Articles
I'm Not Ashamed
Our culture’s bitter opposition to Christianity has had many Christians on their heels for a long time. Humanists do not lack in hubris; they boast of their wisdom, liberation and rationality and delight in denigrating believers as ignorant fundamentalists. This intimidation has affected not only rank and file Christians but even preachers and elders. For example, preaching or teaching on the submission of a wife to her husband per Ephesians 5 might be done apologetically, with some reticence or avoided altogether.
Are we ashamed when we find ourselves out of step with the culture? Or are we confident that God’s way is the best way and it is culture that is askew?
Each new generation inexperienced in evaluating philosophies or worldviews might be swayed by scientific or other academic theories, the lifestyles and values of celebrities or even polls that trumpet public opinions. But those with some life experience and who thoughtfully observe the trends, beliefs and practices of the unbelieving world understand that the shifting sands of humanistic ideals are unstable, unworkable and counterproductive. Instead of adopting the humanistic orthodoxy, Christians have confidence in and boldly support God’s word and will. Thus …
May we not be ashamed of Christ. “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mk 8:38). This is said in the context of true devotion and commitment to Christ, evidenced by the willingness to endure suffering and ostracism for His sake: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mk 8:34-37). The world thought the cross was foolishness when it was first proclaimed (1 Cor 1:23), and it still thinks so today. If we value the acceptance of our “evil and adulterous generation” more than the approval of the Lord, we judge ourselves unworthy of the sacrifice He made for us.
Our conviction of who Jesus is, what He means to us, where He is now, what He is going to do in the future, etc. is the foundation of faith. We must be sure of our belief and totally committed to it, for the world will despise and denigrate Christ; it will ridicule His followers and will even put them to death if it can. At his martyrdom, when pressured to renounce Christ, the venerable Polycarp replied, “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” Such must be our own attitude toward our Savior.
May we not ashamed of biblical morality. The Bible states that sexual intimacy outside of marriage is sinful; the presence or absence of “love” is irrelevant. All sexual activity apart from a lifetime commitment not only is transgression but also fosters unwanted pregnancies, sexual diseases, rape, prostitution, pedophilia and related activities such as pornography, sexting, raunchy humor, blackmail, child-trafficking, etc. Billion-dollar industries are built upon promoting sexually aberrant behavior.
Regarding homosexuality, Scripture consistently condemns it in every age (cf. Gen 19/Jude 7 – Patriarchal; Lev 18:22/20:13/Jud 19:22ff – Mosaic; 1 Cor 6:9-10/Mt 19:1-10 – Christian). Yet with fornication in general and homosexuality in particular, the Western world has not merely legalized such practice but advocates, celebrates and normalizes it in every mode of cultural influence – from television shows to commercials, from magazines to newspapers, from K-12 education to university life. In fact, Western culture has seized upon the celebration of homosexuality as a litmus test of open-mindedness and inclusiveness. Those who don’t get onboard with the new morality are branded as bigots, haters and homophobes.
Homosexuality has been sanitized for general public consumption, but the reality of its practice is quite different. Contrary to mainstream media propaganda, homosexual practice glorifies indiscriminate serial hookups, ignores the risks of disease, often involves drug abuse, and fosters further acts of deviancy. We must not be ashamed to advocate for heterosexuality, the limitation of marriage to male/female spouses, the wholesomeness and joy that comes with a godly union according to God’s design.
May we not be ashamed of gender roles. Paul says unapologetically: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church, and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Eph 5:22-24). Egalitarianism is not the model of godly marriage. From the beginning God has demonstrated His order and purpose in the creation of male and female: “man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was the man created for the woman, but woman for the man” (1 Cor 11:8-9).
Now, there is context to the above passages that moderate the headship of man and frames it in love, service, humility and consideration of his wife’s all around well-being. But even absent that context, do the above quotes make you uncomfortable? Do we impulsively dash to the qualifying statements so as not to appear extremist? Or are we content with God’s arrangement of male/female creation for its own sake? Rest assured, the world does not have a better plan; modern marriages often fail miserably in trust, longevity, true happiness and a stable foundation for children.
The lyrics of “I’m Not Ashamed to Own My Lord” are inspirational:
I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, or to defend his cause, maintain the honor of his Word, the glory of his cross.
Jesus, my God! I know his name, his name is all my trust; nor will he put my soul to shame, or let my hope be lost.
Firm as his throne his promise stands, and he can well secure what I’ve committed to his hands ‘til the decisive hour.
Then will he own my worthless name before his Father’s face, and in the new Jerusalem appoint my soul a place.
Isaac Watts, 1709
