Introduction
The focus of this blog is to explore whether we feel ashamed of our faith and the name of the Lord Jesus. In some parts of the world, political regimes may be hostile to Christianity, leading us to fear sharing our faith due to the potential for persecution from the authorities. However, even in politically free countries, we might hesitate to share the Gospel out of fear of being ostracized, called out, or ridiculed due to peer pressure to conform. As a result, feeling ashamed of our Christian faith can happen even when we have freedom of speech.
Therefore, no matter where we live, it is essential to reflect on our faith. Are we proud of the Lord Jesus and our faith in Him? Are we confident in the work He has entrusted to us, or do we shy away from expressing our belief in Him?
Do Not Be Ashamed of Serving the Lord Jesus
The Lord Jesus teaches us not to be ashamed of Him in this world, as shown in various places in the Gospels. In this post, we will examine the passages from Matthew 16:24-27, Mark 8:34-38, and Luke 9:23-26 side by side.
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Mark 8:34 And having called to Him the multitude with His disciples, He said to them, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross, and let him follow Me.
Luke 9:23 Then He said to all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross every day, and let him follow Me.
Take these verse accordingly, as they are written. Deny the comforts you have and do the work for the Lord. Some may not be called to do specific things, but studying the Word of God is following the Lord. Here, the Lord did not ask us to deny our family but to deny ourselves only. The family is a responsibility the Lord gives as well.
“Let him deny himself,” plainly says that by accepting the Lord Jesus, we are not free anymore. We belong to the Lord, and we are not supposed to do things that are against the Word of God, but we are to follow every word completely.
“Take up his cross” means to carry the call that the Lord had put as a burden on your heart to do. Some may have small burdens, while others may have more significant burdens in doing something for the Lord. The Lord knows the ability of each person, and He will never give more than we can carry. The heart to follow the call is the key to working for the Lord.
Matthew 16:25 For whoever might desire to save his life will lose it; however, whoever might lose his life on account of Me, will find it.
Mark 8:35 For whoever may wish to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life on account of Me and of the gospel he will save it.
Luke 9:24 For whoever desires to save his life, will lose it; but whoever will lose his life on account of Me, the same will save it.
These verses and the next talk about faith from two points of view: earthly and the world to come. They remind us that it is not about the life on this earth to lose it, but the eternal life to come. For this earth, if you look for fulfillment in this life, you lose the life in the Lord Jesus’ world. This earthly world is nothing; if you tighten your heart around the things in this world and are greedy for the things of this world, your connection to the next world becomes thinner. The Bible is the guide in this world and for the world to come. Always go back to the Bible to fulfill your life in this world; use the Bible as a guide, and you will save yourself in the end. On this earth, just take what is necessary because nothing in this earthly life lasts.
“Will lose it” in the first part of the verse refers to denying the faith even when your life is not threatened. Some deny the One who created us for convenience and to be accepted among people.
Matthew 16:26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, but loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
Mark 8:36-37 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and to lose his soul? For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Luke 9:25 For what is a man profited, if he gains the whole world, but loses or forfeits himself?
The Lord wants our lives to be saved. On this earth, we praise the Lord with our mouth, but in the world to come, our souls will go and glorify the Lord. That voice the Father wants to hear, the soul that glorifies the Father; the soul belongs to the Father, and He doesn’t want to lose any soul in the lake of fire. Life on this earth is like having two pots; if you try to keep one, it goes against the other one.
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He will give to each according to his deeds.
Mark 8:38 For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when He shall come in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
Luke 9:26 For whoever will be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed, when He comes in His own glory, and of the Father, and of the holy angels.
Notice in these verses that the Lord Jesus will come in His Father’s glory, not His own glory. The Lord Jesus never puts Himself above His Father. Our God is Three in One, but the Father is first. Even the Lord Jesus Himself first glorifies the Father. So, we should do the same, glorify the Father, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but put the Father first.
“For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels” refers to the second coming of our Lord Jesus on earth. The whole world will see Him, at the same time, with His personal army of angels when He takes over the whole world.
“And then He will give to each according to his deeds.” This also refers to the second coming of the Lord. Give (render) here is not a judgment; it is the time when the Lord looks to each individual at what they have been doing during their life on earth and what can be counted for eternal life. If there is something to be counted forward, the Lord will use that portion to comfort that person while they wait for the judgment day.
In these passages of Scripture, the Lord Jesus teaches us that when faced with the fear of persecution or ridicule, we might be tempted to reject Him or remain silent about our faith in hopes of preserving our lives. However, the Lord tells us that even if we lose our earthly lives for His sake, we will ultimately save our lives. The life on earth is not the true life He refers to; it is the eternal life we will have with Him in heaven that truly matters. Therefore, we must not deny the Lord Jesus and must not be afraid to testify about Him in front of others. Only the Lord Jesus can lead us to the Father, and our souls are far more important than our bodies.
We must ask ourselves if we are genuinely proud of our work for the Lord, no matter how significant or small it may be, and regardless of how the world views us. The Bible provides many examples of believers who are not ashamed of their faith in the Lord. For instance, in 2 Timothy 1:15-18, we see that Onesiphorus was not ashamed of Paul and his suffering for the Lord.
As we live in an era where traditional Christianity is scrutinized, we should reflect on whether we feel ashamed to embrace the faith handed down by the apostles and the forefathers of our faith. In an era of advancement and scientific progress, many may feel that it is no longer popular to believe as the early disciples did. For example, are we afraid of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit and hesitant to promote the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Today, we witness numerous attacks on the teachings of the Bible, as many so-called scholars approach the things of God from a purely human perspective rather than through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is the true Teacher of God’s Word. Moreover, in many churches, promoting and practicing the baptism of the Holy Spirit has become unpopular, and we find ourselves questioning why that is.
Additionally, those who do practice the baptism of the Holy Spirit often do not adhere to biblical teachings regarding His practice. For example, some women prophesy with their heads uncovered or with only a partial covering, arguing that their hair serves as a covering. However, any woman who has cut her hair and wishes to prophesy in the name of the Holy Spirit must be properly covered to truly honor the teachings of the Bible (1 Corinthians 11:5).
As the Apostle Paul testifies in Romans 15:17-21, we should take pride in our work for God, aided by the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are very much alive today. The Lord God remains the same yesterday, today, and forever; His power has not diminished and will not diminish throughout the ages (read our article: Holy Spirit Baptism for a Christian).
Conclusions
In conclusion, if we suffer for the name of the Lord Jesus, we should not be ashamed or recant our faith. We should look to the examples of the apostles and the early disciples who maintained their faith amidst persecution. For instance, the Acts of the Apostles recounts various trials and tribulations that the early followers of the Lord Jesus endured, yet they stayed firm in faith and the Word of God grew and multiplied (Acts 2:41, Acts 12:24, Acts 16:5). Regardless of the challenges and suffering we may face, we must take pride in our calling as we have received it. We are called to serve the Lord Jesus, to stand firm in the true teachings of the Gospel, and never to be ashamed of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, even if it seems foolish to the world. While the world may view us as fools, we know that ultimately, we will stand alongside our Lord and King, Jesus, in His everlasting kingdom.
Meditation Tasks:
- Review our blog article: “The God We Serve.”
- Let us meditate and examine ourselves for areas in our faith and dedication to the Lord Jesus where we may feel ashamed. Let us pray that we are delivered from shame and become bold in the name of the Lord Jesus.