Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Ashamed of the Name


“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:26-33 NIV)

I recently heard a story of a pastor of a well-known church calling out a popular worship band that had come to his church.  He noticed they sang songs referring to God, but none that mentioned the name of Jesus. When he confronted them, they told him they were more into “pre-evangelism” and didn’t want to sing songs referring to Jesus because they might make people feel uncomfortable.   When he doubled down on his criticism, they told him he was “old school” to want to sing about Jesus.

We walk on very shaky ground when, for whatever reason, we are reluctant or afraid to mention the name of Jesus.  If we claim to be Christians, then it is Jesus who is the foundation of that claim.  For the term “Christian” means “follower of Christ.”  A Christian who is reluctant to speak the name of Jesus is akin to a dessert chef who is ashamed to talk about sugar.  

If we are afraid or ashamed to talk or sing about the person who is the very essence of our faith, then the question must be: what is it that we truly believe?   Do we believe He is indeed Lord of all (Acts 10:36)?  Do we believe He is the only way through which we can have a relationship with the Heavenly Father? (John 14:6)  Do we believe that His name is above every name, and that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? (Philippians 2:9-11

If not, then Jesus warns that we will not hold much value to Him.  If we disassociate ourselves from Him, He will do likewise to us.  A sobering thought indeed.  

Today, if you are a follower of Jesus, then don’t be afraid to speak His name.  It is the name above all names and one day it will be on everyone’s lips.

© Jim Musser 2013

No comments: