A member of a television audience asked the panelists on the program, “Which so-called dangerous idea do you each think would have the greatest potential to change the world for the better if it were implemented?” The homosexual activist among them spoke for population/birth control, the aging feminist spoke for freedom and the one Christian among them spoke this, “The most dangerous idea in human history and philosophy remains the belief that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and rose from the dead and that is the most dangerous idea you will ever encounter.” Normally audience members sneer and jeer at the mere mention of the biblical Jesus, but not this time; they clapped loudly, some cheered.
That response surprised the host, who asked him to clarify what he meant. “Because it alters the whole of human behavior and all our responsibilities. It turns the universe from a meaningless chaos into a designed place in which there is justice and there is hope and, therefore, we all have a duty to discover the nature of that justice and work towards that hope. It alters us all. If we reject it, it alters us all was well. It is incredibly dangerous. It’s why so many people turn against it.” The man is a well-known writer and author, not a preacher, but his challenging message impacted the audience in a manner far superior to those of most preachers who come on that program. He did not pussyfoot, smile, squirm, cough or splutter, he simply opened his mouth and spoke up unashamedly.
Using a “normal” voice, the man spoke with spiritual power and authority leaving both the host and other panel members temporarily unable to react. The first person to react had no comeback, looking foolish and speaking as such. That night I witnessed the reality of Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes…….. Ashamed of the gospel or not ashamed – therein lies the key to ineffective or effective witness as Christians in this world. The gospel of Jesus Christ is powerless for anyone who is ashamed of it. Is this the problem with the Western church? It has no spiritual power, no spiritual influence and no spiritual impact on society. Is it because the majority within are ashamed of the gospel?
What about those within siding with same-sex marriage advocates? What about Muslim-appeasers within who say we worship the same God? What about Bible-compromisers within who say there’s more than one way to heaven? If these people are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ why is it that they willingly side with this foolishness but not with Jesus Christ and the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes……? They’re ashamed alright. They know it too; it shows up when one who is not ashamed comes into their midst. They get fidgety, they look around them, they move away as quickly as possible usually expressing some kind of religious talk as they do so. Many there are who seek religion, reality is another thing.
The Seeker Friendly movement, the Purpose Driven Church-growth movement and the Emerging Church movement – these are ashamed of the gospel of Christ. That’s why each one of them attracts people by the thousands to membership. Any “seeker” who walks into one of those places is never going to hear the biblical words ‘sin’ ‘sinner’ ‘repent’ ‘obey’ ‘repentance’ ‘obedience’ ‘judgment’ ‘hell’ ‘holy’ or ‘holiness’ mentioned by anyone. If they do, they will not be heard in the context the Holy Spirit intended. But it’s not only these movements that are guilty, so are the mainstream denominations, for they have embraced and are feeding on the same Christ-offending nonsense. Yes, there are seekers in those places, but too many are more likely to be self-seekers than Christ-seekers.
They’re more likely to be related to the “seekers” of John 6:24-26 than the real deal. In spite of what church leaders say, there are not many people in society seeking after God; there are not many wanting to know the Lord and to live for Him. If God’s people stuck to the Scriptures they would know this first hand, freeing them from all lies and guilt trips that say traditional Christianity scares the unchurched away. Truth is there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God Romans 3:11. The only people being scared away are those who will not allow themselves to become spiritually contaminated with doctrines that cut across biblical revelation. Those truly seeking God will do so under the convictions of the Holy Spirit, not the mollycoddling spewing forth from this lot!
Few there are in Christendom desiring to come after the Lord, denying themselves, being willing to take up his cross daily, and follow the Lord because it is extremely costly Luke 9:23. Most people in Western world Christendom have not severed relationships with their closest unbelieving friends; they are not alienated from their unbelieving family members; they do not have a reputation for being Christ-ones and they do not put their secular jobs on the line by standing up for Christ in their work place. Nobody is threatened by people such as these, regardless of how well they can sing or play or how eloquent they can speak or pray in their church gatherings. There’s no threat of a dangerous idea ever emanating from people whilst in that powerless spiritual condition.
