Why I’m Unashamed Pt. 1
Being Ashamed
I remember my first car accident. I was driving down I-20 in Dallas headed home from school in my Champagne colored ‘97 Nissan Pathfinder. All of a sudden the car in front of me swerved to the right to avoid something and I didn’t have time to react and follow suit in time. It happened so quick it’s hard to remember exactly how it went down, but what I do remember is a old mattress falling from the air and landing a few feet in front of me.
The next thing I knew, it was under my wheels and the mattress springs were tightly tangled to everything on the bottom side of my car. My car slowed, sparks flew, and the fire department had to come. Did I just run over a old mattress on the freeway son? When I arrived at the dealership the next day to get my car after they towed it and untangled it, every single dude who worked there was outside laughing at me. I couldn’t believe they were heckling me, “Are you the dude with the mattress?” It was a real long walk to the check out desk.
I say all that to say that there are some things that we should be ashamed of. The Gospel is not one of them.
The Power of Shame
Often people feel ashamed when they are exposed as doing something (or being associated with something) that is viewed negatively by others. They know that the association will be detrimental to the way they are viewed, and of course none of us want that. All of us have felt shame at one point or another, whether we should have or not.
But do not be fooled. Shame is a powerful feeling. In many cases shame can cause fakeness and dishonesty, and it can keep people from standing by things that they value. Especially when the people you rub shoulders with everyday don’t share your values. Although our society doesn’t value the Gospel, I am not ashamed of it in the least bit. And I don’t think any of us should be. Here is why.
The Power of God
In his letters, Paul the Apostle always had to defend himself and he was aware that some thought he was ashamed to bring his strange new message to the big city. But this is what he said to the Romans:
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe, first to the Jew then to the Greek.”
Romans 1:16
The reason Paul was unashamed is because his “strange new message” happened to also be the power of God for salvation. If I was going to be ashamed of a message it would be because it was weak, but the Gospel is powerful!
The Power of the Gospel Alone
The Bible is clear that God saves people by grace through faith in the Gospel. Jesus is the object of our faith; and the Gospel is the means God uses to bring about our faith. Many have been deceived into thinking we are saved by persuasive messages, altar calls, or sinners prayers, but the Bible makes no mention of these things as God’s power to save. Only the Gospel.
Conclusion
So if I was asked why I am unashamed, I would probably respond with my own question. How could I be ashamed of the most powerful news in the universe? God uses these words to bring life from death, to bring light from darkness, to make new creatures. With them He calls men to repentance, calls women from the grave, and calls souls to God. I am anything but ashamed. And when I have a lapse of judgement, I simply remind myself why I should remain so confident in this news. My words have never created life, but God’s have- and they do. Being unashamed of the Gospel isn’t a cool slogan, it’s being in touch with reality.
“…you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”
1 Peter 1:23
“So faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Romans 10:18
Further reading:
James 1:18, Ephesians 1:13, Acts 10:44
All Comments 50
yo that was nice man I'm definitly unashamed. I pray that I stay that way.
Karamalong
– Dec 1 2009
truth.. I feel u bro Unashamed All Day Every Day
Matt Wade
– Dec 1 2009
That was a good read and encouraging. I'm looking forward to the next parts.
Kirk R.
– Dec 1 2009
Without daily devoting ourselves to the Gospel, we will become ashamed. We feel shame when we think people are going to criticize us or if we are too uncomfortable with ourselves. As a christian on a college campus, I have seen this way too often when people get so used to the world that acting in a Godly way becomes difficult. I love that you did this and encourage you to continue spreading the Gospel through this media. Everyone keep your mind on god and shame will never befall you.
jfain
– Dec 1 2009
Amen bro.! This is very encouraging. I'll be sure 2 pass this on. Can't wait 4 the next next 1. God bless you man.
Jeremy
– Dec 1 2009
Thanks, Trip. I needed that.
