Christian Shaming
In today’s world of tolerance, there is one particular group of people that is ok to pick on. There’s one group of people that it seems like it’s politically correct to degrade and harass. There is one group of people that it is the “in” thing to shame and that’s Christians. Today’s tolerant world is very intolerant toward Christians. In fact, we see Christian shaming all the time.
In the current #metoo culture, you’d think women would appreciate that a man is faithful to his wife, that he won’t even be in a room alone with another woman and won’t go to dinner with another woman if it is just the two of them. This sounds like the perfect solution to avoid a woman becoming a sexual assault victim. But when it was revealed that Vice President Mike Pence adheres to what is commonly called the Billy Graham rule in Christian circles, he is mocked and ridiculed.
Bashing The Vice President
One of the American Olympic ice skaters recently spent a lot of time bashing the vice president instead of concentrating on the Olympics. The main stream media loved the contention and the skater Adam Rippon painting Vice President Mike Pence as a really evil guy.
Yes, bakers in Oregon were fined for $135,000 and photographers and others run out of business in other states. If this was any other case except for Christians, people would clearly be able to see that any fine over $100,000 is government overreach and way, way excessive. But it’s ok in this case, because the state wanted to shame the Christian bakers and all other Christians in business.
Christianity A Mental Illness?
But Joy Behar’s recent comments on The View on ABC was absolutely horrible. She mocked Vice President Mike Pence and Christianity as being a mental illness. Now if this crazy statement was being said about any other group or religion, people would go absolutely berserk. But since Christian shaming is acceptable and even the current thing to do, nobody but Christians are even batting an eye about it.
Well folks, God saved me 10 years ago when I repented from my sins and put my faith in Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior and there is no way that you can shame me. You can’t embarrass me about my belief in Jesus. I won’t be embarrassed about believing in the biblical account of creation in six literal days. Oh, you can laugh and make fun of me, but I am not ashamed of believing in the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present God. The one true God. The God of the Bible. Yes, the Almighty God that saved my soul.
I Am Not Afraid Of Christian Shaming
I’m not afraid of Christian shaming because I am not ashamed of Jesus Christ my Lord. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16). I am not ashamed! I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Because it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.
Instead of worrying about Christian shaming or being ashamed of my faith, I gladly share the Gospel of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only hope of mankind. There is no hope in any other. There’s no hope in evolution. There’s no hope in atheism and there is no hope in false religions. No, there is only hope in Christ alone. Why would I be ashamed of that? I’m not telling you some strange new thing. Jesus Christ saved souls 2,000 years ago and praise God, He’s still saving lost souls today.
God Has Not Given Us The Spirit Of Fear
I also join the apostle Paul in not being ashamed of the Gospel nor of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Where unto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (2 Timothy 1:7-12).
The Lord Jesus Says Don’t Be Afraid Of Men
Jesus tells us to not be afraid of men, Matthew 10:26-31: Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Followers of Christ are not to fear. We shouldn’t be afraid of Christian shaming. We are not to be afraid and we shouldn’t be ashamed. I am not ashamed of the Gospel nor of Jesus Christ my Lord. I will not deny my Lord and Savior and praise God, He will not deny me before God. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 10:32-33.
Are You Afraid To Share The Gospel?
Oh, professing Christian, if you are afraid to tell others about Jesus, He won’t acknowledge you before God the Father. If you deny Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He will deny that you are one of His at the judgment. Don’t be fooled, there is judgment to come. It’s appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
I’m not afraid of Christian shaming. No, I’m not afraid of those who try to silence me or cause me problems. Jesus Christ suffered, bled and died on that cruel cross to take away my sins. The sins of a wretched sinner like me. I’m grateful and thankful that Jesus saved me. That He granted me repentance and faith. I gladly proclaim the good news of the Gospel to this lost and dying world.
The bad news is that we have all sinned against God. Each and every one of us have rebelled against our great Creator God. None of us have loved God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind, every second of every day of our lives. God is Holy, we are not. None of us are righteous. Not a single one of us. We really do deserve to suffer eternal punishment for our sins. We deserve to suffer the flames of Hell for all eternity.
Jesus Bore God’s Wrath Over Sinful Creatures
But God. But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We’ve rejected, rebelled against and said no to God. Yet, He sent His only begotten Son to suffer, bleed, die a horribly painful death on the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus bore God’s righteous anger over sinful creatures like you and me. Jesus died, was buried and rose again from the grave the third day. He now sits at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven.
Jesus is risen. He is Lord, Lord of all. Yet, when He left Heaven 2,000 years ago to come to this earth to live a perfect life and suffer God’s anger over rebellious, sinful creatures like us, He endured shame. Jesus was beaten beyond recognition. He was bruised for our iniquities. By His stripes we are healed. Jesus suffered shame and humiliation while He hung on the cruel cross. Everyone that hung on a cross was cursed. Jesus wasn’t cursed for His sin, because He never sinned. He was cursed for the sins of others.
Jesus bore the shame, guilt and humiliation that I deserved. He took my place on that cross. He bore the sins of the world according to the Bible (1 John 2:2). But that does not mean there is universal salvation. No, you must repent and put your trust in Jesus. If you have no repentance, you have no salvation. For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Believe In Jesus And Receive Everlasting Life
Don’t continue going through life with God’s anger over your sins remaining upon you. Admit that you are a sinner. Cry out for God to save you. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. Surrender your life fully and completely to Him. He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36).
Jesus was not ashamed of me when He bore the wrath of God that I deserved. The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed (Isaiah 50:5-7).
I Am Not Ashamed Of Jesus Christ My Lord And Savior
So I am not afraid of Christian shaming. I am not ashamed of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior and I am not ashamed of the glorious Gospel. Don’t be afraid of Christian shaming. It seems to be the thing for the main stream media and God-haters to do nowadays. That vile woman from Teen Vogue Lauren Duca, said unbelievable wicked things recently about Billy Graham. Just like Rosie O’Donnell condemns people to Hell, this pathetic woman condemned Dr. Graham to Hell.
Frankly, I doubt that she even believes in a literal Hell. But if she continues mocking God and rejecting such a great of salvation found in Christ alone, she will find herself in Hell after she dies. Do not be deceived, the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9). She won’t be mocking then. She won’t be Christian shaming anyone then.
In fact, she will be suffering physical pain far worse than she ever imagined. If you are like this woman, don’t continue going down the broad road to destruction. Repent and believe the Gospel. Surrender your life to Jesus. Do this today. Don’t put it off. Go from Christian shaming to unashamedly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord.
(A basic version of this message was proclaimed on February 23, 2018 in downtown Springfield, MO)