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I am Not Ashamed of the Gospel

It’s interesting. It seems that you’ll find many people talking about God in the business world today. There are even quite a few business consulting services which talk about adding spirituality to your business. In many types of businesses, it’s OK to talk about “being spiritual” or about how your spiritual life relates to your business life.

What isn’t OK in most circles is to talk about Jesus. Just His name is considered offensive. So you’ll allowed to talk about God or being spiritual, but people don’t want you talking about Jesus in the business world.

Well, I’m going to take a note right here from Romans 1:16: “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.”

I will talk about Jesus. I’m going to have to admit here that I haven’t always felt this way. In the past, I was ashamed…

No…I wasn’t ashamed of what people might say. If it makes people angry, then so be it. I’ve said a lot of things in my business that have made some people angry. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever sent out a successful email or written any successful articles that haven’t made some people mad.

It’s part and parcel of being online and being personal…you’re going to make some people angry. They won’t like you. So I’ve learned to live with that part.

What has made me ashamed is the fact that most people who claim to be “Christian business people” don’t act Christian at all in their business dealings. It’s so bad that the moment I hear someone mention being a Christian that I start wondering what they might be up to…and just how are they planning to backstab me.

I’ve seen it so many times that it scares me. The moment someone mentions being a Christian in business, it always seems they’re up to something dishonest! For example, there are network marketing companies that constantly talk about how Christian they are, yet the first thing they do to a new member is teach them how to LIE about the company’s name.

A recent poll was done in a Christian business meeting about how many of the members were really running their businesses based on Christian principles. The average was lower than one in ten. Yet they talked about themselves as Christian business people.

Yes, I’ve found it hard to not be ashamed of being a Christian in the business world…simply because so many people have used Christianity or the name of Jesus as an excuse to be a crook.

We’re not perfect and we all make mistakes. We fail. We don’t do everything that we should. But let’s at least make an effort to put Christian principles in place in our business.

Written by Terry · Filed Under Faith 

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Comments

17 Responses to “I am Not Ashamed of the Gospel”

  1. Tim Moss on September 12th, 2006 7:34 am

    Terry,

    God Bless you!

    At last we see a fearless (and successful) netpreneur stand up for Jesus.

    A real breath of fresh and exhilarating air this morning for a jaded old businessman .

    Thank you.

    4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. John 15:4

    Tim

  2. Lugene Brantley on September 12th, 2006 9:58 pm

    Terry, So refreshing to hear someone acknowledge Jesus.

  3. Jim Legington on September 26th, 2006 2:12 pm

    Hi Terry,

    Jim Legington here, it’s refreshing to fine Your Blog Online.
    We were over at Joel Christopher’s Birthday Blowout and
    listening to some recording You made with Joel and I’m glad
    to know that You are not ashamed of Our Lord Jesus.

    Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Real Motivation for this new
    Free Report we have online, Jesus has been the motivation
    for Our Weekly Newsletter Online, now more than 5 years.
    Building Your Email Lists as I learn first from You is still Terry
    the most important task along with Fellowship that one can
    endeavor to accomplish in life or business endeavors.

    Some people miss the Big Picture, but I’m hanging victory of
    this Free Report that we have released, even though there
    are over $4500 in Real Value of Fresh Digital eBooks and
    High Demand Software, more than that Everyone with a pure
    heart can be Blessed to see Jesus Christ Our Lord Liberate
    the Command Man/Woman. I’m trusting everyone will realize
    grace and truth through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

    Note: These three words in Our Free Report “Read It Again”
    is really what this is all about, that is Our Blog Online and it
    is Titled “a lads Lunch with Favor”. Jesus is the Reason.
    This is the Ultimate Reason for the Report, Our Faith.

    Terry, see the Big Picture from Genesis Chapter One and
    Chapter Two, then God is in His Son Jesus Christ reconciling
    the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against
    them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

    Read and Meditate in 2Corinthians 5:16-21, John 1:1-18

    Grace to You and Peace In Our Lord Jesus Christ.

    In His Son Jesus Christ,
    a man of God

  4. Chee Shan on November 1st, 2006 9:36 am

    Hey Terry, it’s great to see the Lord in fellow Internet Marketer’s lives. He has truly blessed you in wealth creation :)

  5. Morris Fivecoat on December 12th, 2006 3:18 pm

    Hi Terry,

    Christians do have a price to pay. Jesus paid the highest.

    A thought that came to me is: Few people deny the birth of Christ. If “Christ” were a mere prophet whose sayings go mostly unbelieved then why are people continually and sorely offended at the very mention of anything about Him, including His Name?

    What gives that name, “Jesus”, that much power? I believe He is proven daily.

    Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

    Could a mere prophet, otherwise powerless, make that kind of stand?

    I, too, did not always know.

