A Call For The Unashamed

In the afternoon of May 1, 2023, a 24-year-old Marine veteran named Daniel Penny was on the New York subway en route to the gym. Just before the train pulled away from the Second Avenue Station, another man, Jordan Neely, boarded the train. Reports say that Neely began making threatening actions and comments to passengers aboard the train.

In his retelling of the event, Daniel Penny said, “The three main threats that he repeated over and over were, ‘I’m going to kill you,’ ‘I’m prepared to go to jail for life,’ and ‘I’m willing to die.’” Penny continued, “I was scared for myself, but I looked around, and I saw women and children. He was yelling in their faces…I didn’t want to be put in that situation, but I couldn’t just sit still and let him carry out these threats.” Penny jumped into action and restrained Neely until the police arrived, saving those people from potential death. Sadly, Jordan Neely passed away shortly after the conflict. However, Daniel Penny was tried and acquitted of his murder. Regardless of the controversy surrounding these events, Penny did what was in his power to save those who were in harm’s way.

In stark contrast, sometime during the early morning of December 22 of this past year, 57-year-old Debrina Kawam was in the same New York subway system and was set on fire by a man who reportedly “fanned the flames with a shirt and watched the woman burn from a subway bench.” It is also reported that other travelers, and even the police, stood by, never lifting a finger to stop this heinous crime. The inaction of these bystanders is being referred to as “The Daniel Penny Effect.”

I am afraid that Apostolics are suffering from a spiritual Daniel Penny Effect. We have become too ashamed of the Gospel to lift a finger and reach out to those who are being burned alive by sin. The fact is, we alone have the power to show these people how to be saved. Therefore, we cannot afford to sit idly by as those we see every day are dying.

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:13-16

There are questions every Apostolic should ask themselves: “Am I doing all I can to reach the lost in my world, or have I become ashamed of the Gospel? Am I letting my ‘light so shine before men’, or is my light hidden under a bushel?” I believe if a person settles this in their heart, NOTHING can stop that individual from becoming what God would have them to be and from reaching their world.

Those who live an unashamed life for Christ will not be swayed by peer pressure, the trends of the world, the beliefs of their worldly friends, or unsaved family members. They know what they believe and WHY they believe it. The Apostle Paul penned the words, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation…” This statement in itself is powerful, but Paul preceded it with two assertions of equal importance:

"I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." ~ Romans 1:14-16

In the In the first statement, he says, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” It is easier for us to fully understand what Paul is saying in these verses if we understand the types of people to whom he is referring. The word Greek is translated in this scripture as Ἕλλην (hellēn - G1672), simply meaning a Hellene (Grecian) or inhabitant of Hellas; by extension, a Greek-speaking person, especially a non-Jew. The word Barbarian is translated βάρβαρος (barbaros - G915), meaning a foreigner. Paul mentions the wise, σοφός (sophos - G4680), and the foolish, ἀνόητος (anoētos - G453). Paul says, “I am in debt to these people. I owe these people something.” It was a matter of great importance to Paul, and he stressed that the Gospel is not just for a certain group but for all people.

What did Paul owed them? What was this debt? He continues in the next verse: “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to PREACH THE GOSPEL…” Paul’s debt was that of sharing the Gospel—not just sharing it, but passionately proclaiming it with everything in him. Following these declarations, he says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.”

Need I remind you of the very words of Jesus Christ? “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” The prophet Joel, who prophesied the coming Holy Ghost outpouring on the Day of Pentecost, also said, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision…”

My brothers and sisters, laborers in the Kingdom, DO NOT EVER lose your passion to win souls! We are the only answer for the world. If you do, however, find yourself in a place where that fire has gone out, “stir up the gift of God that is within you.” Get those Bible study tracts back out, grab a stack of church cards, and pass them out. Witness to people on the job or at school. Be who you were meant to be, A SOUL WINNER! “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses…” Nothing can stand against you when you have Jesus backing you. The call today is for all the unashamed people of God to stand up and powerfully proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone—no matter their race, ethnic background, current “religion,” or family history. All must hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Opportunity once passed, is lost forever. There is a time when the tide is sweeping by our door. We may then plunge in and be carried to glorious blessing, success and victory. To stand shivering on the bank, timid, or paralyzed with stupor, at such a time, is to miss all, and most miserably fail, both for time and for eternity. Oh, our responsibility! The mighty tide of God's grace and favor is even now sweeping by us, in its prayer- directed course. 'There is a river (of salvation) the streams whereof make glad the city of God.' ~ Ps. 46:4. It is time to 'get together, and plunge in, individually and collectively. 'We are baptized 'in one Spirit, into one body; Let us lay aside all carnal contentions and divisions, that separate us from each other and from God. If we are of His body, we are 'one body.' ~ I Cor. 12:13 The opportunity of a lifetime, of centuries, is at our door, to be eternally gained or lost. There is no time to hesitate. Act quickly, lest another take thy crown. Oh, church of Christ, awake! Be baptized with power. Then fly to rescue others. And to meet your Lord." ~ Frank Bartleman

I will not close this article without giving a practical way to accomplish this seemingly monumental task. If one person determines to pass out a minimum of 10 church cards per week—two cards per weekday—for an entire year, they will potentially have reached 520 souls. Imagine with me: if this were to catch on in your church, and 10 people catch the vision, that is 5,200 souls reached in a year. If 20 people participate, that’s 10,400 souls in one year. The potential to reach your city is very real.

Will there be any unashamed Apostolics who will answer the call? Will there be a spirtual Daniel Penny who not worry about what those around may think of him, but will boldly proclaim the gospel? I say, let the unashamed people arise and be a light in a dark world!