The problem with camouflage

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It's no secret that anglers often have a penchant for camouflage. It's not a recent development, either- even old Izaak Walton was counselling anglers to wear drab clothing to blend in, and he was writing way back in the 17th Century.
Whether your preference is for Realtree, army surplus or just drab greens, olives and browns it's advice that most anglers tend to heed. Camouflage helps us to blend in, and thus catch more fish (or at least, that's the theory!)

However, in faith terms, our Christian allegiance should never be camouflaged. Our mission isn't to "blend in", but rather to "stand out." Jesus spoke about his followers being those who stand out and shine as lights in the darkness, and challenged his disciples not to "hide their light under a bushel."

In Acts 4, we read about two of the disciples (who also happened to be fishermen!) Peter and John being hauled before the Temple Authorities for preaching about Jesus and healing a man. The religious rulers tried to cut a deal - if Peter and John stop talking about Jesus and just keep their faith private then they (the authorities) will leave them alone. Peter and John were having none of it, though, and not only insisted that "there is no other Name by which men may be saved" but also declared that "they couldn't help but tell of what they had seen and experienced." There's no way they were going to be "camouflage Christians."

Blending in- great for the lakeside or river bank, but not what we're about as Christians. We're commissioned by Jesus to "let our light shine before men, that they might glorify our Father who is in Heaven." No camouflage here.


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