It seems that modern Christianity, especially in the United States, has mistaken or exchanged Paul's call to be "not ashamed" with this idea of boldness. What this boldness becomes in many cases is simply obnoxiousness. The message of Christ carries a firm and definitive message that should not be mistaken as tolerance for the beliefs of everyone. No, Jesus says that there is one way to God the Father and that is through Him. If the world has a problem with the, don't blame me...see the Author.
What we have done is mistaken this being not ashamed, with a sales approach to our witness in the world. Our marketing approach has taken "1 million served" and made it "1 million saved." That is fine for hamburgers, but it stinks for people who God loves as individuals. In many cases, people have been reduced to projects to get saved.
Look at what Paul was saying-"I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes...." (Romans 1:16, ESV) What made Paul able to say that he was not ashamed? There are 3 things I think affect his profession:
- Paul was absolutely convinced to the truth of the gospel. He had gone from one who hunted, persecuted and killed followers of Jesus, to one himself. Not only was he a follower of Jesus, but was one of the most well known proclaimers of the gospel. This rabbi/pharisee was willing to suffer the loss of all things; his comfort, his resources, his family and indeed his life for the truth of the gospel.
- In his conversion to a follower of Jesus on the Damascus Road, Paul became aware and committed to the call on his life to proclaim this gospel "first to the Jew and then to the Greek." He became known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. This message was the the entire world and Paul knew the His Call was to go.
- In my thinking, this may be the most important reason for his confession...Paul could say he was not ashamed as a result of his confidence in his faith, that was developed in and produced by his consistency in walking in his faith. There is no magic formula here, it takes time and it takes effort, but it is the key to the statement, "I am not ashamed of the gospel."
The daily consistent walk with Christ produces a confidence that allow the follower of Jesus to live a life that is not ashamed. It is a life that applies the gospel to every area of life and in every situation in life. It is the essence of discipleship, Luke 9:23, "Jesus said to them all, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (my italics)
Consistency is a result of living out the classical disciplines of the Christian life. It is in the effort to grow in intimacy with God through these disciplines that we become consistent in our faith. These disciplines do not earn us grace, it is not working toward salvation. Out salvation is a gift from God, it can not be earned (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).
It is in the disciplines of Faith that we "workout our salvation with fear and trembling(Philippians 2:12). There are several excellent books on Spiritual Disciplines, these do a much better job in making these clear than I could in these few lines. I would recommend, A Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster, Renovation of the Heart, by Dallas Willard, and to put the whole idea of transformation, consistency, and growth into perspective with the disciplines, The Great Omission by Dallas Willard.
This confidence produces a result of consistency is what makes the follower of Jesus unashamed. It is not based in how much one knows, but in the depth of relationship. It is often time knowledge that puffs up and makes those who would follow proud (been there done that, got the t-shirt), it is in the intimacy of knowing Christ that we can live unashamed in a world that wants us to apologize for our faith.
We live in a world looking for answers, not gimmicks, not programs but something that works in real life. The confidence that comes with consistency allows us, as followers of Jesus, to live real in the world. It allows you and I to live our individual call and to live it as disciples of Jesus. We live unashamed in the context of our call in life.
Paul was called to openly and often time radically proclaim the message of salvation and followship. Most of us are not called that ministry...most of us are called to live unashamed in the daily course of life. To expect everyone to be an Apostle Paul is a distortion of the gospel message, a distortion of God's Word,
As our lives are lived with this consistency, as the confidence in our faith grows, the gospel is lived out and both "Jew and Greek" hear the message and respond to the reality they see revealed in our lives. It is the Christ life lived in good times and bad, ti is the confidence seen in the midst of life's triumphs and tragedies that will reveal that we, as followers of Jesus, are unashamed and that faith in Jesus is real and is the answer.
I wish I could say that I have this all together, but it a struggle, it is a journey. I say with Paul, "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Jesus Christ has made me His own" (Ephesians 3:12). Join me in the journey to walk with Christ consistently so that we might live confidently..."not ashamed" of the gospel.
Keith
The Disillusioned Disciple
