Anyone ever have a chameleon as a pet? The chameleon (the word means “ground lion”) is an unusual “old world” creature with independently movable eyes, a helmet head, and fused toes. It is known primarily though for its ability to change color on the rotation of a dime, according to its mood. The chameleon uses this ability to blend into its surroundings, to hide from predators, or to silently approach prey.

We use the word chameleon in the English language also to indicate a person who is prone to change their opinions or behaviors simply dependent upon what situation, group, culture, or politics that person is immersed into.

Ever know someone who sides with anyone they come in contact with? Some call these people “fair weather friends.” They don’t seem to have a firm opinion of their own about anything. At least it’s impossible to tell what they really think, because they will agree with whomever they are with. Put them into a room with climate change advocates, and they will passionate advocate for climate change. In the next hour, put them into a room with climate change protestors, and before you can say “flip,” they’ve taken up a sign and have begun protesting along with their peers.

You probably also know people who do this same flip-flop when it comes to their faith. Put them into a room with die-hard Christians, and they’ll take up daily prayer, worship, and join several committees. But remove them from that atmosphere and put them into a different environment, either in an anti-Christian culture or a secular situation, and voila! They’ve adapted so well, you could never tell they’ve ever been a person of faith. I like to call people like this “Chameleon Christians.” They blend into every social situation and cultural milieu so well that you can never tell what they truly think or feel, or if they truly have faith in Jesus or not.

A rare breed? Not exactly. Chameleon Christians are more common than you think. How many Christians do you know who attend church, sit on committees, or teach a class, but if anyone asks them about their faith in a secular setting, suddenly, they’ve become entirely mute. Or how many people do you know who change churches simply due to the personality of the pastor or the style of the music? How many people do you know who attend church when they like a decision that is made, but flee quickly when things don’t go their way? How many people do you know who say they love Jesus but are embarrassed to mention His name to people in their periphery or even in their family?

These are Chameleon Christians. And they hide in every town, church, and neighborhood, blending in wherever they happen to be with whomever they happen to be with.

But this is not a new occurrence. As said, the chameleon is an “old world” creature, and Chameleon faith is an old-world problem! One our psalmist David must have been familiar with in his own time and place. For this psalm is about truth. It’s about authenticity. It’s about honoring God, keeping promises, and declaring faith out loud!

Why? You don’t need to write about authenticity, if everyone around you is authentic. You write about authenticity when people around you are practicing a chameleon style of commitment.

In the psalm that we call 66, David calls all peoples of the world to bless God and let their praise be heard! We are to praise God conspicuously and “out loud!” In fact the very first line asks us to “make a joyful noise to God, all the earth, to sing the glory of his name, give to him glorious praise, say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!” In fact, David declares, “All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praise to your name.” Therefore, so should we!

Why should we do this? David tells us in the next section that we should “come and see” what God has done! Jesus uses this same line when he calls his disciples. Don’t take my word for it! Come and see! Remember! Think back! Survey your life! Take a look at what God has done in your world!

After this, David repeats his invitation: “Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard!” David calls every person to look at what God has done, and to declare therefore joy and praise to God, not in hiding, not in secret, not according to whom you are with or where you are, not just in the Temple, not just in synagogue or church, not just when things feel safe or convenient or optimal, but in every time and place with a raised voice “out loud!”

Because “out loud” is the authentic response to being in love with God, to recognizing God’s intervention in your life, to honoring your commitment to the One True God.

Anything else, is simply a chameleon style superficial “change colors according to the weather” kind of commitment.

Those who work in metallurgy know that there is a difference between a pure metal and an ore. The difference lies in its purity, its authenticity. While an “ore” is a blend of several types of metals, a pure metal is singular in its composition. You know exactly what you get when you buy a hunk of gold or a silver goblet. The worth of the increment increases by its level of purity.

David uses this metaphor to describe an authentic person of God: “For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried…..we went through fire and water; yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.” For God, David maintains, will always save and protect and provide for those devoted to the Lord, committed to praising God loudly, proudly, consistently, and without shame. And for this, we must continue to praise the Lord our God!

Some Christians have taken the idea of God testing us to mean that God throws terrible things into our path in order to see if we can prevail or our faith can sustain. But this is not the kind of testing David speaks about. The kind of testing that God does, according to David, is a test of our sincerity, our authenticity, our willingness to declare our faith and proclaim God loudly and publicly, to be of one purely devoted personality no matter where we are or whom we are with. God’s test of us is a consistency test to see our “true colors,” or rather to make sure that our color doesn’t change according to our culture or the people we are with.

Can you as a Christian still be a Christian even in a secular culture? Do you still praise God in the midst of the public square? Or do you confine your faith to a church building or one day of the week?

Will you as a Christian still proclaim Jesus even among people who disdain His name? Even if people laugh, or embarrass you, or belittle you, or mock you?

Will you as a people of God still trust in God even during life’s storms, and despairs, and disasters? Will your faith hold true? Can God trust that in a world that changes according to the winds of whim, YOU can stand firmly in your faith and find joy in your heart?

God sees your heart and knows your true colors. God sees who you are and will promise you salvation and eternal life.

In the gospel of John, Jesus says likewise, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” “I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you.” “Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too.” “Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” (John 14:15-21)

The Holy Spirit is like a litmus test or an acid test that can discern your metal/mettle. Just as the psalmist David declares out loud his own faith in God in psalm 66, saying: “I will pay you my vows, those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.” “Come and hear, all you who respect and honor God, and I will tell what he has done for me.” “Blessed be God.” We too must be ready and able to declare our faith in God during the most trying of times, to invite the Holy Spirit to test our sincerity and to provoke us into praise and prayer in every time and place.

For God has eyes to see and ears to hear. God knows our hearts and our thoughts. God sees us even when we believe we are in hiding or we try to turn our heads away.

Today I invite you to throw off your chameleon cloaks, and to put on the true skin of one baptized and consecrated by God, commissioned to be Jesus’ voice in the world. Be proud to be God’s messenger, to proclaim your faith to all who will hear.

In this, God will recognize you as one of Jesus’ own. And will deliver you from each and every sorrow.

God bless you in your homes, today and always.