The Sin and Consequences of Being Ashamed of Christ

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my word.’;, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. — Luke ix: 2G.

Shame is a very powerful passion. Its influence over mankind is universal. It entered the world by sin, and it ought to be exercised towards nothing else. But strange to tell, that very weapon which ought to be turned against sin, is now turned against religion itself.

That some should be frightened into a denial of Christ, is not so incredible. But that any should be ashamed of him whom angels adore, is what we could not have believed without the clearest evidence. But proof is not wanting to establish the fact, that many are now ashamed of Christ. Our Saviour who delivered the warning in the text, was perfectly acquainted with all the secret feelings of the human heart; and sad experience has too often proved the propriety of this solemn warning.

The truth is, the sin is of such a nature, that the sinner is ashamed to confess it. Nor is it incredible that a heart deceitful above all things, should deceive itself. Some may be ashamed of Christ, and yet be ignorant of the fact. Circumstances often reveal the secrets of the heart. Many who flattered themselves that they should be pleased with the advent of Christ, found themselves disappointed when he came. The prediction put into the mouths of sinners by the prophet, was fulfilled. “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” ‘’He is despised and rejected of men; — a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and we hid, as it were, our faces from him.”

And thus is it now. Many who have imagined that they should be pleased with a revival of true religion, have found themselves sadly disappointed in the event. It appears so different from what they had expected, that they not iinfrequently treat the religion of Christ, as the Jews treated Christ himself. To be deceived in this matter, my hearers, must be fatal; for the Saviour says, “Whosoever shall l)e ashamed of me, and of my words; of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

I propose

I. To inquire who are ashamed of Christ.

H. Consider the greatness of the sin.

HI. Contemplate the consequences of it.

I. Who are ashamed of Christ?

To be ashamed of Christ, it is not necessary that he should appear among us — that he should walk in our streets, enter our dwellings, and converse with us on the concerns of our souls. It is not necessary that we should point at hiin the finger of scorn, flee at his reproach, or sneer at his warnings. What is done to his disciples, Christ considers as done to himself. It is a remarkable fact, that few, if any will dare to condemn the religion of Christ as such. Their method is, to give to piety some other name, and then to load it and its professors with contempt. All, therefore, who despise and ridicule Christians on account of the strictness of their religion, and their conscientious regard to the duties which it enjoins — who call them precise, superstitious and the like, are ashamed of Christ. By whatever name it may he called, the mask will ere long be taken off, and Christ will say to them, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Many think, that had they lived in the days of our Saviour, they should have treated him with the utmost respect. All, however, may have a fair opportunity to manifest their feelings towards Christ, by their treatment to his members.

Another criterion, by which we may test our feelings on this su1)ject, is, to inquire how we treat the commands, invitations, warnings, and threatenings of Christ. *’ Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my wordsy says Ch.rist. Those, then, are ashamed of Christ, and of his words, who are ashamed to be seen reading the Bible. Many who would not be ashamed lobe seen reading a romance, would blush to be found searching the Scriptures. No one would blush to be seen perusing a communication from a friend, unless he were ashamed to own an acquaintance v»’ith its author. That feeling which leads an individual to neglect, or conceal the Bible, is a sure indication that that individual is ashamed of Christ. Those who despise and reproach others for searching the Scriptures, are, of course, ashamed of Christ, and of his words. And to regard the good or ill will of such, is to join in heart with the enemies of Christ. It cannot be done without paying greater respect to the enemies of Christ, than to Christ himself. All, therefore, who refuse daily to search the Scriptures, sim2)ly through fear of what others will think, or say, are ashamed of Christ, and of his words. The same may be said of all who, fiom similar motives, violate any of the commands of God — such as the duties of religion in the sanctuary, in the family, or the closet. Those who neglect to offer the morning and evening sacrifice, lest the voice of prayer should be heard in their families; and those who refuse to enter their closets, lest their absence should be noticed; are doubtless guilty of this sin.

