The need to live our lives (those who are Christian) out in the open is essential. To live otherwise is to discredit the Christian mission in general. There is a need to understand the impact of remaining anonymous and Christian anywhere in the world. For instance, those who don't live for Jesus don't represent those who do. Should you not read the Bible and believe it, not pray and expect God to do what they want, and don't do what the Great Commission tells us to do you are an anonymous Christian if you are a Christian at all. Should you live your Christian life not standing up for Jesus and being honest at all costs with those who around you, your faith is in vain and not producing fruit. There might be some things you are doing that you use to justify your anonymous stance and even convince others to do and be the same. But, you lack the direction of the Holy Spirit and test the living God with your apathy. Not being willing to stand up for the Jesus you allegedly profess is tantamount to denying Him before mankind. Jesus said that if you deny Jesus before mankind, you will be denied before the Father. If this logic is so, then your salvation is without merit. You, my friends, need to choose to be Jesus to the world. Repent, ask for forgiveness, and step up to the task of Jesus living through your surrendered life.
In the first century church the seriousness of living for Jesus was so steeped with risk that the church was often underground and yet effective in reaching those hungry for the Gospel. The Scripture was and is very clear that we will received persecution. There were many Christians who were killed for refusing to deny Christ. This has followed true believers in risk of their very lives even to this day. The church was accountable to each other and the believers were supportive and had all "in common". When someone stepped out of God's love through sin; the body of believers were to bring back that believer to the loving safety of Jesus. If they didn't repent, they were seen as a liability to the safety of the whole and thrown out of the church. The individual then was at risk of being identified as someone who was in "The Way". Once arrested they were tried and often killed. The church would move to another underground location. Anonymous Christians do just the opposite. They leave the group of true believers and go to another fellowship where they are okay in their sin. With so many pastors and church leaders bowing to the sin of mankind, there are more and more denominations springing up to give people itching ears what they want to hear. As it's been put by a prominent Christian, they have "become a doctrine of demons". Just because man says it's okay doesn't mean it's okay with God.
The anonymous Christian isn't much of a Christian (if they are at all) in reality. If a person doesn't stand for anything, they will fall for anything. Anonymous Christians, in that sense, isn't a Christian at all. The question is put forth: "Do your friends, neighbors, families, and enemies know you are a Christian?" Do they? If you find yourself living one life in your church building and group but another at the ball game or work, you may well be a fake anonymous Christian. If you won't defend Jesus and stand up for Him (though he doesn't need your defense), will you stand up for your kids, spouses, fellow believers, and others? If you are an anonymous Christian you have already denied Jesus as your Lord. Your faith is in vain. What are you going to do? While it's "nicer" to be in that space, it's still sin. James 4:17 says: "If you know what is right to do and don't do it, you sin." You can't live in the world and claim Christian as your pedigree.
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