Rusty Shelangoski
– Dec 2 2009
"Being unashamed of the Gospel isn't a cool slogan, it's being in touch with reality." That's REAL TALK, bro (so many great points). Thx for sharing your encouragement man. Grace and Peace, fam.
Joe
– Dec 2 2009
I really think that message was meant for me. I have been trying to fit or mirror the world lately, thinking that I will share the gospel and who I really am only to those who are well acquanted with me. But I feel motivated to be light of Christ to everybody now and not be ashamed or fearful of what might follow. Thanks Trip Lee!!!
michael azonye
– Dec 2 2009
I Am Unashamed!!! Thanks Trip, I feel so blessed to hear how you guys at reach records are representing Christ. I have been so encouraged by all of you and may God continue to use you guys in wonderful ways. God Bless
Jayden Froese
– Dec 2 2009
good word trip... keep up the good fight main, and i'll always live young and unashamed.
dino
– Dec 2 2009
Solid word Trip! I have always admired the way you can put things into such a good context. The Holy Spirit is amazing. What one person sees in one passage is totally different than the next. As an early Christian I did find myself judging everyone around me because I knew better than they did...or so I thought. And then came a season when I started to hesitate on sharing or being used by God in any given moment. And then I came across "real talk" and whatta you know. Unashamed ever since. Much love and grace be with you all.
E
– Dec 3 2009
that's a great perspective.
Lord please instill that boldness in each of our hearts
maik aka emjoh
– Dec 4 2009
i love word of God may God bless you with His love that makes everyday a joy to live.
Cheers
Evah from Wahington,Seattle.
Evah
– Dec 4 2009
Aye Trip, thanks for the encouraging message. As I've been growing in Christ, the word "unashamed" always pops into my head when I go out into public places. The confidence that we have in Christ shouldn't be our best kept secret. My prayer is that I always represent Him right in all that I do. By the way, I gotta black Pathfinder with some oversized wheels that rub when I turn, and breaks that squeak when I stop. But I still let that 20/20 slap outta my factory speakers like it's nobody's business! God Bless!
Ueligitone
– Dec 5 2009
true true. We talked about this at impact today. Thanks Trip.. we appreciate you and all the 116 members out here in Ohio.
Missy
– Dec 5 2009
true dat trip, i am blessed to drive trucks for a living
Victor
– Dec 6 2009
Man, i really appreciate this. I really need to start being a light to other people around me who don't believe in the Gospel. Lately i have been too much worldly in an attempt to introduce Jesus to my friends, but i need to be an example, not act like everyone else. Thanks for the message and keep the letters coming. Much love all the way from Sweden.
Oliver
– Dec 7 2009
Thanks Trip, this is something needed at this point in my life. I have been going through some things and it is always good to have a wake-up call to be Bold for Christ and Unashamed.
***Jessica Harden***
Jessica Harden
– Dec 8 2009
Praise God. I will be chewing on that for a minute.. :)
La
– Dec 8 2009
umm.....my thoughts for today! great stuff
Ndamuwanepi
– Dec 14 2009
I like this trip I really appreciate that.. " why should I be ashamed of the most powerful news in the world? " I really like that... Thanks so much man, I like the way this is making me feel : )
Joshua Gale
– Jan 5 2010
that is 100 persent true? why be unashamed. worst case u die and u still get hevan. and even if ur persecuted its only at max/ 90 years and longer then forever in hevan.
Anonymous
– Feb 11 2010
Unashamed man, i feel u, it just get better wit JC
J.B. got faith in JC/so by grace im HIS baby boi
Amen Hallelujah fo dat real true Love
JESUS on da cross givin up HIS Blood!
MuchLove Lee *14 24 34 TWWID*
Christopher Gill II
– Feb 22 2010
Guys you are doin agreat job.
Batsirai
– Mar 12 2010
Guys you are doin agreat job.
Batsirai
– Mar 12 2010
Trip you a real dude sent by God to reach the masses im lookn forward to ya new CD too come june 22nd...God Bless bro
Anonymous
– Apr 23 2010
Amen! Unashamed! God is good.
