by Roger Alcaraz
In my last article, I shared about my time in seminary and the different trials God brought me through. I closed abruptly by mentioning that the article is connected to this year’s theme for the youth: “Unashamed of Christ.” Most people hear that phrase and think of someone boldly announcing the gospel, or Romans 1:15-16 where Paul says, “I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” He continues by giving the details of the gospel, how everyone is a sinner but that God saved us through sending Christ to die for us.
Proclaiming the gospel is certainly one of the signs of an unashamed Christian, but as I was working at McDonald’s, a recurring conversation brought to mind a different aspect of being unashamed. By the time I was working there, I had already graduated and so had all my Physics classmates. Most of them ended up attending UCSD graduate school or found a job nearby, which meant they would be stopping by McDonald’s for a quick meal (probably chicken nuggets). As they would come in, they would spot me in my blue uniform and hat and I would take their order. Eventually, they would always ask, “Did we have class together?” My response would always be the same run-on sentence: “Yeah…I actually graduated and will be going to school in LA soon so I needed a job to keep me in San Diego and I interviewed at a bunch of places but they didn’t seem to believe me that I could live and work in San Diego while attending school two days a week so none of them hired me except for McDonald’s but this place isn’t so bad.”
Okay, that wasn’t exactly what I would say, but the point is that I would always put up a defense for why I’m in that situation. Yet I would never mention my savior Jesus Christ and the hope I have in him. If there were no hope in his return or the everlasting life he gives, I would be attending seminary, driving back and forth from LA, working a low-end job, postponing my wedding, and serving the youth for nothing! I was convicted when a professor taught on 1 Peter 3:14-15 which says, “Even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (emphasis added). He pointed out that these verses have nothing to do with debating atheists and answering the question, “What proof do you have in God?” but it has everything to do with responding to trials and answering the question, “Why do you willingly suffer as you do?” Paul tells us how we should answer: by honoring Christ the Lord as holy, meaning He is the reason we are willing to endure hardship.
I was certainly prepared to make a defense for why I was working at McDonald’s but it did not present the hope I had in Christ, which meant I was ashamed of my circumstances and therefore ashamed of God, who placed me in them. While reading 2 Timothy 1:8 which says, “Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,” I thought about how Paul would answer people who ask about why he’s in prison. Paul actually answers this by verse 11 where he writes, “I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed…” Why was Paul not ashamed? He continues, “…for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.”
Therefore, being unashamed of Christ is more than having a loud voice. It means rejoicing in the trials appointed by God and not making excuses for why you suffer. I made it a point from then on to answer anyone who asked why I endure hardships by expressing my love for Jesus and the hope I have in Him.