Claiming my faith in Christ

By Jessica Brodie

Have you ever been reluctant to claim your faith? Perhaps you’ve been surrounded by a circle of friends or coworkers who thought believing and following Jesus was “dorky” or “uncool.” Perhaps you lived in a place where you received animosity, persecution, or even threats for being a Christian. Or perhaps you were just embarrassed, worried about offending someone.

This past Saturday, we had a milestone in my family: My firstborn child was confirmed at church. I’m not sure if all Christian denominations do this, but in ours, United Methodist (as well as in the Lutheran denomination, in which I grew up), when you’re about 14 you go through several months of intentional, in-depth study about what it really means to be a disciple of Christ. You learn what it is to be an authentic Christian, and you learn things like the Apostles’ Creed and other important statements of faith. Then you get to celebrate by becoming an official, recognized, full member of the church.

When I was 14, this felt especially cool because it meant I was officially an “adult” in the church. When you’re a teenager itching for adulthood, well—that’s a really awesome thing.

On Saturday, it was such an honor for me to stand there and watch Cameron—the child I had prayed for, birthed, nurtured, and raised—confirm his faith in front of the church, and then on Sunday morning get recognized.

Cameron’s confirmation made me really think about what it means to acknowledge our faith—to stand up there in front of all those people and publicly proclaim, “Yes, I believe! Yes, I accept Jesus. Yes, I want to be a member of this church.”

In reality, saying the words “I’m a Christian” isn’t always an easy thing to do. It’s one thing when you’re in a church surrounded by your loving family and fellow church members, other believers celebrating with you. At those times it’s pretty easy (unless you’re super-shy and get stage fright).

But there are other countries in this world where being a Christian is not celebrated. It can get you ostracized, thrown in jail, ridiculed, beaten, even killed. And I’m not talking about 3rd-century Rome, either—that’s today! As an American, I often take for granted my religious liberty, but it’s a true gift. In this nation we can freely practice whatever religion we believe in.

But even in America, let’s face it—it’s not always “easy” to be a Christian. Where I live right now, South Carolina, the majority of the people in my community are Christian. It’s completely acceptable. It’s the norm.

But I have lived other places, had other friends, been surrounded by coworkers who have looked down on Christians or outright despised us, believing us to be close-minded, judgmental, naïve, boring, uncool, and even unintelligent (as though the only intelligent option is atheism). Obviously, that’s incorrect, but when you’re 22 and working in a place where a lot of your colleagues and supervisors dismiss your faith as silly and childish, it’s tough—especially when you’re having some of your own doubts and questions. That was my scenario. It takes guts, gumption, real conviction, to hold onto your faith in times like that. Back then, I’m not proud to say, I didn’t always represent my faith well. There were times I kept my mouth shut. Times I was a coward.

Then I grew up. Somewhere along the way, I reached the point where I stopped prioritizing the opinions of others and concerned myself with pleasing God, following the path of Jesus.

My conviction and maturity have made it so much easier to proclaim: Yes, I am a Christian!

And I’ll say it wherever I need to. While that’s easy to do where I live now, I pray that if ever I were a situation where It was genuinely dangerous, I’d do the same.

Today I deeply regret the times I kept my mouth shut instead of proudly standing up, lifting my chin, and acknowledging my faith.

Whenever I read Jesus’s words in Luke 9:26, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (NIV), I cringe. I repent and seek forgiveness for my past cowardice and doubt.

We can’t erase the past. All we can do is move on in an effort to make today, and every day after this, a day for living boldly in faith.

I hope and pray my son, who publicly acknowledged his faith on Saturday, won’t make the same mistakes I did. I hope if he’s ever tested, he’ll step up and pass that test.

I pray the same for myself and for all people of faith.

So today, let’s rise up, lift our hands, and do all we can to shine God’s light in the world boldly, fiercely, and joyfully.

Let’s say it loud and proud: Yes, I am a Christian!