Why Am I Ashamed of Christ?
A Confession and a Challenge
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 (KJV)
My name is Nya.
It means bold.
And yet, if I'm honest, that powerful meaning doesn't always play out in my life. It doesn't always feel like the way I walk the journey of faith, especially when the world is watching.
Your own words ring true, Lord:
“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.” — Mark 8:38 (NLT)
The Weight of Silence
It’s easy to read the Bible and say, “Oh, I would never do that.” Yes, we would—if it were the right conditions and the consequences tipped the way we wanted or did not want them.
Judas’ betrayal (Matthew 27:3-5)
Peter’s denial (Matthew 26:69-75)
I am not so “pristine” that I can't relate to Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial.
When faced with fear, opposition, or the simple desire for self-preservation, it’s easy to retreat. Peter had literally walked with Jesus, seen the miracles, and heard the teachings, yet in the moment of pressure, he denied Him:
“Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” — Mark 14:71 (NLT)
And it’s not just Peter. I see it in Abraham, the man known as a testimony of great faith (Hebrews 11), who compromised his integrity to save himself (Genesis 12:10-20). If these giants of faith stumbled, what hope is there for me?
This is where the shame seeps in:
Staying silent.
Being complicit.
Becoming complacent.
When a conversation turns hostile or indifferent toward faith, my reaction is often a blank face or diverted eyes. I tell myself this shows disapproval of the sentiment, but does it?
Instead, my silence often sends a dangerous message—one that whispers: "Yes, she's with us. She agrees. She's compromising, too."
But I'm not. And I don’t. And to act as if I am is to deny my truth.
On Whose Side Do I Stand?
Like Moses in the wilderness, when the choice had to be made, the question is simple: Who is on the Lord's side?
“So he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, ‘All of you who are on the Lord’s side, come here and join me.’ And all the Levites gathered around him.” — Exodus 32:26 (NLT)
Would I have stood boldly on the side of truth, or would I have tossed my gold in with the rest to build the golden calf? The fear of man can be a more seductive idol than any piece of precious metal.
The Double-Edged Sword
I believe in the sacred nature of the Word.
And
I understand that to stand for the Gospel is to stand for all of it, regardless of the social cost.
Still, I stand with Jesus.
The truth is a double-edged sword. It cuts through the noise of the world, but it also cuts through our own pretenses. It wounds our pride and pierces our complacency. I am learning that if the Gospel doesn't occasionally offend my desire for comfort, I’m probably not standing for the whole Gospel.
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” — Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
And maybe, just maybe, if you feel the sting of this message, it's not a condemnation, but an invitation. It's a chance to dive deeper into a truth that can genuinely set you free, as Jesus promised:
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32 (NLT)
The walk and the journey continue.