Again — Those are ashamed of Christ, who are ashamed to have it known that they are anxious for their souls. Other motives may sometimes operate to lead sinners to wish to conceal their anxiety; but that which is the most common, is the one named in the text. How reluctant are they to converse even with Christian friends — still more reluctant are they to be regarded as anxious by the world. ‘* What will they think? And what icill thetj saij?^^ ^’Should I become a Christian,! should hardly know what to do with myself. I should not dare profess religion. I am resolved never to let it be known.” Such thoughts as these, often pass through the minds of sinners anxious for their souls; and they are sure indications that in heart, they are ashamed of Christ. When questioned respecting their spiritual trouble, they are ashamed to own it. What other ‘oason can be assigned for their unwillingness to disclose the state of their minds? Do they think it wrong for a sinner to feel the strivings of the Spirit — to see and feel that he is lost? No, my hearers, the reason that they do not disclose their feelings, is not because they think it wrong, or because they think God would be angry with them, if they should tell the truth. The fact is, that though they dread to tell a lie, and dread exposure to the flames of hell, they dread the reproach of wicked companions more than either.

Those who make light of religious anxiety, and labor to divert the attention of others from the concerns of their souls, and drive serious impressions from their minds, are, of course, ashamed of Christ.” ‘^ Why all this ado about religion?” “I wonder they will be so foolish.” Such thoughts are often in the minds of sinners when their companions become anxious for their souls, and are sometimes expressed; and they prove that those who indulge them, are ashamed of Christ.

Again — Those are ashamed of Christ, U’ho are ashamed to confess him before men. Persons may be willing, and even desirous to profess religion, without possessing it. But those who think they are Christians, and yet neglect to make a public profession, merely to escape the reproach of the world, are ashamed of Christ. Mankind are not ashamed to speak, and act in defense of their friends — especially of those whom they highly esteem.

Christianity admits of no neutrality. ‘He that is not with me,” says Christ, ‘’ is against me.” All who are ashamed to speak for Christ — to appear in defense of his cause, and to confess him before men, are ashamed of him

Again — All who are ashamed to celebrate the dying love of Clnist, in obedience to his plain command, “This do, in remembrance of me,” are ashamed of Christ

Let us consider

II. The greatness of this sin.

And Jiere I would first inquire, how much are sinners ashamed of Christ? The power of this passion, it is true, may be stronger in some, than in others. This, however, is true of all sinners; — they are more ashamed of Christ, than they are of their sins.

I need not say that some who are ashamed of Christ, are not at all ashamed of their ignorance of the Bible, or of their sin in neglecting it. Some, who have only been suspected of bein: under serious concern for their souls, have been offended, and have pretended that they considered themselves slandered. They would sport and jest, and adopt the most silly methods to do away the suspicion, and to show to others how little they cared about God, or Christ, or heaven, or hell. Although ashan^cd of Christ, they are not at all ashamed of these heaven-daring sins; but even glory in their shame.

Would you estimate the strength of this passion, set the greatness of the blessing lost on the one hand, and the littleness of the object gained on the other. Some whose judgment and conscience are well informed, who acknowledge the overwhelming importance of the subject, and who are anxious for their souls, are yet so ashamed of Christ, that they had rather stifle conviction, grieve the Holy Spirit, tell a lie to conceal their feelings, offend God, and expose themselves to the damnation of hell, than — than what? — what mighty object is to be gained? — than to endure the reproach of a wicked companion. Yes, the sinner is so ashamed of Christ, that he wiil do all this, rather than be pointed at by an enemy of God — a child of the devil — a worm of the dust. Some are so ashamed of Christ, that though God hath commanded, “Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord;” yet they dare not obey the command. Though forbidden to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or to stand in the way of sinners, or to sit in the seat of the scornful; yet they dare do no other, than walk in their counsel, stand in their way, and sit in their seat. They dread the repioach of sinners far more than they do the displeasure of God. When Christ in his gospel invites them one way, and sinful companions another, they immediately begin to inquire, ‘^ If we listen to Christ and refuse to listen to them, what will they think? What will they say? Will they not be offended’?” But how seldom do they inquire, what will angels — what will the- Saviour — what will the omniscient God think 1

