Matthew West is one of my favorite Christian songwriter/singers. His lyrics are both inspiring and applicable to my journey. I need both of those.

His song “Unashamed” hit my heart the first time I heard it. Matthew West opens with stories of faithful servants of God followed by a couple of challenging questions.

So, what’s gonna be said of me
When it’s all said and done?
Will I stand for my beliefs
Or will I turn around and run?

Part of the challenge of being a follower of Jesus is withstanding the criticisms from many around you. I worked in a secular industry with many who doubted the reality or need for faith in God. Some felt you were weak if you needed Jesus. Some thought you were brainwashed or, even worse, braindead if you believed in God. They delivered accusations to defend their narrative and my response was always honest.

Accuser: A lot of Christians fall way short of who they should be. They don’t act at all like this Jesus they talk about.

Me: Agreed. Actually all followers of Jesus fall short of living like him. Part of the love and grace of Jesus is to patiently help sincere followers grow in our journey to be more like him. His love and forgiveness are the same on our best and worst days.

Accuser: I know so many hypocrites.

Me: Yep. Me too. Hypocrites also exist on the non-faith side. My message for 40 plus years is don’t reject Christ because of Christians. Your faith decision should never be based on whether Dave or churchgoers you watch prove to you that Jesus is real.

Your decision is to personally and genuinely explore if Jesus Christ is who he said he is. The Son of God. Our Savior. The way to eternal life. Those are your questions to answer.

I struggled with judgmental churchgoers. I understand the frustration that brings. I wasn’t raised as a Christian and I wasn’t sure I wanted to commit my life to something that didn’t seem consistent.

Thank God I decided to honestly and intellectually seek the reality of God’s love and forgiveness. Jesus answered that request and radically changed my life in ways I never expected.

And now I agree completely with this bold statement of Matthew West.

“Well, let the whole world hear me say….”

Say what? Here it is!

I’m unashamed
Of the gospel of Jesus Christ
And the truth that changed my life
For the name above all names
I’m unashamed
And I will live my faith out loud
Take a stand and stand my ground
For the One who took my shame
I’m unashamed

I agree with all of my heart! I’m unashamed. I can tell you with complete assurance that my life would have gone off the rails without my relationship with Jesus. His love both restrained and sustained me. I believe my insecure and selfish heart would have taken me down a different path without my faith in God. Any quality that you find positive in my life has been given or enhanced through my relationship with Jesus. Recently I looked at many of the crossroad moments in my life. God’s grace and mercy allowed me to fail and still find redemption. Anytime I have disappointed others or did not show love it was because I took my eyes off of Him.

Paul writes these words in Philippians.

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4, NLT)

I would like to paraphrase Paul’s words for my message to those who don’t think my journey with Jesus is legitimate.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. I hope you saw in my life some things that were true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Whatever you might have received from me grew out of the sustaining love, grace, and peace of God.”

I know my heart. I review the crossroads moments I came to in different seasons of my life. I reflect on how God gracefully and lovingly rescued me over and over and over. That grace, love, forgiveness, and direction happened because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I’m unashamed.

And so very grateful.