Declare yourself a Christian on this Independence holiday

July 2, 9:54 AMChristian Living ExaminerJoanne Brokaw

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The website, ImAChristian.info is calling on Christians in America to join together in a public declaration of faith to recognize the freedom we share in this country to worship God. The site says:

Around the world, millions of Christians are deprived of the basic freedom all Americans can share – they cannot openly express their faith.

In parts of Asia, committed Christians risk their freedom and even their lives if they declare their faith. In the United Kingdom, militant atheists are calling for the public to participate in “de-baptisms” to revoke their Christian faith.

Will America be next?

We are calling on a quarter of a million Christians across the United States and beyond to sign a declaration of Christian faith and mark our freedom to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

We want to show the world how important it is to be able to share the Christian faith and that starts with publicly declaring ‘I am a Christian’. Sign the declaration today, and enjoy the freedom we have to call ourselves Christians.

Given the image that many Americans have of Christians today - violent, loud, angry, argumentative, politically motivated, hypocritical - some Christians find it difficult to align themselves with that end of the spectrum. But unless Jesus followers are willing to be public about their faith, the gospel remains a lovely idea kept in a box on a shelf. And in doing so, the real Christianity, the teachings of Jesus about love, faith, mercy, grace and redemption, get lost in all of the noise.

In America, we take it for granted that we can talk about our Christian faith in public. Sure, we get irritated when we're mocked on TV or when we feel like our side of the argument is dismissed. But that we can even engage in conversation is a freedom we have that millions of Christians around the world don't. In some parts of the world, you'd be killed for your faith, and that's not an exaggeration.

So today, I declare:

I am a Christian. I believe in God the creator, who sent his son Jesus as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of mankind, and in accepting his gift of salvation I have entered into an eternal, personal relationship with God through his son.

I am a Christian. I dedicate myself to loving my neighbor, to pursuing justice, to feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.

I am a Christian. I strive to live a life that honors God and brings glory to his name.

I am a Christian. I look to Jesus and his teachings for guidance and direction, not to the media, pop culture, a political party, or a religious denomination.

I am a Christian. I am an American, a patriot, a lover of this nation and the freedoms we all enjoy and I vow not to take those for granted.

If you'd like to join me in a public declaration, visit the I'm A Christian website and sign the petition. You can also follow the conversation on the I'm A Christian twitter page.

For more information about the persecuted church worldwide, visit the website for International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

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