For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16).
In literature there is a figure of speech called a litotes; it expresses a positive principle by stating it in negative terms. For example, I feel pretty sure that in Romans, Paul was saying not only that he was “not ashamed” of the gospel, but also that he took pride in the gospel. The right kind of pride – not boastful or arrogant pride and self-importance, but reasonable and justifiable respect.
That’s the way I feel about these truths that I’ve been thinking of and jotting down over the last few days. Not only am I “not ashamed” of these truths, but I also take a certain measure of pride (reasonable and justifiable, I believe) in them.
I am a Christian, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I am an American, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I am a conservative, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I am pro-life, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe marriage is only for one man and one woman, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I vote my convictions, not a political party, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I don’t buy anything I cannot afford, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe the baby in the womb is a person, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe sex is not a product for sale, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe our schools should educate, not indoctrinate, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe judges should judge, not legislate, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe in school choice, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe the best welfare program is a home with a mother and father, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe our Constitution, not the laws of any other nation, should be the sole source for legal decision-making, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe the liberal media are big-time biased, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe capitalism nurtured by Christian ethics is the best economic system for any society, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe socialism will make us all equal (equally poor), and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe that those who preach tolerance are the most intolerant individuals you will ever meet, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe those who refer to others as bigots are the real bigots, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I believe I have one earthly life to live, and I intend to live it fighting for those things I believe.
And you know what? I’m not ashamed of it.
Editor’s Note: From the late 1970s through 2010, Don Wildmon, founder and president emeritus of American Family Association, wrote hundreds of monthly columns for AFA Journal. Thirty-one of his best columns are now available in a recently published collection titled Our Call to Faithfulness: The Voice and Legacy of Don Wildmon.
Click here or call 877-927-4917 to order your own copy of Our Call to Faithfulness: The Voice and Legacy of Don Wildmon.
