Black Church

Seeds of Hope: Speak Boldly and Publicly about God

One of the major influences in our society today is the emphasis on being politically correct. The threat or possibility of offending anyone about anything at any time has silenced many of us. We fear that we will be condemned or criticized. Unfortunately, many Christians now remain silent when opportunities to speak of or for their faith arise. Rather than defending the gospel we have become fearful of offending others even if their values are wrong and beliefs unscriptural.

Being politically correct was not a problem for David. In fact, it was the exact opposite. He was not ashamed to speak boldly and publicly about God’s involvement in his life. He had no hesitancy or fear to talk about his relationship with God. Once at a very special occasion in front of a large crowd he said, I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly! He put his faith on public display.

He had been through an intense struggle with God. It must have been both long and difficult. But finally, his patience and perseverance, his respect and reverence for God were rewarded and his prayer was finally answered.

As he reflected on God’s goodness and thought about His mercy and blessings, he could not contain himself. I speak of your faithfulness – Your salvation, love and truth, he proclaimed. I do not seal … I could not conceal … my gratitude.

If we were taking about this event today, we would say that David gave his testimony to a large gathering. However, it was not the size of the group that mattered to David. It was his need to proclaim God’s salvation and faithfulness to others. He could not be contained when it came to sharing his faith.