Ashamed of Him?

Reasons we stop ourselves 
from being a witness for Christ with our words:

1. We are afraid.

Talking about Jesus Christ in a post-Christian America can be scary. We are afraid of being labeled, rejected, or ridiculed. Christ and his disciples suffered each of these. His disciples called it a privilege to suffer for Him.

2. We are ashamed of Christ. 

I will tell you honestly that before I was saved, I did not like to talk about Christ to friends or acquaintances. Although I grew up in a wonderful Christian family, I hadn't made Christ MY own personal saviour and therefore, did not speak up for Him.
*See the beautiful words to the hymn, "Ashamed of me" at the end of the post.

3. We have believed the lie that living for Christ with our lifestyle is enough.

We can live a very moral and even compassionate life and never help a soul get saved. Many Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists, Scientologists, Muslims and others can all live the same kind of exemplary life. In fact, atheists and agnostics can be nice people too. See what I mean?  We have to communicate. We  have to talk. We have to write. We have to say it: Christ died for our sins; Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Living a good life should be the fruit of a good Christian, but not an entire witness to it.

4.  It makes enemies out of friends and strangers out of family.

Yes it will. It did for Christ. It did for the disciples. It will for us. Expect it. Don't put 'getting along with others' above our obligation to witness for Christ. Let's try to do both if we can. If we can't, we are in good company. They hated Christ; they will hate us also. As my daughter says, "As soon as you talk about Christ, it gets awkward."

5. We don't like to argue.

Witnessing many times puts us on the defensive and turns conversations into arguments. Yes it will, most of the time. Let's work on maintaining our calm and keeping our cool. Let's not make it personal if we can avoid it. Quote Scripture. Let them argue with God. "What saith the Scriptures?" Paul used to ask. I have seen many believers calmly discuss spiritual matters and never get upset or argue. Remember, winning the argument or debate is NOT the goal; winning the soul for Christ is!

6.  As soon as we 'come out' as a Christian, we will be held to a higher standard than anyone around us.

Yes, and we should. But, we should NOT be held to a standard of PERFECTION. Forgiven people still sin. We are not and never will be perfect on earth. It is both hypocritical and unfair for unbelievers or people of other faiths to hold us to a higher standard than that to which they hold themselves. Unfortunately, as soon as you claim that you are a follower of Christ, you will be watched carefully, listened to, and your smallest behaviors and choices will be scrutinized. Unfair, yes. But it's reality.

7.  We think others are better equipped to witness than we are.

Some of them are. So what? Some aren't. The scary thing to me is that some of the people I have talked to about Christ had obviously never been told the information by anyone in their life. And some of these individuals are well into their 50's or older. We simply can't all assume that someone else will do it. It's our job, all of us. And the Lord will help us know what to say. We are all missionaries: some at home, some abroad.

There are other reasons people don't witness, but these are the ones that come to mind right now.

Look for my upcoming post called The Harvest is Plentiful for simple steps you can take to witness for Christ.

* Ashamed of me

Jesus! and shall it ever be,

A mortal man ashamed of thee?

Ashamed of thee, whom angels praise,

Whose glories shine through endless days?

Ashamed of Jesus! sooner far

Let evening blush to own a star;

He sheds the beams of light divine

O'er this benighted soul of mine.

Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend

On whom my hopes of heaven depend!

No; when I blush, be this my shame,

That I no more revere His name.

Ashamed of Jesus! Yes, I may,

When I've no guilt to wash away;

No tear to wipe, no good to crave,

No fears to quell, no soul to save.

Till then -- nor is my boasting vain --

Till then, I boast a Saviour slain!

And, oh, may this my glory be

That Christ is not ashamed of me!

-- J. Grigg