Not Ashamed

In a powerful exploration of Romans 1:16-17, we're challenged to examine whether we've allowed cultural narratives to make us ashamed of our Christian faith. The message confronts head-on the modern arguments that Christianity was merely a tool of oppression, revealing instead the rich African presence throughout Scripture from Genesis to Acts. We discover that Christianity reached Ethiopia in 35 AD—over 1,500 years before the transatlantic slave trade—and that figures like the Ethiopian eunuch, Moses's Cushite wife, Simon of Cyrene, and the Queen of Sheba demonstrate the Bible's inclusive narrative. The central truth emerges: the gospel doesn't erase our history; it explains it, redeems it, and gives it eternal meaning. Paul's declaration 'I am not ashamed' becomes our rallying cry in a world that mocks, misunderstands, and misrepresents our faith. We're reminded that justification comes through faith alone—not through works, rituals, or cultural approval—and that when we put our trust in Christ, He exchanges our sin for His righteousness. This message calls us to move from timid, silent Christianity to bold ambassadorship, recognizing that the gospel has power (dunamis) to transform every life, regardless of race or background, because we are all one in Christ Jesus.