Ashamed to Confess God's Truth?

"I have made fun of Lutherans for years—who wouldn't if you lived in Minnesota?" quipped Garrison Keillor, who then offered an observation, "We make fun of Lutherans for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their lack of speed, and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like them." Yes, it is true, we are a singing church—and we are a confessing church. Another observer noted that "Lutherans believe in prayer, but would practically die if asked to lead in prayer out loud!" Does this describe our reaction to confessing God's truth? Are we robust singers or timid ones who fear giving offense?

This month we celebrate the Reformation, highlighted by Luther's posting of his 95 Theses. That was just the beginning; the great confession of the true faith would occur later at Augsburg in 1530. Ironically, Luther, who was under the ban of the Pope and the Emperor, did not attend the reading of the Augsburg Confession but remained at the fortress Ebernburg. Was he ashamed to confess God's truth? Of course not! At Damascus, the Apostle Paul escaped through a window in a basket to avoid being killed by the Jews. Was he ashamed to confess God's truth? He eventually would be executed for his confession of faith, but this was not the time. And then there is Peter's instruction to wives with unbelieving husbands that they may not win them over with words but by their conduct, "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives" (1 Peter 3:1).

So what is a faithful Lutheran to do? Though he understands the dangers of false doctrine, he may be afraid to confess his faith before others because he doesn’t want to make a mistake. Some might also think "I don't know enough of the Bible." It's best to talk about what you know, but if someone asks a question for which you don’t know the answer or can not remember the specific chapter and verse of the appropriate Scripture passage, just tell him you'll find out and get back to him.

Others might think, "I don't want to lose a friend or alienate my family." This excuse is a different matter entirely. Here the Word of God instructs us clearly. Jesus said, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38). Also, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:37). If maintaining relationships, even with those near and dear to us, means that we must be silent about the truth of God's word, then we have lost sight of what is important.

The most important thing in life is eternal life, and that comes only through faith in Christ crucified. When eternal life through Christ is first and foremost, we will find the courage to confess Him to others, because we will be doing it out of love for them. We, as confessional Lutherans, are confident but not arrogant. We are confident because our faith is based only on the Word of God. We shun arrogance, for we know we can err, and therefore must always remain open to correction. But that correction must be on the basis of the Word and not on what Oprah, or Dr. Phil, or anyone else may say.

Finally, our confidence and our courage to speak about the mighty works of God will come naturally as long as we have Christ crucified at the center of our confession of faith. Then we "will sing our Maker's praises and in Him most joyful be, For in all things I see traces Of His tender love to me." (ELH #448:1).

Richard Waters is pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Carthage, Missouri.