In a philosophy lecture, when a learned philosopher is pouring scorn on the irrationality of believing in a being that you cannot see, it is hard to admit to being a believer in Jesus. When you are with a group of friends at a party who are behaving in a manner that you are not comfortable with, it is hard to admit being a believer in Jesus. In the workplace, at school, in public … there are many times and places where it is hard to stand up and say you are a Christian.
But Paul, in the first chapter of his letter to the Romans, said, “I am not ashamed of the good news about Christ, because it is the power of God, giving salvation to everyone who believes, the Jew first, and then the Greek.” He demonstrated by his words, his actions and his whole life that the embarrassment of being publicly ridiculed meant nothing to him; even suffering physical violence meant nothing to him, because he was so sure of the truth of the good news.
My problem is that I want to have all the benefits of following Jesus without any of the costs. I want everybody to like me. I do not want to be mocked, or to be unpopular. I do not want people to think or say that I am an idiot. I do not want to stand up for what is right when the in-crowd is furiously chasing after what is wrong. I do not want to risk my security, my happiness or my money. But if I do not do these things, how can I be said to be trusting my life to Jesus?