Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue or in the temple, where all Jews meet together, and I have said nothing in secret.

Been a while since I’ve done one of my drive-by scriptures.

The passage above is Jesus answering the high priest in Jerusalem, just after being apprehended but before being handed over to Pontius Pilate.

I’m not going to go into all the implications of that passage in relation to Jesus’ life and ministry and what it says about the corruption, hypocrisy and shallowness of the Jewish religious leadership of that time.

What I will say is this: Those of us who are Christians should be speaking openly more often.

I don’t mean that we have to shout the Gospel from the rooftops or get in people’s faces with exhortations to convert. Nothing like that. I would simply encourage you not to hide who you are. If you are Christian, be proud of that. Other people are proud of their religion.

If a time arises when it makes sense to speak of your faith or profess your beliefs, do it. In today’s world, those opportunities present themselves less and less, but there are times when it makes sense to speak openly and when it isn’t hazardous to your career or health, and we shouldn’t shut up at those times out of some sense of embarrassment. We either believe or we don’t. And if we do, there is nothing to be ashamed or skittish about.

Jesus didn’t hide or whisper. Neither should we.