Universal Experience/Universal Answer
Lamentations 3:19-26; 2 Timothy 1:1-14
Rev. Kenneth M. Locke, Interim Pastor
World Communion Sunday
In our culture today, shame is not much of a motivator. Our society doesn’t use shame to manipulate or control very often. A politician caught doing something might resign, or they may say, “No! The people elected me and I’m staying put. So there!” A celebrity caught in a shameful act can go on the apology tour. They hit all the talk shows and say, “Oh, I’m so embarrassed. I’m so ashamed. And have you seen my new movie?”
About the only place where shame is still a strong force is in business. Remember the couple caught on the jumbotron at the Coldplay concert? The man was forced to resign from his company. That’s about the only time recently I can think of when public shaming made a difference.
In Paul and Timothy’s world that was NOT the case. Shame was a powerful motivator. You did not want to be caught doing something shameful.
That’s one of the reasons Christianity had a hard time making inroads among the Gentiles. Crucifixion was shameful. It was reserved for slaves and the worst sort of criminals. Worshipping a crucified God was embarrassing. Shameful! You would think long and hard before embracing that faith.
In the 1800s, archeologists in Rome excavated a site that was once a dormitory for pageboys serving the imperial court. On the plaster wall they found some graffiti that dates from about the year 200 AD. It’s an image of a man with a donkey’s head being crucified. To the side is another man raising his arm. The inscription reads “Alexamenos worships his God.” This was meant to be embarrassing. It was meant to shame Alexamenos and bring him back into line. Shame isn’t what it used to be.
Shame isn’t what it used to be, but I confess there have been times in the last few years I’ve been ashamed of being a Christian. When I look at the news and see what other Christians are doing, when I hear their words of anger and rage, when I hear the harsh language they’re using against others and the way they denigrate Christians who disagree with them, I feel embarrassed. I feel ashamed for them and for me.
To be fair, I’m sure many Christians look at me and feel embarrassed, too. I’m sure they hear my teachings on the nature of holiness and feel embarrassed. I’m sure they notice my deviations from orthodoxy and are ashamed.
It’s a universal problem. Christians are not monolithic. Someone may be embarrassing us, but we’re probably embarrassing them, too.
So, how do we respond? What do we do when another Christian makes us feel ashamed to call ourselves a Christian?
For a start, we don’t respond with anger or belittlement. Jesus is not the Prince of Ridicule. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
Rather than shame, Paul suggests let’s be proud. “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” Let’s be proud of our God. Proud of our beliefs. Proud to hold firm to our convictions. Let’s be willing to suffer shame and vitriol for the sake of our faith.
Look a little further down in our Timothy lesson. “Yet (my suffering) is not cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”
We have faith Jesus is with us, watching over us and guarding us until the day he comes in glory. The point is, we ,have no reason to ever feel ashamed.
Anyone taking Christianity seriously must despair when they hear what other Christians are saying. We feel embarrassed, even ashamed, to be associated with them. But let’s remember, they feel that way about us!
Let’s respond to their ridicule not with anger, or disparaging remarks. Rather, let’s respond with power, love and self-discipline. Let us faithfully proclaim God’s eternal love for all people in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Earlier I shared this anti-Christian graffiti. “Alexamenos worships his God.” Just around the corner from it is another inscription. It reads, “Alexamenos is faithful.” Alexamenos is faithful.
May we be faithful as well. Amen.
