Am I Embarrassed to Follow Jesus? (Romans 1-2)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Have you ever felt embarrassed telling others you’re a Christian?

The Apostle Paul certainly had this temptation. As the author of the Book of Romans, Paul wrote a priceless masterpiece that has influenced countless Christian leaders like Augustine, Calvin, Luther, and Wesley. The book is filled with so much theological richness that readers can feel like they are moving at an unsustainable pace.

N.T. Wright notes that Romans “covers many different topics from many different angles, bringing them all together into a fast-moving and compelling line of thought. Reading it sometimes feels like being swept along in a small boat on a swirling, bubbling river. We need to hold on tight if we’re going to stay on board. But if we do, the energy and excitement of it all is unbeatable.”^[1]

This message is for Jews and Gentiles alike. “Paul’s two main themes—the integrity of the gospel committed to him and the solidarity of Jews and Gentiles in the messianic community—are already apparent in the first half of the letter’s first chapter.”^[2] Still, the radical nature of the gospel gives even Paul reason to pause. In Romans 1:16-17, he says, ¹⁶ “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”

Reflecting on this statement, John Stott made this observation. “I once heard James Stewart of Edinburgh, in a sermon on this text, make the perceptive comment that ‘there’s no sense in declaring that you’re not ashamed of something unless you’ve been tempted to feel ashamed of it’. And without doubt, Paul knew this temptation.”^[3] Case in point, in 1 Corinthians 1:23, Paul said, “But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.”

Still, Paul knows this message has power for all who believe. The gospel is so powerful that it transcends geographical location and language and is revealed in creation. In Romans 1:19-20, Paul says, ¹⁹ “since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse."

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | Lord, I praise you for the power of the gospel that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Thank you for your faithfulness, holding me in your promises, and embracing me with a salvation I can always rely on.

Release | I release my fears of being ashamed of the gospel, of worrying about what others might think. Lord, I let go of my tendency to compartmentalize my faith, holding it back when I am with those who don’t believe. Please help me to trust in your power, even when I’m tempted to hide or minimize my beliefs.

Ask | I ask for courage to live by faith and to share the gospel boldly, like Paul did, without shame. Strengthen my confidence in you and increase my trust in your promises. Let your power be evident in my life as I proclaim your truth to both Jews and Gentiles, to all people.

Yield | I yield my doubts and unbelief to you, trusting in the righteousness revealed through Jesus. I commit to spending more time with you, my crucified Savior, knowing that as I do, my confidence in you will grow. Lead me to live in a way that reflects your gospel with power and faithfulness.

A Challenge to Act Like Christ  

Like Paul, sometimes we’re tempted to be embarrassed about our faith. We fear being labeled as simple-minded or bigoted. We worry that others will mock us because of something we can’t prove. So, little by little, we learn to compartmentalize our faith. We settle for mild cultural Christianity and leave our faith at home and church but say nothing of it when we’re with those who don’t believe in Jesus.