“If there is a true faith, there must be a declaration of it. If you are a candle, and
God has lit you, then let your light so shine before men that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father who is in the heavens. Soldiers of Christ
must, like soldiers of our nation, wear their uniforms…
I believe that many Christians get into a lot of trouble by not being honest in
their convictions. For instance, if a person goes into a workshop, or a soldier into
a barracks, and if he does not fly his flag from the beginning, it will be very
difficult for him to run it up afterwards. But if he immediately and boldly lets
them know, "I am a Christian, and there are certain things that I cannot do to
please you, and certain other things that I cannot help doing even though they
might displease you" - when that is clearly understood, after a while the
peculiarity of the thing will be gone, and the person will be let alone.
However, if he is a little dishonest and thinks that he is going to please the world
and please Christ too, he can depend on it that he is in for a rough time. If he
tries the way of compromise, his life will be like that of a toad under a harrow or
a fox in a dog kennel. That will never do. Come out. Show your colors. Let it be
known who you are and what you are. Although your course will not be smooth,
it will certainly not be half as rough as if you tried to run with the hare and hunt
with the hounds, which is a very difficult piece of business.
- Charles H. Spurgeon