Shame is an interesting emotion. Sometimes shame and embarrassment are terms that are used synonymously. What causes this emotion? Perhaps if I’ve done something that I should not have done. Or perhaps when others make fun of me. Or perhaps when I feel self-conscious about something from my past or an uneasiness about a current situation. There are, obviously, myriads of things that can lead us to feel ashamed.
That makes Paul’s affirmation in Romans 1:16 all the more intriguing. Here was the one “who formerly persecuted” Christians now preaching “the faith which he once tried to destroy” (Gal. 1:23). He wrote in Romans 1 that he was both “a debtor” to get the saving message to the lost and he was “ready” to do so (1:14-15). Then, in the familiar text of Romans 1:16, Paul gave the reason that he was a ready debtor to preach the gospel.
Beginning verse 16 with the word of explanation, Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” Paul was ashamed of his past, but he was not ashamed of his present. Paul was ashamed of what he had done to the saved, but he was not ashamed of what he was doing to the lost. Paul loved the gospel and loved preaching it to others. Paul embraced the gospel, believed the gospel, proclaimed the gospel, defended the gospel and ultimately died for the gospel. He was not embarrassed by it or by what it called him to do. He was not embarrassed to tell it to others.
Are we ever ashamed to preach the gospel? I think the answer to that is that we are (at least occasionally). Why? Are we ashamed of God and His power? Are we ashamed of Jesus and His salvation? What is it that causes us to be embarrassed to open up and say something?
“Well, it’s not popular. It’s not what people want to hear. People may have unpleasant thoughts toward me. People may have adverse reactions toward me. People may ask, say or do things that make me uncomfortable.” Whatever answer that we can come up with will never be a satisfactory answer. And…we know it.
Brethren, please let me encourage all of us to follow in the footsteps of Paul and to not be ashamed of the gospel, to not be ashamed of sharing it with others, to not be ashamed of whatever may happen when we do share it with others. We have the greatest blessing on earth—salvation. We have the greatest message on earth—salvation. We have the greatest gift to offer on earth—salvation. Why are we ashamed of that? Mark 8:38 is a verse that comes to mind as we close, but I’ll let you consider that one on your own.