I’ll Offend People if I Voice My Christianity

by Dave Kahle

If there’s one thought that is almost universally nurtured by Christian business people, it is probably this one. It excuses all kinds of behavior, or more accurately, lack of behavior.

     The consequences of that thought are immeasurable. Because most of us grasp onto that thought and hold it dear, we fail to act when there is an opportunity.  We don’t offer to pray for someone, we don’t mention something God has done in our lives, we tell no one about God. We tolerate behavior in colleagues, customers and vendors and the world around us that more stout Christians in earlier generations would not have accepted.

     And, as a result of that we see our world grow increasingly dark, with “wars and rumors of war” increasing, with more blatant manifestations of evil around us, and with unashamed attacks on the sensibility and self-images of our children and grandchildren. 

     But perhaps the biggest and saddest consequences of our clutching onto this fear are those people who should have been touched, should have been provided with a living example of how God can touch a life and redeem people, and never were.  And as a result of our reticence, millions of people, over time and geography, who should have gained a glimpse into life with a loving God, never did.

     Surely Satan must count this belief as one of his greatest tools.  

This belief is wrong at multiple levels.
First, it is untrue. We may offend one or two who are quick to be offended by anything, but the overwhelming majority of people will respond positively, not negatively, to a sincere model of Christian character.  Look at the Dan Orlovsky incident, for example.  In a situation of approaching catastrophe, he spontaneously broke into a prayer on national TV. The comments were overwhelmingly positive.

     It sems that athletes are more confident in their relationship with God then most businesspeople.  Darwin Hamlin gave thanks to God for his recovery.  Patrick Mahomes, being interviewed following his team’s winning of the conference championship, first gave credit to God in the post-game interview.  Few, if any, negative comments.  And who can forget Tim Tebow wearing “John 3:16” on his face.

     While athlete’s may be the most nationally visible group of unafraid Christians, they aren’t the only ones who have taken a stand for Christ. There is a growing cadre of Christian-led businesses who are growing and leading their industries:  Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby come to mind, but there are thousands of others. These are companies whose leaders have stood for Christian principles and practices and whose businesses continue to grow and thrive.

     But there is more. Not only is the belief untrue, but it also directly opposes clear, powerful Biblical teaching. Probably the strongest of these is Jesus words in Matthew:

Matthew 10:32, 33:
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

     The Lord did not add, “Unless you are afraid that it will... CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE