This one has been on my mind for years as my behaviors have accumulated into a body of evidence that has begun to bother me. I've always thought I was following the golden rule; I don't want people to bother me with their beliefs, so I do likewise. I want to be left alone and I do likewise for my fellow man.
I've used excuses like the plank of sin in my own eye, to disqualify myself from witnessing to those around me. Ultimately, I really don't want to be bothered, but I do admit to the same preference as the OP, that alienating those around me by evangelizing is not something that interests me.
I think only one guy that I work with knows that I go to church. I know he does too, but we never really talk about this type stuff. Nobody else outside my family would know that I believe Jesus is the Son of the Creator God, the promised Messiah, the Lamb slain for the sin of the world. I don't tell people that I believe what the bible says and that it is the very word breathed by God Himself. I haven't shared with anyone that I believe Jesus was crucified for our sins, that He although being sinless, died a sinner's death, but rose again and was give all authority in heaven and on earth. I haven't told anyone that I believe that God is good, that He is faithful, that He is Love, He is Just, He is Almighty, the source of all glory is in Him and He is the chief treasure in all the universe. I haven't made it a practice to tell people how no one can come to God except through Jesus, His only son. Although I believe that Jesus submitted Himself to the will of the Father for the glory of His name, I've never spoken of it to anyone. Even though I believe Jesus ascended to the Father so that the Holy Spirit would then be sent to help the church, and I really do believe that the Holy Spirit has worked in my own life, and I could tell of the many things He has done for me, that I could speak forever of His faithfulness to me throughout my life, and that I am ever grateful to Him for all of His influence in my life... I've never shared that to anyone face-to-face. These are only a few of my privately held beliefs.
I have a bible in my office, but it's out of sight and I only read before anyone shows up in the morning. There have been a couple instances where someone walks up on me when I'm reading the bible and surprises me. For whatever reason, I instinctively tossed it out of view and acted like I was doing something else. The fact that I had that reaction, and more than once, bothered me.
I do envy those who are bold enough to share the gospel and freely witness to people. I wish that type of freedom and courage were in me.
If keeping to myself is the same as denying Jesus before men, and if Jesus denying me before the Father in heaven means that He'll send me right to hell, that would mean that I'm destined to everlasting suffering by practicing what I practice. And if that's the case, and since I believe OSAS, that would mean that I'm not currently, and have never been saved, no matter what I might profess to believe.
Additionally, I don't believe we are saved by works, so the act of witnessing does not and will not save me. Changing my practice, running out and witnessing to the world around me would not change my spiritually lost condition.
So...