Prof Oyewole.Sarumi
In today’s world, Christianity is often reduced to mere rituals, prosperity preaching, and social influence, leaving its true essence obscured.
Jesus declared, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). This proclamation not only calls for visibility but signifies the transformative power of Christian faith.
Authentic Christian faith is not a private matter; it is a force for good in the world, radiating through love, worship, and selfless service. Unfortunately, the modern church has often fallen into the trap of prioritizing material wealth and fame over the radical love and devotion that characterized the early church.
Today, many churches have turned into marketplaces for prosperity preaching, focusing on wealth accumulation rather than on self-sacrificial love, devotion to Christ, and service to others.
However, the early Christian community, as exemplified by Christ and the apostles, displayed a different kind of faith—one that could not be hidden because it was reflected in their actions, their love, and their undying commitment to God.
This article calls for a return to that authentic and true faith—a faith that cannot be concealed because it is evident in every aspect of a believer’s life.
TRUE FAITH IS VISIBLE IN LOVE AND SACRIFICE
A. Biblical Foundation
The mark of true Christian faith is love, and this love should be both evident and sacrificial. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The early church demonstrated this love in tangible ways, sharing their possessions and caring for the poor, even at the cost of their own comfort.
Acts 2:44-45 – “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”
1 John 3:17-18 – “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
B. The Early Church Witness
The early church fathers emphasized that love was the hallmark of genuine discipleship:
St. Augustine: “What does love look like? It has hands to help others. It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.”
St. John Chrysostom: “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.”
Love in the early church was not just about words but about radical action. It was seen in the believers’ willingness to share everything they had and to provide for the poor, widows, and orphans. It was evident in their sacrifices, sometimes even to the point of death.
C. A Challenge to Modern Church Leaders
The question today is: Is our faith visible in selfless love, or has it been buried beneath materialism and indifference? As church leaders and Christians, we must ask ourselves if we are truly reflecting the sacrificial love of Christ in the world around us. Is our faith seen in our actions, or is it hidden behind the walls of self-interest
TRUE FAITH IS EXPRESSED in GENUINE WORSHIP, NOT HYPOCRISY
A. Biblical Warning Against Empty Religion
True worship is not about performative acts, grand buildings, giving big money or emotional displays—it is about surrendering our hearts to God. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their outward displays of religiosity, saying, “These people honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me” (Matthew 15:8). Worship must come from a genuine, humble heart, not from a desire for fame or recognition.
Romans 12:1 – “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
John 4:23-24 – “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.”
B. Early Church Devotion
The early Christians, despite being persecuted, remained steadfast in their devotion to God. Their worship was not showy or materialistic but centered on the genuine love and surrender of their hearts to God. In times of trial, they gathered together in small groups, often in secret, to worship in truth. Their worship was not dependent on circumstances but was a reflection of their love for God.
Ignatius of Antioch: “It is better to die for Christ than to rule the whole world.”
Tertullian: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
C. A Challenge to Modern Church Leaders
Today, the Church must ask: Are we leading people to performative religion or transformative worship? In many cases, churches have become places where people perform for God, but their hearts are far from Him. As leaders, we must call the Church back to the simplicity and sincerity of worship, not as a means of gain but as an offering of our very lives.
TRUE FAITH REJECTS THE LOVE OF MONEY
A. Biblical Condemnation of Greed
One of the greatest challenges to authentic Christian faith today is the allure of materialism. Jesus warned, “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Yet, many modern churches have become more focused on wealth accumulation than on righteousness, leading to a distorted gospel that prioritizes financial gain over the call to self-sacrifice.
1 Timothy 6:10 – “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
James 5:1-3 – “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you!”
B. Early Church Simplicity
The early church rejected materialism and lived lives marked by simplicity and generosity. They shared everything they had, and none went without. They demonstrated that true riches are not found in material wealth but in God’s provision and the love of Christ.
St. Basil the Great: “The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat in your closet belongs to the naked; the shoes you do not wear belong to the barefoot.”
St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”
C. A Challenge to Modern Church Leaders
Church leaders must examine: Are we shepherds or merchants? Are we seeking to make disciples of Christ, or are we making disciples of wealth? The pursuit of mammon has led many to forsake the true gospel, turning churches into places where prosperity is preached over the power of the cross. Authentic faith rejects the love of money and seeks to serve Christ above all else.
- TRUE FAITH IS COURAGEOUS AND UNCOMPROMISING
A. Biblical Call to Boldness
True Christian faith is courageous and uncompromising, especially in the face of persecution. The apostles boldly proclaimed the gospel, even when it led to suffering. Peter and John’s boldness was noted by the authorities: “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John… they marveled, and took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
2 Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
B. Early Church Courage
The early church did not hide their faith; rather, they lived it out boldly, even in the face of death. Many of the early Christians were martyred for their unwavering devotion to Christ.
Polycarp: “Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He has never wronged me. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
C. A Challenge to Modern Church Leaders
Are we silent where we should speak? Do we fear man more than God? Today, there are countless opportunities for believers to boldly proclaim the gospel. But do we remain silent out of fear or indifference? Authentic Christian faith requires courage—the courage to stand for truth, even when it costs us everything.
CONCLUSION: A CALL TO AUTHENTIC FAITH
True Christian faith is not hidden—it is a light that shines through love, worship, sacrifice, and courage. It is not a pursuit of material wealth but a surrender to God’s will. The early church turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6) not with wealth or political power but with the undeniable reality of their devotion to Christ.
A CALL TO CHURCH LEADERS WORLDWIDE
- Repent where we have traded the Gospel for greed.
- Return to the faith of the apostles—visible, sacrificial, and bold.
- Revive authentic discipleship that transforms lives.
Let us return to the true gospel, so that our faith may be seen by all—not in riches, but in righteousness. Let us strive to live like the early church, whose faith was so evident that even their enemies said, “These are they who have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). May our faith be so real that it cannot—and will not—be hidden. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
I come in peace 
