Reflection #1 on "I'm Not Ashamed" by Newsboys  [song lyrics]

• originally released by solidsounds.org, 02/20/2004
• author: Suzy C.
• scripture reference: Luke 6:22; Romans 1:16

	From the album "Not Ashamed" (1992) Read the song lyrics...

I'm not ashamed to let you know
I want this light in me to show
I'm not ashamed
To speak the name of Jesus Christ

Are you ashamed to be a Christian? Most Christians would resound with, "No!" But have you ever found yourself falling quiet in conversations about things related to your faith, just not mentioning your point of view or maybe even going along with the crowd. Maybe the discussion was about a movie or a TV show. Maybe it involved gossip about someone, a friend, a politician.

We all know when those moments come. We can sense inside, I don't quite agree here; I should object or something. If we don't follow that impression in our spirits, then we have acted ashamed of what we believe. We may not think of it as being ashamed of our faith but shame is basically fear, fear they won't understand; fear they will think I am weird and fear that somehow I will be separated from the group, set apart from the crowd. But Jesus said that this is exactly what will happen to us.

"Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man" (Luke 6:22 NASB).

No one likes to be left out of the group or thought of as different, but remember what Paul said:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the Greek"(Romans 1:16 NASB).

The Newsboys have recorded a song called "I'm Not Ashamed."In this song they boldly declare their loyalty to the name of Jesus Christ. I think this song challenges all of us to consider our words, actions and lack of actions. Jesus bore the shame of a death on the cross for us, can't we say to him, "I'm not ashamed?"

--Suzy C.

Scripture Reference: Luke 6:22; Romans 1:16