The Gospel in Words: 'Ashamed'

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." (Romans 1:16)The words "ashamed" and "shame" come from a root word that means to cover, to conceal, to hide. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, shame is the painful emotion rising from the consciousness of something dishonoring, ridiculous or indecorous in one's own conduct or circumstances.Shame is also the fear of offense against propriety or decency and operates as a restraint on our behavior. When we are ashamed, we are experiencing disgrace, ignominy or loss of esteem or reputation. Importantly, ashamed can also mean that we are reluctant to do something because of fear.While "ashamed" or "shame" are used in a number of different ways in scripture, here we will examine the causes and consequences of being ashamed of the gospel. The things we are ashamed of tell us a lot about ourselves, who we are and what we really worry about.In Lehi's dream, some of those who "caught hold of the end of the rod of iron," and "pressed forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron," and in fact did "partake of the fruit of the tree, did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed." It turns out this shame was a consequence of their concern of the proud, finger-pointing, mocking folks in that great and spacious building. Because of this fear "of those that were scoffing at them," they were diverted from the promises of God. Therefore "they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost" (1 Nephi 8:24-25; 28).On the other hand, fear, which means reverence, of God and not man can put our hearts in the way of salvation and not of death. For example, when Moroni held high the title of liberty, his people entered into a covenant that "they would not forsake the Lord their God." If they should do so and "fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments" (Alma 46:21).It is eternally important whether we choose to be ashamed of the gospel because of the scoffers of this world, or we choose to reject the world, "rejoicing" that we are "counted worthy to suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41). For in the end, if we are ashamed of Christ and his words, he will be "ashamed" of us when "he shall come in his own glory" (Luke 9:26). But if we endure "the crosses of the world and despise the shame of it," we will "inherit the kingdom of God" (2 Nephi 9:18).