The promise of power for witnessing given by Jesus in Acts 1:8 is reserved only for those not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. The power of the Holy Spirit comes upon no other such person. And it needs to be said here that one Spirit-led seemingly “insignificant” frail old man or woman lying on his or her sick bed at home alone manifests more of that power whilst praying for and interceding on behalf of others than do one hundred or one thousand “seekers” gathered together. And if anybody is going to be instrumental in turning the ashamed into the not ashamed and the powerless into the powerful, it is going to be these people. There are awesome rewards awaiting them all at the judgment seat of Christ 2 Corinthians 5:10.
The movements mentioned above talk endlessly about justice, but never the justice of God, only social justice – equality, solidarity, human rights and the like. True, they put Jesus’ name to those things and they steal His words to justify why and what they do, but they do not make Him Lord of them. They cannot possibly do so when He is not Lord of them! That’s why all their time, energy and finances etc. put into these things slowly but surely get frittered away or stolen away! This will continue to happen until the justice of God is personally acknowledged and understood. And that can’t happen until they face up to what sin is and then face up to sin their own lives. Sin is lawlessness 1John 3:4. So, here they are, essentially lawless people caught up things essentially fruitless.
They will deny this, of course, but that changes not the reality and truth of it. They’ll even see themselves as radical ones operating out of a dangerous idea, but without the biblical Lord Jesus they are foolish ones operating out of a stupid idea! There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death Proverbs 14:12; 16:25. I find it interesting that God tells us this twice in the book of Proverbs. Imagine if it were not there at all! Psalm 97:2 tells us righteousness and judgment (justice) are the foundation of His (God’s) throne. In reference to this, theologian Albert Barnes said, “Nothing else would uphold the government of the universe; nothing else will sustain any government.” If it’s true regarding these, then how much more so for any work undertaken for God?
Now for some balance to what has been said so far. Not everybody failing to share their faith in Christ is ashamed of the gospel of Christ. In fact, many there are who are ashamed of themselves for not being able to do it. They don’t think themselves biblically qualified or proficient enough to be able to counter arguments and ridicule. They love the Lord, but they believe themselves spiritually inadequate – or rather – they believe the lie of Satan, the only one who would put such a thought in their mind. I listened to that lie for a while as a new Christian, but I went to the Lord about it. I told Him of my concerns and He gave me the most awesome answer from Isaiah 41:9-13. You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away. “You” not him, her or them – you!
“Chosen” I didn’t choose, God chose. Fear not, for I am with you. If God is with me then Satan is behind me, even if he’s only two feet behind! Be not dismayed, for I am your God. Think of it, the God of the entire Universe is with us! It is Satan who is dismayed; he seeks to smother us with it. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. God’s strength, God’s help … nothing to be ashamed of here, everything to be not ashamed of! I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. If the right hand of God upholds me, then nobody can topple me regardless of what may appear to the contrary! Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced. Not long after receiving this promise I witnessed its truth come to a few people. Still do.
They shall be as nothing. I’ve witnessed that also. And those who strive with you shall perish. And that too. You shall seek them and not find them. Those who contended with you, those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. Frightening for them; comforting for us. It doesn’t fit with the theology of those ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but when God decides He is finished with such a person that is exactly what happens. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ Although this Old Testament passage of Scripture speaks to God’s people, Israel; it applies equally to God’s people, the church. If you are experiencing shame for failing to share your faith, this is God’s promise to you too.
To be ashamed of the gospel of Christ is to put God in a box. It is to want a God you can control. It is to be a people-pleaser, Muslim-appeaser and a phoney religionist. It is to make you more afraid of people than you are of Jesus! It is to cause you to have a low view of the Bible and an even lower view of sin. It is to cause you to be offended by the cross of Christ and all that it stands for. Worse: it is to cause you to play a part in causing others to reject and blaspheme the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel. Turning the ashamed into the not ashamed and the powerless into the powerful – only a servant of God will pray for that. For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory……. Luke 9:26.