This is a private matter. Why do we need to make it a public issue?

The truth is, it's already a public issue-publicly negative. It's past time to make it publicly positive.

Although Jesus' ministry was carried out in the public sphere, immediately after his death, his followers hid together behind locked doors. Even though they had personally experienced Jesus' power to transform human lives, they were afraid to go public. It seemed much easier to form a private club.

But God didn't let it stop there. God appeared in the resurrected Jesus Christ and bestowed the gift of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to guide and sustain them in their public ministry. We—no less than the disciples—are called to a public ministry.

We can't just be observers. God's love for the world is an active and engaged love, a love seeking justice and liberty. No matter how controversial or complex—we're called to reflect God's love, to take a stand, and to care about people's lives.

Keeping quiet contradicts the very nature of our Christian faith and ministry. When we join a local church, we make a public statement of faith and are expected to live that faith so it's visible in our lives. We're called to Believe Out Loud!