Why is it, my hearers, that so many are ready to listen to the enticements of wicked companions, and yet profess a respect for religion. It is a fact, as clear as the noon-day sun, that they are far more afraid of offending the devil, or one of his children, than they are of offending the Saviour himself. Though other sinful causes may operate; yet with those whose consciences are at times alarmed, the principal difficulty in renouncing the world, is this; they are ashamed of Christ. And though the motives be ever so strong — though God has declared, that ‘’ the companion of fools shall be destroyed;” yet it makes no difference. Though the mercies of God, and the terrors of his wrath be set in array before them; yet the passion of shame bears them away with the thoughtless multitude, down the broad road to ruin.

Again — Sinners are more ashamed of Christ, than they are of the vilest of characters. How many are ready cheerfully to celebrate the declaration of civil independence in concert with the thoughtless, and even the intemperate, and openly profane; who would be ashamed to unite with Christians around the table of their Lord, who died to emancipate the soul from the bondage of sin and Satan, and to purchase freedom from the pains of hell. With what cheerfulness do thousands celebrate the birth-day of the hero and the statesman, who utterly disregard the dying injunction of the Saviour, “This do in remembrance of me.” Hence it appears, that sinners are more ashamed of Christ, than they are of sin, or of sinners. So deeply rooted is this passion in the hearts of the young, that although they might march with courage up to the mouth of a cannon; yet they tremble and are afraid, when pointed at by the finger of scoin.

Many are so ashamed of Chribt, that they will never attend in earnest totb.e concerns of their souls, though urged by all the motives which can he drawn from heaven, earth, and hell. jNTore youth will, in all probability, lose their souls through the influence of this passion, than from any other cause whatever. ‘J’hey will continue to yield, and yield toils influL^nce, until, at last, it may be said, that this, and that youth, were fairly shamed out of heaven.

And now, my hearers, would you see the sin as it is, think of the character of which the sinner is ashamed. Were it of a good man, merely, it would not be so criminal. Were it of his parents only, kind, tender and affectionate as they are, the crime would be small. Were it of the wisest and best man on earth, invested with all the honors of royalty, still the crime would be comparatively small. But it is of the Lord of glory — the Creator of the Universe, whom all the angels of God worship — of him ^’who is the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of his person’’ — It is of him that the sinner is ashamed. Measure the crime, by the dignity of his character. Sinner, you are are ashamed of the God who made yon!

But this is not all. Think of his love — his boundless compassion for sinners. Think of your vileness — the number and aggravation of your sins; and yet the Saviour has laid down his life for you. ‘• God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” — And what returns have you made for this unspeakable gift? You have been ashamed of him. Were you justly condemned to die by the laws of the state; and at the awful crisis, should some kind friend step forward and offer to die in your stead; and with his dying breath, request an affectionate remembrance; would not the bare mention of his name, bring tears into your eyes 1 But what has the Saviour done 1 Groaned and died under the weight of all your sins, to deliver you not from the momentary pangs of death; but from the fire that shall never be quenched. And what returns have you made ‘? You have been ashamed of him. “Scarcely for a righteous man will one die.” “But God comrnendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” How ungrateful to be ashamed of Christ!

Nor is this all. As though it were not enough to lay down his life, he comes and knocks at your door. “Behold I stand at the door and knock” — And thus he has stood, pleading for admission, until his head is filled with the dew, and his locks with the drops of the night. And all the answer you have made, is, “go thy why for this time.” “Depart from me, I desire not the knowledge of thy ways.” You have shut the door against him, while wicked companions and sinful thoughts have ever met with a welcome reception.

Let us consider

III. The consequences of this sin.

Those who are ashamed of Christ, are often led into the greatest inconsistencies of conduct. To avoid reproach, they often act against the convictions of conscience. Being ashamed of Christ, and yet ashamed to own it, they are led to net the part of a hypocrite. They wish to treat religion with respect, and at the same time, hold friendship with the world. But this is impossible. “No man can serve two masters.” Such duplicity is often detected, and even now, biings with it double disgrace.

