Unashamed
“For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)
Often, we feel the great pressure exerted by the sinful society around us. Advertisements plastered on every billboard and screen press upon us the sinful proclivities of our age. Both government policy and a ubiquitous media presence herald societal change that wreaks of unrighteousness. Yet these are not the greatest tools of their demonic trade. No, no, no – the greatest is shame. Shame is the proverbial wet blanket that extinguishes the flames of affection for Christ. Shame tells our heart that this particular avenue is wrong, backwards, and on the wrong side of history; therefore, our love must flow elsewhere. Most often, it does.
I’m reminded of Neil Postman’s critique of modern Germany. Germany was made to feel ashamed of their actions in WWII, but this shame carried over to their very national identity. They were no longer ashamed of their actions; they were ashamed of being. Thus, with their national history becoming an anathema, the German youth filled that void with vanity. Ashamed of who they were, they sought to be everyone else. When their hearts could no longer follow the old paths, they themselves became lost.
How often does this happen to the Christian? The pathway to Christian liberalism often begins with being ashamed of Christ and of His teaching. If Christ’s virgin birth become shameful, if Christ’s substitutionary atonement becomes shameful, if Christ’s law becomes shameful, don’t be surprised if Christ becomes shameful. Each adulterous and sinful generation heaps shame in a different way, but the results are the same. When Christians no longer follow the old paths, they themselves become lost, hopeless, despairing.
What are we to do? Regardless of what this world says, let us hold our heads high and feast our eyes on the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. His glory, as the glory of the only Son from the Father, will replace the world’s shame with pure, unadulterated joy. As very God of very God, His words are true, righteous, and altogether holy. Who needs to be ashamed of God’s truth? As very man of very man, His doing and His dying were for us and for our sins. Who could be ashamed of a Savior who stooped so low to raise us up so high? We must lift our eyes above the muck and the mire of this world and feast them on Christ. Only then we will stand unashamed.
