do great harm to the world when they withdraw from living out a public faith. Christian bubbles need to be popped!