But this sin is threatened with a dreadful punishment hereafter. Consider the nature of the punishment. It will be retributive — the nature of the punishment answering to the nature of the crime — Shame rendered for shame. ‘’Of him shall the Son of Man be; shamed.”

By neglecting duty, and violating conscience, the sinner may, for the present, escape the reproaches of a sinful world. But all that disgrace which he now so much dreads, and thinks to avoid by shunning duty, will soon meet him with vengeance from another quarter. Every duty thus neglected, will ere long, bring with it double disgrace. Whatever expedient he may now adopt to avoid shame in the path of duty, he cannot escape long. It will certainly overtake him. “The things which shall come upon him, make haste.”

Bring this subject, my hearers, home to your hearts. How do you feel when you know that others are ashamed of you? Suppose one of your companions should be ashamed to own an acquaintance with you — should blush and hide his face at the bare mention of your name — should flee at your approach — and should bolt and bar his door lest he should be disgraced by your society. To be treated thus by your equal would be trying. To be treated thus by your best friend, would be heart rending. But this is nothing. Christ the friend of sinners, who groaned and died on the cross to save you, will be ashamed of you. 0, to have Chiist ashamed of you! Let all your friends — Let all the world be ashamed of you — Let them cast out your name as evil — Let them point and hoot at you as you pass along the streets; still it is nothing to the punishment that is coming upon you, if you are now ashamed of Christ. If Christ were your friend, this might be easily borne. It would be nothing. You might even esteem “the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of” this world. But to have Christ ashamed of you — who can bear it?

Think too of the time when. “When he shall come in his glory.” This despised Saviour whom we preach — who stood condemned before the bar of Pilate — whose religion is now despised and trampled under foot by proud, supercilious mortals, will ere long come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. The trump of God shall sound; and the sleeping dead shall all awake; “some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” <’VVhen the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations.” When yon, a poor helpless criminal, shall stand trembling with horror at his bar — when every duty you have neglected, and every woid you have spoken against religion, and its professors — when all your secret sins shall be laid open to view — when these, together with all your other crimes shall be brought to light; then the Judge of the world will be ashamed of you.

Think too of the company that will be present. You greatly dread now to be exposed to shame in the presence of your companions. But your whole conduct will be disclosed, and Christ will be ashamed of you in the presence of all your companions — in the presence of this assembly — in the presence of the whole assembled Universe. The Saviour has given you fair warning. “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him W’ ill I deny Ijefore my Father which is in heaven.” Again — “He that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.” And yet again, ‘’Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in til is adulterous and sinful generation, of him also, shall the Son of Man be ashamed, vrhcn he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” He will then treat you, in the presence of that vast assembly, as you now treat him before the world. Because ‘’ I have called and ye refused” — “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction Cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish Cometh upon you.” Then, Christ will be ashamed of you.

I shall close with a short application.

Who among us, my hearers, is ashamed of Christ 1 Although many may be guilty, perhaps not one in this assembly is willing to acknowledge it. But beware of deceiving yourselves. You may deceive others, and you may deceive yourselves. But you cannot deceive the Saviour. He knows perfectly every feeling of your hearts. As was intimated, you may be ashamed of Christ, and yet be ignorant of the fact. One reason of this ignorance may be, that you are so indifferent to the concerns of your souls — that you think, and speak, and care so little about Christ, that you hardly know whether you are ashamed of him or not. It is not until the conscience is aroused, and the sinner sees and feels that he is in the broad road to ruin, and that he must quit his companions, and turn and liee from the wrath to come — It is not until he is convinced of his bondage to sin and Satan and the world, and begins to think of making his escape, that he sees his heart as he never saw it before. Were you to begin a life of religion now — were you put on trial this day to obey the command of God, to come out from the world and be separate, to commence a life of devotion and of self-denial, and to profess Christ before men; and at the same time, were your kindred and friends to reproach and forsake you, and cast out your name as evil — And were this the only alternative, begin to day, or he lost forever, then you might see your hearts. We hence see, why so many have hearts ashamed of Christ, and yet know it not. Their awful indiflerencc to the concerns of their souls is such — they think and care so little about the subject, that they know not the wickedness of their hearts.

