IT WAS GERMAN PASTOR, DIETRICH BONHOEFFER, WHO WROTE, “SILENCE IN THE FACE OF EVIL IS ITSELF EVIL. GOD WILL NOT HOLD US GUILTLESS. NOT TO SPEAK IS TO SPEAK. NOT TO ACT IS TO ACT.”
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, ALSO SAID SOMETHING SIMILAR: “THERE COMES A TIME WHEN SILENCE IS BETRAYAL. OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER. IN THE END, WE WILL REMEMBER NOT THE WORDS OF OUR ENEMIES, BUT THE SILENCE OF OUR FRIENDS…FOR EVIL TO SUCCEED, ALL IT NEEDS IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING.”
THE WORLD NEEDS TO BE THE RECIPIENT OF A BOLD AND DARING CHRISTIAN WHO TAKES ALL NECESSARY RISKS TO BE A WITNESS, VOICE AND EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. THE LAST THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS FOR CHRISTIANS TO TAKE THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST AND WITHDRAW, RETREAT OR BECOME SILENT OUT OF FEAR, INTIMIDATION OR SHAME.
RICHARD BLACKABY IN A DEVOTIONAL WRITING SAID THIS: “FEAR OF PEOPLE DOES NOT COME FROM GOD. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MANY CHRISTIANS FEAR PEOPLE MORE THAN THEY FEAR GOD. THEIR FEAR HINDERS THEM FROM PLEASING GOD BECAUSE THEY WASTE THEIR EFFORTS APPEASING OTHER PEOPLE….
FEAR CAUSES US TO STOP AND QUESTION WHAT GOD HAS CLEARLY TOLD US TO DO. PERHAPS WE WERE CONFIDENT IN OUR OBEDIENCE UNTIL PERSECUTION CAME; NOW WE DOUBT WHETHER WE HEARD GOD CORRECTLY. MOST FEAR IS FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN….
FEAR IS NO EXCUSE TO DISOBEY GOD. THERE IS NO REASON TO LIVE IN FEAR WHEN YOU HAVE THE MIGHTY PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU. FEAR WILL ENSLAVE YOU, BUT CHRIST HAS COME TO SET YOU FREE.”
OUR RESOUNDING “BATTLE CRY” HEARD THROUGHOUT THE CHURCH ARE THE WORDS OF PAUL IN ROMANS 1:16, “FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THIS GOOD NEWS ABOUT CHRIST. IT IS THE POWER OF GOD AT WORK, SAVING EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES….”
THIS IS WHY PAUL COULD WRITE TO TIMOTHY FROM PRISON IN 2 TIMOTHY 1:8, “SO NEVER BE ASHAMED TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT OUR LORD. AND DON’T BE ASHAMED OF ME, EITHER, EVEN THOUGH I’M IN PRISON FOR HIM. WITH THE STRENGTH GOD GIVES YOU, BE READY TO SUFFER WITH ME FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS.”
THE BOOK OF MARK EMPHASIZES THIS ATTRIBUTE THROUGH THE LIFE OF JESUS. WE MUST BE READY TO SUFFER. WE MUST MAKE OUR LIVES A LIVING SACRIFICE. WE MUST NEVER BE ASHAMED OF ENGAGING OTHERS TO TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS.
THE KEY VERSE IS MARK 10:45, “FOR EVEN THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.” JESUS SETS THE EXAMPLE. HE WILFULLY GAVE ALL OF HIMSELF TO BECOME THE LOWEST OF ALL SERVANTS EVEN THOUGH HE IS, BEYOND ALL DOUBT, THE SON OF GOD.
JESUS IS CALLING US TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD. PHILIPPIAN 2:5-8, “YOU MUST HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE THAT CHRIST JESUS HAD. THOUGH HE WAS GOD, HE DID NOT THINK OF EQUALITY WITH GOD AS SOMETHING TO CLING TO. INSTEAD, HE GAVE UP HIS DIVINE PRIVILEGES; HE TOOK THE HUMBLE POSITION OF A SLAVE AND WAS BORN AS A HUMAN BEING. WHEN HE APPEARED IN HUMAN FORM, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND DIED A CRIMINAL’S DEATH ON A CROSS.”
LIKE JESUS, WE MUST HUMBLE OURSEVLES IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD BY GIVING UP OUR LIVES TO LIVE JUST AS JESUS INSTRUCTED US BY DENYING OURSELVES, PICKING UP OUR CROSS, FOLLOWING HIM, AND LIVING RADICALLY OBEDIENT LIVES.
