Have you ever been made to feel ashamed for being a Christian?
Perhaps you’ve been frozen out of friendship groups because you expressed an opinion that some in the group found offensive. Perhaps you’ve been overlooked at work because you wouldn’t go along with a sinful workplace culture. Or perhaps – hardest of all – you’ve been shunned or sidelined by your own family, because your Christian lifestyle is a rebuke to the religion or morality of your own flesh and blood.
The author of the letter to the Hebrews in the Bible knew that his recipients were acutely feeling that sense of shame. They had become Christians from a Jewish background and were (probably) living in pagan Rome, making them strangers both to their society and to their own families. It’s perhaps no surprise that some of the church members had started to drift away from Jesus. Some of them had stopped turning up at church so regularly. Some of them had started to doubt even the very basics of their faith. Some of them were wondering whether their old Jewish way of life wasn’t a legitimate way to worship God after all.
To this suffering and struggling church, the writer to the Hebrews wants to say to them: Jesus is better. He is a better messenger than the angels, a better prophet than Moses, a better priest than the Levites, a better sacrifice than the animals… the list goes on! He is better than everything that came before Him, even the God-given structures of the old covenant; and so to turn their backs on Jesus, even for Judaism, is to incur God’s wrath for failing to honour His risen and reigning Son.
Yes, if they turned back to their old way of life, they may well find tensions with their families and their wider society would be eased. At least they could stop talking about a crucified Saviour – the most shameful and disgraceful idea possible to both Jews and Greeks (1 Cor. 1v21-24). But the author points to another, better way to end their shame: “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, ‘I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise’ ” (Heb.2v10-12).
The cross might seem shameful to the world; but to God it is “fitting”. It is the only means for guilty and shameful sinners to be brought back to relationship with the Father. Those who trust in the cross of Christ are “sanctified” – made holy, acceptable to God, pleasing to Him through their union with Jesus. His death stands for our death, His righteousness covers our guilt, His holiness cleanses our souls deep down to our very consciences (9v14). Those who belong to Jesus are completely free from guilt and shame before God; and any sense of shame they feel from their neighbours will one day be completely removed when Jesus is vindicated in the sight of all (13v10-14).
And right now, Jesus is “not ashamed” to call the Hebrew Christians brothers and sisters (2v11). Those who are united with Jesus are united to the “same source” – they can both together call God Father. Jesus is not just our Lord and Saviour – He is our brother; and He is honoured to have you in His family. If you are struggling with a sense of shame today – be it from your friends, your workmates, your society, or even your family – and you’re feeling the temptation to give up, please remember this. He is so proud of you.
