Ashamed of your folks?

Last week, the New York Times reviewed a 1921 silent film about a modest

shoemaker, Silas, who, just barely manages to send his beloved son, Arthur, to college. At

school, Arthur becomes a football star and falls in love with Marian, a society girl. Arthur

gains great social status away from home, and now, he has become ashamed of his father.

Trying to hide his humble past, He wires Silas not to come to his wedding reception. Old

Silas is so broken-hearted that he becomes seriously ill, takes to his bed, and nearly dies.

Can’t we today feel anger at such a child? We may have actually known people like

this. Could it even be, that in our own way, we have behaved like Arthur; not wanting people

to know just how “close to the ground” we’ve been raised? This is the kind of behavior the

Bible describes as “denial.” We see it in Peter, who, three times, would not own his Lord in

the courtyard of the High Priest. We detect it even among the leaders who believed in Him,

But because of the Pharisees, they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out

of the synagogue; for they loved the praise from men more than praise from God (John

12:42). Do we actually think that such faith brought them salvation?

Are we today afraid of the clique at work that could advance us; or do we fear the tight

little circle of popularity at school? Maybe it’s only a group of people who would really like

us if only we weren’t so “fanatical” about Christ and actually mention Him! Have you ever

noticed the obvious change of subject by a network interviewer when an outstanding athlete

expresses thanks to God for his success, or how many sharp entertainers “dis” Jesus, mock

the faith that people have in Him, and ridicule devout people? Yet, the audiences who laugh

for them and applaud for them—well, aren’t they just like them?

And then, here we are, embarrassed to identify with Jesus when He is vilified, not to

mention how appalled we might be if called on to actually volunteer our acknowledgement.

So, we are silent and they are not offended. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this

adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in

his Father’s glory with the holy angels (Mark 8:38). Why, it’s like being ashamed of our

folks! Jesus is our folk. “Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also

confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will

also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33, NASB). JD Cash