WITNESSING IN A SECULARISED WORLD | KAIROS GLOBAL | JULY 2021

Author: Dr. Chackochan Njavallil

Matthew 5:12-16 asks us to be the salt of the earth and light of the world. But in today's increasingly secularised world how can the faithful become its salt and light?

Recently an Indian English newspaper reported the American president’s decision to declare as genocide the massacre and cruelties unleashed upon the Armenian Christians in 1915. The dates, figures and other facts reported were correct except that not a single word in that four column report mentioned that the ‘persecuted people’ were Christians. The report failed to point that the real reason behind that atrocity was the victims’ faith in Christ. 

In the name of secularism there is an increasing effort to keep religion out of the public space. You should not discuss religion in public, your faith in God is your personal area! Other unbecoming practices are also on the rise, spouses are no longer husbands and wives but partners! A change incorporated by media to accommodate tendencies like same sex marriage, etc. 

It seems that a section of people are disturbed by the fact that Kairos Buds magazine for 3 to 12-year-old children is becoming hugely popular. One response to a social media post was ‘stop the crime of negatively indoctrinating the child with the idea of religion.’ Religion and faith in God are portrayed as very negative elements today.

Are you ready to accept the suggestion that Christians should live their faith only within the walls of their home or church? Should we always take a politically correct stand to never speak about our faith and God in public? When the media constantly and systematically side-lines and tarnishes the image of the faithful and faith, should we remain quiet? Is it acceptable when some of the faithful too ‘advise’, it is enough that one lives their Christian values, that there is no need to speak about Christ or faith?

The answers to all these questions should be an emphatic NO. We should become the salt of the earth and light of the world. We are asked to witness and preach the Gospel of Jesus to the ends of the world. We have to preach the Good News in season and out of season. Never stop providing the best answer to all the problems of this world – Jesus.

Never stop sharing Christ in this increasingly ungodly wor