Unashamed?
Let's begin with a thought experiment. Imagine yourself in some public place, such as riding city transit or relaxing in a coffee shop. Take a look around and notice what people are reading. Ask yourself: Why is it more embarrassing to be seen in public reading a Bible than it is a trashy novel? Would you be perfectly at ease pulling out an overtly Christian title and immersing yourself unashamedly in it?
Embarrassment is a mild expression of shame, a word often left unspoken in North America these days. Perhaps it's because the word itself seems old-fashioned that it comes across so strongly when it is used. Shame and its cousins - unashamed and shameless - leap out from the page or computer screen like a hyperlink to a nest of new, perhaps forbidden, knowledge. They are portals to a world where standards are either being upheld valiantly or slipping badly. It could go either way.
It occurs to me that shame is something like cholesterol. The cells that make up our human bodies require certain types of "a waxy steroid of fat" in order to perform some of the functions that keep us alive. But too much cholesterol, or the wrong kind, causes all kinds of medical problems. Similarly, shame is a powerful and necessary ingredient in the formation of healthy personalities and the shaping of good societies. But too much shame or the wrong kind of shame can be very damaging.
Powerful words
Unashamed and shameless are powerful words because they imply the presence or possibility of shame, and shame is a feeling or cluster of feelings we seek to avoid. We don't like feeling embarrassed, even when it's warranted and good-natured. To stand unashamed is a major strength when it means upholding something good even if it is unpopular. On the other hand, it smacks of corruption when it signals a deadened conscience.
"Shameless" is blinking these days from an unexpected source - Bible distribution agencies. Here's a bit of background. According to a November 2010 report from Global Scripture Impact, "Bible engagement in North America is at a shockingly low level, not only within the general population, but among church-attending Christians."
The Canadian Bible Society (CBS) is responding to this reality with a campaign to encourage a new generation to pay attention to the Christian holy book. It's a sophisticated effort that uses social media to connect with the public and subsequently tailors a message and delivers a product based on actual demand. Curiously, CBS is calling it the "Shameless Bible Reader" project. Here's how they explain it. "This eye-catching title reflects our conviction that when the true value of Scripture is realized, lives are dramatically changed by the transforming message of God's Word."
I'm not perfectly clear how the concept of shame connects with belief in the divine authority and transforming power of Scripture in this context. But it did catch my eye and I'm guessing it derives from the apostle Paul's bold statement that he is "not ashamed of the gospel" because "it is the power of God for salvation for everyone" (Romans 1:16).
Comfort levels
I know plenty of people who won't hesitate to demonstrate that kind of bold loyalty to a sports franchise in their home city. They'll wear its jersey and fly its flag. They'll attend games and cheer their hearts out. They'll rejoice in victory and agonize in defeat. They'll stay true to their team even when it underperforms year after year. They'll even wear team colours in a hostile stadium or arena. They'll stand unashamed with their team.
But few Christians in North America are that straightforward when it comes to the proclamation of their faith and their trust in Scripture. Most of us tend to hold religious beliefs with less overt allegiance. It's not particularly cool to be keen about Christ. It's more comfortable to keep it private.
I'm not suggesting in the least that Christians are well served by followers behaving like partisan football fans. But for many, faith has become a purely a private matter that cannot be displayed in public in any way. Regardless of what we might actually believe, many of us act as though we are ashamed of the good news unless we happen to be in a house of worship or hanging out with people for whom faith is real.
We ought to be ashamed of ourselves.
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