also believe what is in Matthew 6:5-6: "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
However, I also believe that we do not need to be quiet about our faith as if we were ashamed of it. John Wesley was certainly not quiet and went around all over the place on horseback preaching everywhere, and often under a lot of persecution, because it was so very important to reach people concerning Christ's salvation and love.
It's easy for people to get caught up in right-wing doctrines and Calvinism if it seems that their own faith is silent, unassuming, and unexciting. As United Methodists, I think we do need to speak out more and be more visible, not so we can get acclaim and earthly rewards for doing so, but to be positive and enthusiastic witnesses for our faith for the benefit of others. It also helps us to understand our faith more so that we are not deceived by the followers of people such as Franklin Graham and his politics. (If only he was more like his father.)
Unfortunately, Hillary was so quiet about her faith during the campaign that it gave the appearance that she was complacent and lifeless in it. Whether that's actually true or false, I don't know, and I wouldn't want her to just go around speaking God and Jesus with no real heart like it seems so many right-wing personalities tend to do just to try to compete with them, but maybe she could have done something differently to reassure Christian constituents and show people in general something that is a more personal and meaningful part of herself, while at the same time not alienating people of other faiths which she didn't want to do. It's a very difficult balance for a politician.
= new reply since forum marked as read