Unashamed

Unashamed: not ashamed, being without guilt, self consciousness or doubt (Merriam-Webster, online dictionary)

I've been hanging out in Hebrews 11 for weeks now, because I simply can't leave it. It's been speaking to me in such sweet tones that anytime I even consider plowing through the chapter to move on, I slow down to a crawl and meditate on these familiar words. I read the passage, a section at a time, mouthing each word as I read and writing them down in my journal. There is a compelling picture of faith of our forefathers that won't let go. The hymn "Faith of our Fathers" begins, "Faith of our fathers living still, in spite of dungeon, fire and sword. Oh how our hearts beat high with joy, when e'er we hear that glorious Word!". It's true - our hearts are filled with joy when we read of these stories of faith. 

My all-time favorite movie is the Two Towers (love the book as well, of course!) and my favorite scene is toward the end with SamWise Gamgee talking to Frodo about the quest they are one. He says, "I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something."

There is something about the story of these heroes of the faith that "died in faith, without receiving the promises" (Heb 11:13a) that keeps us reading. The hymn above echos Hebrews 11:37-38 which reads "They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground." We read these words and we know what they were holding on to - the Lord. Their faith in the Lord kept them firm in spite of all of their trials, "having confessed they were strangers and exiles on the earth" (Heb 11:13c). They viewed themselves as travelers, passing through the world on their way home to a lasting city that God was preparing. And God's response to their faith is beautiful: "Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God" (Heb 11:16b)

God, Creator of heaven and earth, is not ashamed to call us His own. Psalm 149:4 says "For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation." These destitute, desert-wandering, cave-dwelling outcasts of this world are beautified in salvation through Christ. Isaiah 61:10 says "I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." These who seemed to have the least in this world are wrapped in a robe of righteousness by Christ. He is not ashamed of us. But how often are we ashamed of Him? How often, do we, like Peter, deny our following Him? How often do we stay quiet, politically correct or even take credit for His work in our lives? 

Hosea paints a terrible picture of the fall of God's chosen people of Israel, that I think is just as dangerous for today's Christian, especially here in the materialistic culture that glorifies the "self-made-man". Hosea 13:4-6 reads, "Yet I have been the Lord your God since the land of Egypt; and you were not to know any god except Me. For there is no savior besides Me. I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. As they had their pasture, they became satisfied. And being satisfied, their heart became proud; therefore they forgot Me." If this doesn't terrify you, I don't know what will, because this terrifies me. We live in a nation where comfort is king and living a life that makes you happy is considered success. Missionaries from other nations are coming to America, to witness to this culture that has watered life down to money, stuff and the path of least resistance. Close to 17% of American's don't affiliate themselves with any faith (or agnostic or atheist). A number that is doubled what research found a few years ago. People don't label themselves because the see it as being irrelevant to their lives. They don't have particularly strong feelings about faith or God or religion because is simply doesn't impact them at all. Having the boldness to say out loud, "I am a follower of Christ" is extremely counter cultural, because we live in a culture that says you shouldn't follow anything except your current impulse. You should only do whatever makes you happy in this moment. As a culture we have become satisfied and proud and have forgotten God. 

In today's world we are losing the stories of old where people counted themselves as strangers to the world, traveling whatever road Christ called them to, considering themselves the momentary affliction of this world, t pale in comparison to the eternal weight of glory. (2 Cor 4:17)  We live in a land of pride, that wants to glorify man, where God calls us to humble ourselves, that He may glorify us at the appointed time. (1 Pet 5:6) 

It's the little things, isn't it, that get us day to day. The moments we wonder what someone else will think if we choose to follow God's will or we glorify His name instead of our own. It's the daily process of dying to ourselves, that He might live more in us, that allows us to live unashamed. Without doubt and certainly not self-conscious. Does anyone else feel like everyone in the room gets quiet when you pray before your meal in the lunchroom? Does anyone else fail to mention how God directs our steps, instead of careful or logical decision making? Does anyone else tone down there excitement in secular settings when you feel God moving in your life, but shout it from the rooftops at your church? Does anyone else have two patterns of speech? (Like saying at church "The Lord really blessed me in....", whereas at work you say "I was really lucky when....") 

It's the little ways we deny Him that give me pause this morning. In Acts 7, Stephen wasn't martyred until after his sermon. It was his sharing the faith that led to the persecution. If he had just stayed quiet, he might have returned home that evening to his family or friends. But instead, he spoke, full of the Spirit, unashamed. And he returned to his true home, his heavenly home, welcomed by his Heavenly Father. Quietly blending in and passing through this world, as a citizen of this time and this place, may seem like the path of least resistance. But it will not bring glory to God. Singing His praise. Living for His kingdom. Following His will. It may seem strange to the world around us, but then again, we are strangers to this world. We journey homeward, to our Heavenly Father, who welcome us as His own. I want to live a life that captivates an audience - that has them asking "why" and "how" and "can I come too". I want to live a life that glorifies His name. Let me be forgotten - remember instead His work in and through me.