Secrets are the American way. Kids keep things secret from their parents and parents keep secrets from their kids. Many of the secrets are harmless, like a surprise birthday party of a Christmas present, but today, even in the political realm, secrets need to be kept. When I was in the Air Force, I did burn bag duty before a transfer. This consisted of dumping millions of pages of secret documents into this super shredder that basically turned things into powder. We then scooped the powder into bags with red strips that had BURN ONLY printed on them. We then loaded them into a truck and drove them across base to huge incinerator. We had to remain until the burn was done then stir the ashes to make sure no readable paper remained. That is because the military has to keep their secrets.
Another area of person secrets is religious beliefs. People usually learn about religious beliefs through a meeting or a book or, today, an online source or teaching. People can and do believe anything and Americans are willing to form new belief systems by combining. If, however, a person wants to follow a prescribed system of belief, they usually need to tell someone. Muslims need to attend daily prayer, Sikhs need to wear certain things to signify their belief and Christians must go to church. Additionally, Christians must share the gospel whenever asked or presented with an opportunity. I say MUST even though many will say that they can still be a true believing, saved Christian and never go to church.
The Bible never says anyone must attend church to be saved, however, the majority of commands that Christ gave to his disciples are obeyed in a group of believers. All the one another commands are between believers. So I must questions a person who says they are a true Christian and never go to church. How do they justify a life of willful disobedience. When we look at the gifts of the Spirit, those only work in a church environment. A Christians power comes from and is found in church. It has been called the filling station so that a Christian can last the rest of the week and come back empty or close to it.
As for speaking about Christ, Matthew 10:32, 33 states “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” This has been interpreted by the church to indicate some sort of public acknowledgement of salvation. For a new believer, that can be baptism, coming forward on a Sunday morning or raising their hand during an altar call. The idea here is that if the question is presented to a Christian, they must acknowledge they they are a Christ follower, no matter what the consequences. Christ has no secret follows.
Another area of person secrets is religious beliefs. People usually learn about religious beliefs through a meeting or a book or, today, an online source or teaching. People can and do believe anything and Americans are willing to form new belief systems by combining. If, however, a person wants to follow a prescribed system of belief, they usually need to tell someone. Muslims need to attend daily prayer, Sikhs need to wear certain things to signify their belief and Christians must go to church. Additionally, Christians must share the gospel whenever asked or presented with an opportunity. I say MUST even though many will say that they can still be a true believing, saved Christian and never go to church.
The Bible never says anyone must attend church to be saved, however, the majority of commands that Christ gave to his disciples are obeyed in a group of believers. All the one another commands are between believers. So I must questions a person who says they are a true Christian and never go to church. How do they justify a life of willful disobedience. When we look at the gifts of the Spirit, those only work in a church environment. A Christians power comes from and is found in church. It has been called the filling station so that a Christian can last the rest of the week and come back empty or close to it.
As for speaking about Christ, Matthew 10:32, 33 states “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” This has been interpreted by the church to indicate some sort of public acknowledgement of salvation. For a new believer, that can be baptism, coming forward on a Sunday morning or raising their hand during an altar call. The idea here is that if the question is presented to a Christian, they must acknowledge they they are a Christ follower, no matter what the consequences. Christ has no secret follows.
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