OUR LIFESTYLE MUST ADAPT TO THESE COMMANDS OF CHRIST IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE WITNESSES AND TO MITIGATE ANY PENDING DISASTER OF SUCCUMBING TO SIN AND BECOMING INEFFECTIVE, COMPLACENT, SPORADIC, AND DISMAL FAILURES.
JESUS GAVE A STERN WARNING TO US ABOUT DIGRESSING IN OUR FAITH. JESUS SAID IN MARK 8:38, “IF ANYONE IS ASHAMED OF ME AND MY MESSAGE IN THESE ADULTEROUS AND SINFUL DAYS, THE SON OF MAN WILL BE ASHAMED OF THAT PERSON WHEN HE RETURNS IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH THE HOLY ANGELS.”
JESUS DRAWS THE LINE. HE IS REQUIRING AN ANSWER. A RESPONSE. A COMMITMENT. THE RESPONSE IS “EITHER-OR” NOT “BOTH.” WE CANNOT BE HALF-HEARTED OR WAVERING. WE MUST PICK A SIDE AND STOP HOPPING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO. IT REALLY IS “ALL OR NOTHING” AND “ONE OR THE OTHER.”
THE WORLD CANNOT BE A GREATER LOVE, A HIGHER PRIORITY OR A DISTRACTING CONCERN OVER OUR FULL SURRENDER TO CHRIST AND HIS COMMANDS OF OBEDIENCE, SACRIFICE AND DISCIPLESHIP.
THE WORLD, IN ALL OF ITS HOSTILITY, DARKNESS, AND EVIL, CAN NEVER BE ALLOWED TO GROW FRIGHTENING ENOUGH TO SILENCE US OR DETER US FROM OUR DEVOTION TO JESUS CHRIST. OUR FAITH IS NOT PASSIVE NOR SILENT NEITHER IS IT AGGRESSIVE AND COMBATIVE. WE LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY.
COLOSSIANS 3:12-14, “THEREFORE, AS GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE, HOLY AND DEARLY LOVED, CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE. BEAR WITH EACH OTHER AND FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER IF ANY OF YOU HAS A GRIEVANCE AGAINST SOMEONE. FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU. AND OVER ALL THESE VIRTUES PUT ON LOVE, WHICH BINDS THEM ALL TOGETHER IN PERFECT UNITY….”
WE CANNOT ALLOW THE WORLD TO PUSH US INTO AN AGGRESSIVE RESPONSE THAT LEADS TO SPIRITUAL FAILURE. WE MUST GUARD AGAINST THE WORLD’S TACTICS TO USE SHAME AND FEAR TO CONTROL AND SILENCE US.
JESUS GIVES US THE CRITERIA FOR BECOMING HIS DISCIPLE AND FOR FOLLOWING HIM. WE QUICKLY NOTICE THAT NONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS ARE WORLD-RELATED. THIS IS WHY JESUS ASKED THE QUESTION “WHAT GOOD IS IT FOR SOMEONE TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, YET FORFEIT THEIR SOUL?” THE WORLD IS NOT WORTH IT!
JESUS CONCLUDES BY ADDING ONE POWERFUL STATEMENT. HE SAYS, “IF ANYONE IS ASHAMED OF ME AND MY WORDS IN THIS ADUTEROUS AND SINFUL GENERATION, THE SON OF MAN WILL BE ASHAMED OF THEM WHEN HE COMES IN HIS FATHER’S GLORY WITH THE HOLY ANGELS.” WE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN READING THIS IN ENGLISH. THE WORD ASHAMED IS NOT WHAT WE THINK.
THE WORD USED FOR “ASHAMED” MEANS “BEING AFRAID OR EMBARRASSED OF RIDICULE.” JESUS IS SPEAKING OF THOSE WHO ARE CHRISTIAN AND HAVE DRAWN BACK FROM FOLLOWING HIM OUT OF FEAR OF HUMAN OPINION, THREAT OR INTIMIDATION.
WE BECOME “ASHAMED” OF THE GOSPEL WHEN WE WOULD RATHER PURSUE A LIFE OF EASE, COMFORT AND ACCEPTANCE BY THE WORLD. THOSE WHO REJECT THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP ARE THOSE JESUS SAID ARE ASHAMED OF HIM AND THE TRUTH HE TAUGHT US TO KNOW AND SHARE WITH OTHERS.
