Ashamed?

              For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)

                This is one of those verses I prefer to avoid. Paul wasn’t ashamed of the gospel. He went to prison and was eventually killed because he proclaimed it. Am I ashamed of it? I know I don’t speak it out with the boldness of a number of people I know. Even when I’m arguing with folks, I tend to debate their points rather than trying to make my own. Part of that is because I don’t consider a discussion of the gospel, or much of anything else with any depth to be possible in the thirty seconds they think sufficient to break the ice and hand out a tract. And I’m not meaning to criticize their method. I just can’t use it.

                When I was in Toastmasters, one of the criticisms I got was that I couldn’t “close the deal”  or boldly ask for a response to the information I conveyed. As a jewelry salesperson, I rejected the “hard sell” methods that the corporation taught. I couldn’t “push” people into buying. I recognize other people don’t see selling as pushing and that’s their right, but I do. I can agree that the hope and goal is that people will accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but I can’t seem to walk up to people and tell them they need to be saved or they’re going to hell, even though it’s true. Does that mean I’m ashamed of the gospel? I hope not, but I’m not sure.

                Yes, like so many other verses, this one involves the exam table, and I’m not sure how to answer. So, I’m going to turn it over to you, and ask you to decide for yourself: are you ashamed of the gospel? How do you know? I’m not asking you to tell me – this is not the time or place for such confessions. I’m just suggesting that you might want to talk it over with God, and let Him either reveal it to you or change you.