Victor Porton's Christian Weblog

(Mark 8:38) For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

I was attempting to follow this commandment of Jesus Christ openly speaking about my faith even in these cases when this would threat danger for my life. But recently I found that this commandment is with a surprise and I have not really followed it.

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I was thinking so: If I will be a preacher then I would be a bad preacher because as I must follow this commandment then being a preacher I would openly speak not only what (adulterous and sinful) people like to hear but also what they dislike, hate, despise. What is worth to preach such things? Will my preachings hateful to them save anyone (when they even refuse to hear)?

For example, this one preaching is quite discouraging and disturbing. I could conclude that I could better not to preach it that is could be ashaming words of Jesus Christ (this time ashaming the commandment Don't ashame itself). But if I am a preacher, I must not ashame of Mark 8:38 and tell this preaching indeed. God knows what it is useful for. But if He has commanded, I must.

So I was (not quite consciously) concluding that it is better to not become a preacher at all (namely because of Mark 8:38).

Only recently I have realized that by refusing to be a preacher for this reason (being afraid that then I will need to fulfill Mark 8:38 in my preachings and this would be shameful) is itself a violation of Mark 8:38. This commandment appeared to be with a surprise, who attempts to fulfill it may fall to break it in the worst way, because of greater fear.

So, I ask your advice, other believers, how to not violate Mark 8:38 indeed. I realized that long time I was violating it in the most crude way (refusing to be a preacher at all because of ashaming of words of God before bad people) while was desiring to fulfill it. How to correct this? Or maybe I even now am ashame of words of Jesus Christ speaking such things?