Are You A Transformer - A Christian in Disguise?

Last week I went to see the new Transformers' film: Revenge of the Fallen. Not the best sequel I've ever seen (an hour too long, virtually no discernible story whatsoever) but still, it was an enjoyable 2 and a half hours and some of the special effects were amazing! For those of you who have been living in a cave recently, a Transformer is a robot who disguises himself (can't think of a female one can you?) as an 'ordinary' vehicle and protects earth (and it's human inhabitants) from the evil 'Decepticons' led by Megatron. Yes, I know it's starting to sound like a Geek-Fest but hang in there with me: there is a point!

Are you living a camouflaged Christian life? Do you just blend in to your surroundings and never really stand out through a living, dynamic, attractive Christian faith in Jesus? This is a real problem for all of us, but perhaps teenagers are most vulnerable to this because of the sheer power of negative peer-pressure. This week I was talking to a Young Person who had got involved in something on Face Book that did not offer the best Christian witness. His reason for getting involved? "I wanted to go along with my friends as they were all doing it." Please don't think I'm judging or criticising: it is a challenge we all face every day of our lives and none of us can say we always get it right (Matthew 5:13-16).

In stark contrast to this was the testimony of one of the Young People in ENERGY this week, who has got hold of a real vision for her school Christian Union. As part of next term's programme she will be doing some assemblies to the whole school explaining more about the C.U. and what they will be doing over the course of the year. This blew me away: getting in people's faces and staking out your ground for God! I know some of the youth are scared to let their friends know they are Christians let alone go and tell the whole school about it. I know that our whole lives should be lived out as a witness to Christ and I believe that with all my heart. However, I admired the Holy Spirit-led boldness coming from this young woman of God. No-one can accuse her of being a Transformer: a Christian in disguise!