And now passing- by these thoughtless, stupid immortals, I would speak to those, whose consciences are at times alarmed — who feel the strivings of the Spirit, and yet aie ashamed to acknowledge it — who are ashamed to renounce the world, forsake their vain companions, and openly espouse the cause of Christ. My fellow immortals, if you have any regard for your souls, no long-er be ashamed of Christ. Ashamed to have it known that you feel concern for ycur souls! I now warn 3’ou to beware. In this way, thousands have lost their concern, and lost their souls. You cannot be persuaded to forsake your companions, lest you should be accounted serious. While this is the case, I despair of your conversion. ^’The companion of fools, shall be destroyed.” You must either renounce the world, or the Spirit of God will renounce you. “No man can serve two mnslers.” “The friendship of the world is enmity with God. If any man will be the friend of the world, he is the enemy of God.” If you cannot bear the reproach of the world, all that you do in religion with such hearts, is mere hypocrisy. You show greater respect for the world, than for Christ. With such hearts, you could not be happy, if admitted to heaven. You are ashamed of the company and employments of (he heavenly world. Remaining with the thoughtless world, you are continually violating the dictates of your own consciences. Though you wish Christ to acknowledge you, and perhaps, sj)end sleepless nights, fearing lest you should be found on the left hand at the last day, yet by your conduct, you are continually denying him before men.

Pause and reflect on your folly. Think of whom you are ashamed. Of him whom angels adore. Of him who died for sinners, and who alone can save you from hell. You are continually denying hiai — and for what? What do you gain? The good opinion of sinners — the good opinion of those who are soon to awake to shame and everlasting contempt. But nay, you do not gain even that. Let the youth come out from the world — Let him forsake the broad road — Let him return and ask the way to Zion and face a frowning world; and the conscience of every sinner whom he meets, will be constrained to bow and do him homage as he passes. He cannot but approve and admire the choice which he has made. And the scoffer cannot but despise himself for his own cowardice, that he has not courage enough to follow the dictates of his judgment and conscience irt a matter of everlasting importance.

Among all who may reproach you, remember there is not even one good man. But become the friends of Christ, and you secure the friendship of ail good men, of angels, and of the Saviour himself. It is true, you may meet with some ill-natured taunts, and be exposed to bitter reproaches; but what then? Remember these come only from the enemies of God. And will you follow them to destruction, lest you should incur their displeasure 1 If the fallen angels should ascend out of the bottomless pit, and attempt by every hellish art, to shame you out oi religion, must you listen to them’? Must you go and join themi Must you fear their displeasure more than the displeasure of Ahiiighty God?

But if you are still asliained of Christ, remember a most righteous retribution awaits you. Christ will treat you, as you have treated him; and he will be as much ashamed of you, as you are now ashamed of him. “If we deny him, he will also deny us.” In this punishment, there is a fitness which cannot fail to commend itself to every conscience. “With what measure ye meet, it shall be measured to you again.” By your conduct you are now deciding the point how the Saviour will treat you when he shall come to judgment.

Finally — Let those who have confessed Christ before men, be careful never to betray his cause. If you are real Christians, you are no longer ashamed of Christ, but you are ashamed of yourselves, and of your conduct in having rejected him so long. Brethren, “If ye be reproached for the name of Cluist happy are ye.” Choose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” “Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy, for behold your reward is great in heaven; for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”

And now let every one adopt from the heart the sentiment contained in the following lines.

“Jesus, and shall it lvcv be,
A mortal man asliametl of thee?
Ashamed of thee, whom angels praise, — Whose glory shines Ihrougli endless days I

Ashamed of Jesus, that dear friend.
On whom my hopes of heaven depend!
No: when I blush, be this my shame.
That I no more revere his name.
Ashamed of Jesus! — Yes, I may.
When I’ve no sins to wash away;
No tear to wipe, no good to crave
No fear to quell, no soul to save.
Till then — nor is my boasting vain.
Till then, I boast a Saviour slain;
And 0, may this my glory be,
That Christ is not ashamed of me.”