Have you ever met a crypto-Christian? They sound scary to me. The World Christian Encyclopedia estimates there are 120 million crypto or secret Christians in the world. We can easily envision why a believer in certain countries might need to hide their faith to survive. Unfortunately, many who claim to follow Christ have kept it a secret, even in our own country. So many remain strangely silent about their trust in Christ.
John tells us about Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night. After telling him to be born again, Jesus spoke the famous words, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son . . .” Then Jesus called his listeners to forsake the darkness and live in the light. What did Nicodemus do? We do not know. Presumably, he drifted back into the darkness. On another occasion he almost stepped up and spoke up for Jesus, but when the others asked him if he were a disciple, he was strangely silent. Later in the gospel, John explains that at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees, they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise from men more than the praise from God (John 12:42).
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were both in that group of secret followers. After Jesus died, Joseph offered his tomb and Nicodemus paid a large sum for the burial supplies. Finally, Nicodemus stepped into the light. These secret Christians remind me of the college student in the comic strip who tells the professor at a Christian University. “I’m Monty Williams. Can I audit your discipleship class on 'Total Commitment.' " Discipleship by its nature cannot be audited. Christ paid the tuition, but we have to do the exercises and the tests really count.
Someone may say, “Well, late is better than never.” Maybe. But late is never as good as now. Today is the day of discipleship. Now is the acceptable time to fully identify with Jesus. G. K. Chesterton wrote, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” Whatever we are going to do for Jesus, we ought to do it now. Because whether our names are Nicholas, Nicole, Nancy, or Nathan, it’s now. Or it may be never.
