The Anonymous Christian

The Anonymous Christian... The Anonymous Christian... Is this who I am? As an Anonymous Chrisian does my light shine to the world?

Frankly, I am struck by my Pastor's message yesterday. The message was about letting your "light shine", what that meant and how to apply it. I was struck by the thought of do I "really" let my "light" shine in a dark world or do I walk in this world as a Christian veiled in anonymity?

I have nothing physical tatooed upon me that states, "Hey, I am a Christian". Yet, there is the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of me because of my profession of Faith in Christ. So I guess that leaves me with nothing, but the essence of who I am seen by others through my attitudes, what I say and how I act. I am SO very thankful that God sees my HEART.

This leads me back to my original question on being an "Anonymous Christian". "Anonymous" can be defined as "having no name" and "lacking individuality, unique character and distinction". I do not believe this is the purpose Christ had for mankind!

It became very clear to me when I did something as silly as wearing a T-Shirt that associated me with Christ. It was just a "normal" day as a Homeschool parent. We were to attend a play at a local high school, go to a "let's pretend hospital", go to Occupational Therapy and then on to a "Social Skills" class. Actually, I was just kidding about this being a "normal" day. This was a "heavily" scheduled day.

Anyways on this "heavily" scheduled day, I wore a T-Shirt that associated me with my Church and Christ. Well let me just say, I was never more humbled on this day. On this day, I was never so aware of my own actions and the people that I was around. I had Christ's Cross emblazoned on my t-shirt and it made me THINK about the people around me... It made me think about my actions... my words... just everything that I portrayed to the world.

This is why I am humbled because on this day... All these people knew me as a Christian simply by the T-Shirt I wore. They didn't know ME or have any sense of what level of MATURITY I have as a Christian. All they saw was outward.

I felt like I had a greater responsibility that day because of that T-shirt. But God has called me to "tell the Hope that lies within me" to "be transformed by the renewing of my mind" and to "let my light shine". But I found that too many times, I live my life as the "anonymous Christian" not "letting my light shine".

I found out, that I don't need to have a T-shirt with a cross on it or even a piece of jewelry that associates me with Christ. What I need is God's revealed word, the Bible, in my heart. God has made me with individual talents and traits to reach out to people and the world. I am NOT a person with no name and indistinct. Just as each and every one of us who associate ourselves with Christ are not "anonymous".

We are God's Light in a dark world. If all people can see is the outward than... hey, we need to let what God is changing on the inward flow into the outward. We need to show the world the JOY that God has given personally to each and everyone of us. It needs to start with our spouses, family, friends and yes, the grocery clerk... the driver who cut you off... the bad waitress... and to all the people who have hurt us.