Are you ashamed of the Gospel of Christ?

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, for every one who believes, for the Jews first and then for the gentiles! For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith!

In the 80s, while I was in secondary school, the one thing I hated being addressed as is Brother Folarin (i.e. that popular address for religious brotherhood of Pentecostal Christians). In fact, I hated being associated with ‘those’ Christians because of their countenances, their dressing and their behaviour. They always appeared to be carrying a heavy burden, or rather they appeared to be said to have become Christians. They wore mournful faces, and are always looking like they would do anything to quickly go on to heaven so they can be with the Father.

I was ashamed of these brothers and sisters, and one reason why I think I didn’t come to Christ at that time was the way of life of these ‘righteous’ brethren. I just didn’t want to be like them, or associate with them. “I would rather not be a Christian”, I said to myself.

A lot of people my age derided these groups of newly born believers. They kept to themselves and tried to not have anything to do with the likes of us except to preach to us, and when we don’t answer, they would shake their heads mournfully and just walk on. To be honest, their brand of Christianity was not attractive neither was it inviting at all. Though we would think that they sometimes looked as if they would rather be ‘grooving’ with sinners like us, but they stuck to it and did what was preached for them to do. They prayed, studied the bible, stayed away from every trappings of wealth as much as possible. Their faded shirt collars, their ‘bonfo’ trousers, their unkempt looks; and you don’t want to try the sisters! Those were the SU Christians, and to be called an SU or Bro anything was an invitation to a fight!

Now, several years later, to be a Christian is one of the most fashionable things you can imagine in Nigeria. To be born again is to belong to a class of privileged people in the society. More people are born again now more than ever in the history of Christianity in Nigeria. Now, we are no longer ashamed of being called born-again Christians, we look forward to being addressed as Brother Tom or Sister Jane, etc. It’s very interesting really, to think that just a few years ago, we would pull shirt and fight if anyone had addressed us as for example, Brother Folarin!

So what has changed over this period? Why have we suddenly started to like being called born again Christians? Why do we now want to be associated with the church? What has happened to Christianity to make us so embrace it like that? What has changed? For one, suddenly, I don’t see those brothers wearing shirts with their collars torn, or the sisters with scarves as though they were born with it. I don’t see pastors with their suits looking like a poor imitation of what James Brown played with in Motown. Today, I only see glamorous looking pastors with suits that will shame the banker, or even the CEO of a corporate organisation; I see churches as big as stadium complexes; I see parking lots of churches looking like a car dealer’s lot; I see church auditorium looking like a set of the Soul Train (that disco show of the 80s). I see crowds of Christians going to church who would easily have passed for a crowd at the Cannes Film Festival or those attending an Oscars’ night.

Christianity is now very glamorous! Very glamorous indeed; and its glamour continues to attract more people into its rank and file. Members now role model their pastors, and not the Lord Jesus. Pastors try to outdo other pastors in erecting the biggest church complexes (building does not describe it any longer), having the largest members, driving the most luxurious cars and they continue to pump up their membership; selling them high doses of motivation where a simple message of faith in God and fellowship with Him would have done them a lot more good than the very shallow, soul depriving messages we are hearing now.

So when I was young, I was ashamed of being a Christian. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Jesus, and I liked the church, but I didn’t like church people, mostly their behaviours (like the Pharisees). Today, having become a believer and a preacher of the word myself, I still like Jesus and the church, but I still am not sure I am a big fan of church people, but now for a different reason. I am not ashamed of being a Christian, but I kind of get ashamed of the way my most of my fellow Christians carry on.

I am not ashamed of the gospel; I am not ashamed to preach it; I am not afraid to witness it, and to show people the way of love. So why don’t I like the things that a lot of my brethren do today? Why do I feel ashamed to be called their brothers and sisters? I think the reason is that they are ashamed of the gospel. They tell the world they are Christians, but they are ashamed of the cross or of the gospel; they are afraid to stand up and be counted as Christians when it matters; they are ashamed of testifying and witnessing the gospel; they are ashamed of suffering for the cross; and are afraid to live a life of love, integrity and character; they are ashamed of standing for Christ when standing demands for a decision between their pleasures and their faith; they conveniently forget God when it may mean that they will lose the contract, or will not get the deal; or when it means that they may not get the job.

There is a responsibility that being a Christian confers upon us, and the way we are seen as disciples of Jesus shows in the way we live. In the city of Antioch of old, people saw the way the disciples carried on and they had no problems saying, “these ones are Christians”. Would people look at you today and say, “this must be a real born again Christian”? Would they watch you today and be surprised if you told them you are a believer? Phil 1:27 enjoins us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are we doing this, or have we gone with the world?

There is tremendous amount of power in the gospel, but if we are afraid of living the gospel, how shall we be able to exercise the power and the authority that we have in Christ Jesus through his word? When we pass up all opportunities to show that we are of a different breed in our offices and in our business environment, how then can we witness the life of Christ that is supposed to be in us? Why do we not show the world what manner of people we are and let them know that the Holy Spirit dwells within us? Being ashamed of the gospel means that we are not able to live in its power; it means we are not able to do what it says for fear of persecution or rejection; it means we are afraid to obey it fully because we think we will lose out of what the world can offer us. The truth is that the world can offer us nothing, and when it offers you something, it is usually in place of your salvation and your peace! The scriptures say that it is only the gift that God gives that ‘makes rich and adds no sorrow’.

The early disciples gladly gave up their life for the honour of being persecuted as Christians; they watched their families killed and yet did not disown their faith; they were buried alive, save for their heads, and then they had their skulls bashed in with cudgels, but they still did not give up their faith. Today, we don’t need all that extreme measures to give up our faith, and deny the cross and the suffering of Christ. We roll over and capitulate for pleasure, not even for pain or persecution. Alas, where is our first love?

The gospel is power. This power sets us free; heals our diseases, forgives our sins, clothes us with tender mercy and loving kindness, redeems us, and satisfies us with the desires of our mouth. This power gives us the ability to live a victorious life; a life that does not desire sin or unrighteousness; the power to live above the world; to be a light to the world and a salt unto the earth. The gospel makes a difference in lives who are willing to stand up for it. It is the power of God, it is the mystery of God, it is the channel through which the word of God flows through our person by His Holy Spirit.

So don’t be ashamed of the gospel! Don’t be afraid of proclaiming it! Don’t be afraid of living it. It is the way of life of a Christian. It has a cross, yes, but in addition to being a place of responsibility, the cross is also a place of victory. When you live the   way of the gospel, you will have victory in God through the gospel. The more we stand up in defence of the gospel, the more will be the power of God that is made available in our lives; the more we will be able to influence the world; the more we will be able to cause a lasting change in our country. To live a life worthy of our calling as Christians is what we should crave; it is what we need to desire every day, because that is what will make you a different man; a man after God’s own heart. This is in fact what will make you a Christian! I ask you friend, isn’t this what being born again is all about?