WILLIAM BARCLAY WROTE, “IN A DIFFICULT AND HOSTILE WORLD, CHRISTIANITY IS UP AGAINST IT THESE DAYS. IF YOU ARE ASHAMED UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, IF YOU ARE AFRAID TO SHOW WHAT SIDE YOU ARE ON, YOU CANNOT EXPECT TO GAIN A PLACE OF HONOR WHEN THE KINGDOM COMES.” WE MUST, AT ALL COST, RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO SEEK WORLDLY SECURITY RATHER THAN RISK OUR LIVES FOR CHRIST.
THOSE WHOSE SOLE AIM IS MATERIAL WELL-BEING LOSE THE ONE LIFE THAT IS WORTH LIVING; THOSE WHO SACRIFICE FOR OTHERS, GAIN IT. TRYING TO INSURE ONE’S ADVANCEMENT IN THIS LIFE LEADS ONLY TO THE IRREPARABLE LOSS OF SOMETHING FAR MORE VALUABLE TO ONESELF: ETERNITY.
THOMAS A KEMPIS MAY HAVE SAID IT BEST: “JESUS TODAY HAS MANY WHO LOVE HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM, BUT FEW WHO CARRY HIS CROSS; MANY WHO YEARN FOR COMFORT, FEW WHO LONG FOR DISTRESS. PLENTY OF PEOPLE HE FINDS TO SHARE HIS BANQUET, FEW TO SHARE HIS FAST.
EVERYONE DESIRES TO TAKE PART IN HIS REJOICING, BUT FEW ARE WILING TO SUFFER ANYTHING FOR HIS SAKE. THERE ARE MANY THAT FOLLOW JESUS AS FAR AS THE BREAKING OF BREAD, FEW AS FAR AS DRINKING THE CUP OF SUFFERING.
MANY THAT REVERE HIS MORALITY, FEW THAT FOLLOW HIM IN THE INDIGNITY OF HIS CROSS; MANY THAT LOVE JESUS AS LONG AS NOTHING RUNS COUNTER TO THEM; MANY THAT PRAISE AND BLESS HIM, AS LONG AS THEY RECEIVE COMFORT FROM HIM.
BUT SHOULD JESUS HIDE FROM THEM AND LEAVE THEM FOR A WHILE, THEY FALL TO COMPLAINING OR BECOME DEEPLY DEPRESSED. THOSE WHO LOVE JESUS FOR HIS OWN SAKE, NOT FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR OWN COMFORT, BLESS HIM IN TIME OF TROUBLE AND HEARTACHE AS MUCH AS WHEN THEY ARE FULL OF CONSULATION.”
MANY ARE “ASHAMED OF THE WAY” AND FIND IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO STAND UP AND BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS TO WITNESS FOR CHRIST. JESUS DOES NOT OFFER AN OPTION FOR SECRET DISCIPLESHIP; HE REQUIRES A BOLD CONFESSION OF FAITH.
IF WE ARE “ASHAMED OF THE WAY” AND NOT FAITHFUL TO BEAR WITNESS UNDER A LITTLE PRESSURE NOW, WE WILL HARDLY PROVE TRUE IF OUR VERY LIVES ARE ON THE LINE. IT IS SAD THAT SO MANY WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN, BUT AREN’T WILLING TO REPENT, SURRENDER, AND PAY THE PRICE FOR IT.
I LEAVE YOU WITH THE “COVENANT PRAYER” OF JOHN WESLEY, THAT WE CAN PRAY TO DENY OURSELVES, TAKE UP OUR CROSSES AND UNASHAMEDLY FOLLOW CHRIST:
“I AM NO LONGER MY OWN, BUT THINE. PUT ME TO WHAT THOU WILT, RANK ME WITH WHOM THOU WILT. PUT ME TO DOING, PUT ME TO SUFFERING. LET ME BE EMPLOYED BY THEE OR LAID ASIDE FOR THEE, EXALTED FOR THEE OR BROUGHT LOW FOR THEE. LET ME BE FULL, LET ME BE EMPTY. LET ME HAVE ALL THINGS, LET ME HAVE NOTHING. I FREELY AND HEARTILY YIELD ALL THINGS TO THY PLEASURE AND DISPOSAL. AND NOW, O GLORIOUS AND BLESSED GOD, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT, THOU ART MINE, AND I AM THINE. SO BE IT. AND THE COVENANT WHICH I HAVE MADE ON EARTH, LET IT BE RATIFIED IN HEAVEN. AMEN.”
