On several occasion, when someone starts praying in a bus or somewhere in the public, I observed that the response of believers in that environment comes with reluctance. They start by saying "amen" under their breathe while will not say amen  at all. This is my personal observation. I have been a victim too.

I cannot say the same about those from other religion. I have seen them say their prayers aloud and recite some lines in their holy book in casual moments. In fact, an average muslim is fond of saying "Bis-mii- lah" in public even when they want to sit or board a public vehicle.

With that, you don't need to be told their religion, they identify with it everywhere even in their dressing. They are proud about it. You may call it legalism but they are proud about the faith they profess. That's the lesson I want you to learn.

Many Jesus people do not mention his name in the public. If a colleague prays publicly, they see it as zeal taken too far. If someone in the neighbourhood is doing a morning cry, they join others to cry "noise pollution" but the club house down the street makes more noise with their high sounding speakers yet they are cool with it.

Somehow, we are proud about our Jesus in the church but not at work. Some believers hardly identify as a Christian at work neither do they preach to their colleagues and neighbours. They hide under the guise of "my fruits will speak". How many souls have you won with your fruit?

The command to open our mouth to preach Jesus remains sacrosanct. It is not optional. It is not something to be left to the uneducated or men of low status by human standards. Public preaching, one-on-one evangelism are one of the ways to identify with Jesus in the public.

You cannot be too educated to witness Jesus in the public neither can you be too beautiful to share the gospel with sinners. We care too much about our reputation. That is why people around us hardly know we are for Jesus. We don't want to be seen as a fanatic.

The senior pastors, billionaires in our churches, bankers, captains of industries, professors and technocrats should lead the way. Let's not leave the work of evangelism to those men and women who do not have societal reputation. This work is for all men regardless of status.

I learn so much from Jehovah Witnesses. When it is evangelism time, they forget their reputation as bankers, doctors, lawyers, engineers. They go all out with their JW people to preach. They do it on foot.  They identify boldly with their doctrine yet those of us who have the truth will only evangelize when it suits our "status".

I long to see believers who will become shameless and unapologetic about Jesus. Men who will not be shy to say "Let us pray" even in places where Jesus is not loved.

Every act of reluctance in talking to people about Jesus in the public is an act of  denial. Will you continue this way?