A Goody From Woody

I sit today and have this question in my heart about the contemporary church and Christians generally. Are we ashamed of Christ?

Consider the foundation of my question. In 2 Timothy chapter 1 (please read both chapters one and two for a great understanding of Paul’s appeal to the young preacher Timothy), Paul says, “So then, don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but rather share with me my suffering for the good news by the power of God.” 2 Timothy 1:8

Consider where Paul was when he wrote this epistle. He was in prison for preaching Christ. But this verse tells us Paul wrote he was not a prisoner of Rome, but of Christ.

Suffering, or the possibility of suffering for Christ, had caused both Phygellus and Hermogenes to run away from Paul. We can understand their fear of being jailed or losing their life, but still they have to be labeled as “ashamed of Christ.”

Living in a “postmodern” world where Emergent church leaders have “conversations” with the people of our culture, I get the impression that these leaders are ashamed of Christ. I seldom read about their use of the word “sin,” “salvation,” “heaven,” or “hell” (most would argue hell doesn’t exist.)

Heaven help the church today if these leaders abandon Christ and the absolutes He communicated to all men and women to be saved.

Not only do I wrestle with why people want to “talk” but why not talk about the “star” of our show—Jesus?

Recently I read Charles H. Spurgeon’s work on “Eccentric Preachers.” In this work he gave the definition of “eccentric” (quoting from Dr. Samuel Johnson’s dictionary): “It signified deviating from the center, or not having the same center as another circle.” Spurgeon noted, “The word has come to mean singular, odd, whimsical and so forth.” Spurgeon noted for preachers and Christians we move in a circle not quite coincident with that which is followed by the majority.

I was blessed by reading Spurgeon’s work. He was called the “Prince of Preachers.” He was labeled and made fun of by many. But in his lifetime he preached to 10 million people (1834-1892) without a sound system.

I suppose Spurgeon, by moving in a “different circle” than his London culture, really was eccentric. I would say he was not ashamed of Christ.

Ask yourself today, “Do the people that know me know of my love and devotion to Christ? “Does the person at the grocery store, gas station, school, work and department stores know I am not ashamed of my Master?”

If the answer is they don’t know that about me, then why not? Either you are ashamed of Him or you are not a believer in Christ.

Paul’s appeal to young Timothy is my appeal to you who follow Christ today (in our postmodern world): “Do your best to present yourself to God tried and true, a workman who won’t be ashamed, handling the Word of truth with accuracy.”

God Bless,
Woody