Not Ashamed
Posted on Feb 20, 2024 by Shari Van Baale
In this Sunday’s gospel reading, Jesus says, “Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)
This reminds me of the bold, unashamed witnessing our youth have, not just the youth in Salem, but the many others I see. They are not ashamed of their faith, not ashamed of their beliefs.
At the church I go to, the front row is filled with youth raising their hands and singing at the top of their lungs during worship. They don’t care what people think. They just want to praise God.
They wear clothing and bracelets proclaiming their faith. The backs of their phones are filled with stickers proclaiming the goodness of God. They tell others about Him.
I know of a teenager who knew she was not hanging out with the right type of people, so she prayed for God to remove those people from her life who were not good for her. She might have less friends now, but the friends she has are true and she does not feel like she has to hide her faith around them.
Some of you may have heard about the Satan Club that was recently approved at Olathe Northwest High School. What you may not have heard was Olathe South High School recently had a worship night for its students that dozens attended. A Bible study club started last month at Olathe North High School that was only promoted on Instagram had 50 students attend the first week, and more than 70 in the subsequent weeks. Next Monday there is a worship night planned for all Olathe high school students … at an Olathe high school. Incredible!
These young people are not ashamed of their faith. They are bold in their faith. May we all have the un-ashamed faith of the youth. May we be bold enough to cut those unhealthy people out of our lives. May we “deny (ourselves) and take up (our) cross” as Jesus tells us to do in this week’s gospel reading. For “those who lose their life for (his) sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”
Shari Van Baale
Salem Communications Coordinator