Keeping It To Yourself

Did you guys hear about the reactions to UFC fighter Yoel Romero's post-fight comments? Romero took time acknowledging the good Lord for bringing him success and stressing that the United States needs to do the same. Needless to say, it annoyed people. 

The president of the UFC, Dana White, expressed his disapproval. "The reality is this: You just won the biggest fight of your career, America doesn't want to hear your thoughts on Jesus. Keep that stuff at home; religion, politics, all that stuff. When you're out there fighting and you're being interviewed, they want to hear about the fight. It's awesome you love Jesus; love Jesus all you want. You just don't have to do it publicly."

This is yet another one of those instances where a person who is not of faith should refrain from teaching orthopraxy. Christians don't have to love Jesus publicly, Mr. White? Perhaps you should open a Bible and see what it has to say about it. 

Isaiah 62:6- "I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest."

Isaiah 40:9- "You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God!'"

Psalm 119:46- "I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame."

Matthew 5:14-16- "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Acts 18:9- "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.'"

I could go all day, Mr. White. There is no commandment that says, "Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself." Christianity does not work that way! The Bible says that God desires all to be in heaven, not just the ones who would like to hear about Christ. We Christians have a personal relationship with Him, but not a private one. It was Christ's command to go and preach to every nation. You cannot practice the Religion while keeping it to yourself! That's not the way of the Christian. We're instructed to speak the truth in love, and that truth is that Jesus is Lord and Savior and that He is the only way to the Father's Kingdom. 

I'll end this with a quote from magician and devout atheist, Penn Jillette. 

"I don't respect people who don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there is a Heaven and a Hell, and people could be going to Hell and you think it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward, how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn't believe it, there's a certain point where I tackle you, and [everlasting life] is more important than that."