Living Out Loud

I was inspired and amazed by a Praise Concert spearheaded by CFC Youth for Christ. It was called "Liveloud." It packed over 7,000 people in the Cuneta Astrodome. It featured original worship songs composed by the community members.  We were on our feet for almost two hours, singing, dancing, and worshipping God.  Even after the concert was over, people still wanted more and even lingered for a while in awe of God's greatness through the songs and sharing of young Christians. We were encouraged to boldly or loudly live out our faith and be on fire to bring others to God.

I am reflecting on the words "Live Loud."  For me it is a challenge of boldness in Christianity in today's age of materialism, apathy, and secularism.  One of those who are living loud in faith is a known Filipino American football player named Tim Tebow, wherein the term "Tebowing" was derived from his act of kneeling before God in the game.  He also wrote on his eyeblack area the verse John 3:16 where it gathered 90 million searches in Google that day he wore it.  Not to mention that he is one of the National Football League's best players today as a quarterback and he is using his influence and fame as a platform for evangelization.

Tebow is living his faith out loud. There are many who praise him for his religious boldness but many also criticize him for the same reason.

In Bishop Quevedo's talk in one of our teachings, he quoted a Vatican paper on New Evangelization about the "New Areopagus" or the "New Courtyard." The Sermon on the Areopagus was referred to the preaching that St. Paul did in Athens (Acts 17:16-34), wherein he gave his fullest speech as a missionary.  He talked boldly against idolatry and elaborated about the one Creator.  In today's modern age there are different  types of  Areopagus or Courtyards. These are the Areopagus of social communications, migration, economy, scientific and technological advancement, and the civil and political life.  Tebow definitely made an impact in the courtyard of social communications side through sports media.

We may not be a sports superstar like Tebow, but each of us have our own "Areopagus" as a venue to be a witness of God's greatness in our lives.  How are we using our influence to bring others closer to God?  What hinders us from Living Out Loud the faith that God wants us to spread in our workplaces and in our homes?  Let us go forth boldly. Let us remember that we evangelize because of the One who saves, Jesus Christ.

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control (2 Tim 1:7).