Can I Be Silent About My Faith?

By - Eric Shulman, National Capital Bible Church

We live in an age of multiple “truths,” where we are told it is disrespectful or offensive to counter someone’s thoughts, opinions, or feelings with your own. We are asked to assume that, for others, their “truth” is 100% correct, at least for them.

In a time like this, is there room to share our faith with others? Is it offensive to discuss Christianity respectfully, a belief that denies many of the “truths” society holds today?

We see these questions often from believers. Most times, they come in a variation of: "Can I be silent about my faith?" “Do I NEED to share it?

To best answer that question, we must once again turn to the Scripture, God’s word for us.

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

In 2 Corinthians 5:20, we are called ambassadors for Christ. Then there's Proverbs 11:30, likening the wise to those who win souls. Acts 1:8 echoes this sentiment, where Jesus Himself commands us to be His witnesses. It seems there's a resounding and repetitive call throughout Scripture for us to share the message of God's love and salvation. That call is even more resounding when we realize this is a mere three commands out of hundreds that appear in our Bibles.

With the clear-cut answer that we do in fact need to speak out about our faith, what does it mean to witness? It's about sharing the knowledge and message of God - spreading the simple details of salvation and how to live the Christian life. This can include sharing with family members, friends, spouses/significant others, your children - the list goes on. Of course, there are also those we barely know. How we feel about someone should not be a determining factor. Instead, God calls us to witness to anyone who may have positive volition. Romans 3:23 reminds us that we all are in need of saving. Therefore, should we not look to help anyone we can?

At this point, we’ve answered our original question and know who we are witnessing to. This leads us to ask: What exactly is the message we are called to spread?

Our message when witnessing is one of grace, faith, the identity of Christ, His redemptive work, and what follows salvation. We have all fallen short of the glory of God, as mentioned in Romans 3:23. Anyone who has faith alone in Christ alone, the Son of God and our Savior, is saved and reconciled with God the Father.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8-9 reinforces that our salvation is by faith, not by our works. It's about believing in Jesus, as reiterated in John 1:12 and Acts 16:31. Our role is to spread this message because people need to understand they can't save themselves, no matter how many good works they perform.

Consider Romans 9:30, which challenges the notion that good works alone can save us. Just as the Jews misunderstood the Gospel, we can't rely on our own goodness to earn salvation. After all, what is the bar set for entry to Heaven by good works? No where in the Bible do we find such a description. Based on God’s essence, we know that He would not and could not provide a means of salvation that is never defined.

We're all given different skills, abilities, and spiritual gifts, but the call to witness remains constant. Even when it feels uncomfortable or inconvenient, it's not about us but about glorifying God.

As a reminder, witnessing doesn’t need to be done from a pupil or in a small group. We can witness through conversations, at work, at home, in everyday encounters and through the example of our lives. Ultimately, it's about presenting the reconciliation offered through Jesus' sacrifice, as outlined in Ephesians 2:12-16 and Romans 5:11-15.

So, can we be silent about our faith? The answer is clear: we cannot, regardless of others’ “truths.” Let's embrace our divine commission, trusting that God's power and guidance will equip us to fulfill it.

If you have any questions on this topic or on how to make the information above real in your life, we highly encourage you to reach out to us at National Capital Bible Church. Our pastor, Freddy Cortez, would be happy to discuss it with you. You can also find more information on salvation, reconciliation, and similar Biblical foundations here.

This post was written by Eric Shulman of National Capital Bible Church. If you have questions about this post or Christianity in general, please contact us today!