Dr. Dick Halverson, former US Senate Chaplain.
Dr. Halverson speaks about sharing our faith publicly. How many of us say I can’t talk about Jesus in the workplace, school, or hallways of Congress? Will you accept this challenge to be a bold leader of faith?
Men who fear men more than fear God! Men in high places who profess to be Christian but are unwilling to talk publicly about Jesus Christ. In their fear of offending men they are silent about Christ. In so doing, they offend Christ. In offending Christ, they offend God and neutralize the Christian witness. Are they leaders who capitulate again and again to a profane society and refuse to take a bold stand for Christian conviction, who submit meekly as men degrade the name of Jesus in profanity, drag that dear name into the gutter with all manner of foul language and smut, while they studiously avoid any reference to Jesu in their conversation?
What a contradiction! Ungodly men unafraid and unashamed to desecrate the name of Jesus anywhere, any time; while men who profess devotion to Him dare not mention His name. How easily men in public life justify their silence, their fear, their compromise: “I can’t talk about Christ. There may be a Jew present and I would not want to offend him.” It is not the Christian’s devotion to Jesus that offends the Jew; it is the inconsistent, un-Christlike attitude toward Jews on the part of some who profess Christ. It is not the use of Jesus’ name which offends; it is the utterly unchristian spirit of anti-semitism practiced by some so-called Christians. (I have never met a Jew who did not respect Christians for dedication to their convictions if their attitudes and actions were Christian.)
The name of Jesus never fails to bless when it is spoken reverently with conviction and devotion. When it is used sincerely by men in public life, it is a source of profound encouragement to Christian men and penetrating witness to those who may be unconvinced or uncommitted. In this too leadership is needed!
“He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” – John 5:23
“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33