FEAR, APPROVAL, & PERSECUTION

Possible reasons include fear, woundedness, attachment to reputation, desire for autonomy, concern about religious hypocrisy, love of human approval, and fear of opposition. 

It exposes the danger of valuing the glory that comes from people more highly than the glory that comes from God.

"Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God." John 12:42–43

It may appear when a person preserves religious ambiguity to protect intellectual credibility, professional advancement, social influence, or acceptance within respected circles. 

It becomes sinful when silence no longer serves wisdom or faithfulness but becomes a means of protecting reputation and avoiding identification with Christ. 

Because the world first opposed Him, and allegiance to Him reveals that His disciples no longer belong to the world in the same way. 

No. Opposition for Christ’s name is one of the anticipated costs through which allegiance to Him becomes visible. 

No. The believer does not seek hostility, but neither may the possibility of hostility become sufficient reason to conceal Christ. 

No. It teaches the believer to bring fear beneath allegiance rather than allowing fear to govern obedience.