Surfing the internet the other day, I found an article about science which was talking about how scientists think they've learned more about matter and antimatter and such. Pretty much, they tried to say they're coming closer to explaining 'why' we exist. (sounded more to me like 'how' rather than 'why'). Anyway, this isn't what struck me. What did strike me was the comments left by the readers. As anyone could guess, the comments were a heated debate over science vs God. This didn't surprise me whatsoever. It was nothing more than what I expected. I noticed something, though, while I was looking through and reading some of these comments. Beside every comment there were two buttons for others to click. One was a thumbs up button if you like what the comment said, the other was a thumbs down button if you didn't like what the comment said. What I noticed was that for many of the comments from people saying that God created everything and God is the answer, there were more thumbs down responses than thumbs up responses. But, why? It seems to me that people aren't opening their eyes and seeing. Now, the last sentence that you just read says: "It seems to me that people aren't opening their eyes and seeing." No, this isn't an incomplete sentence. I know you're probable thinking, "Seeing what?" Well, everything! The world, people, living things, everything! I agree, science can show a great deal of things. But all it shows is the 'how' and not the 'why'. It may tell 'how' man was created, but it cannot explain 'why' the things happened that caused it. The only answer is that there is a God: the God. But people don't see this. The ones who say there isn't cannot prove otherwise, yet want to tell us that say there is that we cannot prove there is one. If only they'd open their eyes and look around the proof is right in front of them everywhere they go. Everything that is here is so detailed, so complex, so pin point and perfectly crafted to work that something, someone had to have created it. How could something so complex be a result of an explosion or be a product of chance. It can't; it's impossible.Where is the science that proves otherwise? Sure, maybe this matter and antimatter that was spoken about in this article had something to do with human life, but who made it? Where did it come from? Why did it react or do something in such a way as to cause something so complex to be produced? It had to have came from somewhere. And then to go farther, whatever these things came from had to have came from something as well, and so on.
Now, back to the fact that there were more thumbs down responses. This tells me that there are more people out there that are willing to stand up for what they think and say that there is no God than there are people that will stand up for Christ. This is a scary thought! We Christians need to unite and work for Christ. It breaks my heart to think that there isn't an outstanding number of Christians that will step up and take a stand. Many of us say, 'Yes, I would stand up for Jesus' or 'I argue with people like the ones in that article and tell them God is real'. Okay, great! But it shouldn't take something like an article striking a nerve for us to say something. I mean, how many people speak about God to others regularly? We need to get out and say something! Many people's idea of standing up for Jesus is saying 'Yes, I believe in Jesus' when someone asks them. I say we need to stand up for him by speaking up and spreading the Word without being asked about it. Tell others. Then, if they don't want to hear it and want to argue and such, that's their choice. That's where free will comes in. At least you can say that you did your part. The Bible tells us in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." In Mark 16:15 it says, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." And again in Mark 13:10-11 it tells us, "And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost." We need to get out there and do something about this. Fight against those who say there is no God. There may be someone out there that isn't sure what to believe. You never know, one of these nonbelievers may tell them there isn't a God and they may believe it because no one was there to tell them otherwise. You could be the one to win them over for Christ just by simply telling them about Him. Christians, come on! Stand up for Christ! Don't be the minority under the nonbelievers like in the comments on the article.
-Jared Skinner
'J Skin'
J Skin
– May 20 2010
Shame definately is such a powerful thing! It affects our confidence and limits what we can do with God. Huge tool of the enemy! This is why Paul says to boast in our weakness (2 Cor.12:9), because something in us wants to 'look good' all the time, to show everybody else that we're 'making it'. The reason people try to make us feel shameful of the Gospel is because of the perverted views they have of Christians, Christianity, religion, or God. Too many Christians misrepresent Him and don't fully surrender, which is a mockery of the Christ who gave His life for us! This is why God won't accept the lukewarm...it distorts others' view on the Almighty, awesome Father who seeks personal relationship with His bride. Go Hard or Go Home!!
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