  6. Michael A. Stelzner on February 20th, 2007 10:46 am

    Terry – I am late to the party on this. But I wanted to say congrats for standing up for the truth. In Him! – Mike

  7. Faith At Work | Christianity With Purpose on July 27th, 2007 9:06 am

    [...] http://www.terrydean.org/i-am-not-ashamed-of-the-gospel/ [...]

  8. John Tan on June 9th, 2008 1:48 am

    Great to know that you are a christian. Yes we should not be ashamed of the Gospel Of Jesus Christ for it is the power unto salvation.

    So Terry which church are you attending?

    John Tan

  9. Ken Wood on July 10th, 2008 10:28 pm

    Only our Father in heaven can see into your heart and know the sincerity, but I like, and agree with what you have to say about our Lord .
    We all (Christians) have our favorite verses and own beliefs, but one keeps “haunting” me of late. To paraphrase … “Why do call me Lord and do not the things I say?”
    How can we deny or hide our belief and hope for His favor?

    Hope to see you there , later. : )

  10. AZMike on October 5th, 2008 1:39 am

    Terry,

    I too have had my own “crosses to bear” when it comes to other Christian’s, I am a driver by income so I see rude people all over and I am always amazed when I see the link to their local church on the back of their vehicles. For awhile I had FEARHIM on my vanity plate, I removed it not because of shame of HIM but shame of me, I too suffer from the human-condition.

    I am reminded of our humanity and are need for forgiveness, we all fall short of the Kingdom of Heaven. My favorite poems are at the heart of this, I first saw Maya Angelou’s version but she borrowed someone else’s to make hers. http://www.snopes.com/glurge/christian.asp

    I used to say hopefully but between my weak faith and an old Barney Miller episode I now say “prayerfully”. So prayerfully God continues to do good through people just like you Terry Dean.

    AZMike

  11. rosie on November 6th, 2008 8:20 pm

    When you know that someone is a prayer warrior it makes all the difference in the world when you do internet marketing. You know that every activity is purpose driven, prayed about and empowered. Thanks for sharing and reminding us all to keep Christ in the midst.

  12. Pat Fenner on December 11th, 2008 3:46 pm

    Wow Terry, I had no idea! How refreshing to hear that you are a fellow believer. I’m new to network marketing and have been following you, but I have to admit I’m always a bit hesitant to follow people I don’t know personally – no matter how successful – if I’m not sure of their ethics/principles.

    This post gives me a different lens to view you with.

    However, I do have 1 question: Is this your most-recent post on this subject?
    I’d love to hear more…

    Pat

  13. Terry on December 11th, 2008 4:29 pm

    Hi Pat,

    I think I have a couple of more frequent posts on this, but not a lot here. I’m focusing more on creating another site and “system” for the Christian field (especially Christian finances).

    Terry

  14. Michele on June 22nd, 2009 11:13 pm

    I have had so many unforeseen things happen in my life I know without a doubt GOD is bringing me through And I can see all the blessings and his mercy he has shine on me. I always wanted to write articles in hopes to enlighten someone else or strengthen another believer of GODS mightiness through JESUS CHRIST, but always thought I had to be a preacher. But, now I know just speak through the heart and what you truly believe through scripture and GOD will do the rest. This is such a delight to hear someone speak about our GOD in such a loving way who is a business man, and shameful for others who don’t live the life they proclaim in JESUS.
    . May GOD continually be with you and your endeavors

  15. Sean on October 25th, 2009 3:46 pm

    Hey Terry and readers,

    Man, this is all brand new for me! I never even knew there was such a thing as internet marketing until a few days ago. I’ve kinda been just drifting through life for the longest time, you know, not really using what God has given me.

    I lost my job a few months ago (I was an editor for a surfing magazine called African Surfrider Magazine, but more or less by default – I’m not even sure how it happened). I’ve been doing tons of praying and searching since then! All I know is that whatever I’m doing I want Jesus to be at the very centre, but that’s about all. I’ve been asking God what He wants me to do now and I felt, maybe for the first time that God was asking me what I want, as strange as that sounds.

    I was actually cooking and praying the other night and I felt that, unless I have a destination in mind, I can’t have a road map and if I don’t have a road map I’m kinda just drifting with the wind. That’s been ok until now, but I feel that I want to be a better steward of what God has given me. Anyway, long story short, thank you. I feel that God may well have led me to this and it may just be the thing for me.

    Well done for not compromising your faith,
    Sean Laughton
    South Africa

  16. Allam on February 10th, 2010 4:43 am

    Terry

    God bless you so much. We need more Christians with a spine knowing where they stand to be counted with the Lords despised few. You have inspired me to a new level. At this times you don’t know who to believe.

    God bless you
    Allam K. Kago
    Kenya

  17. Zama Zincume on June 25th, 2010 11:59 am

    Hi Terry,

    It shows in your internet products who and what you stand for. In comparing yourself to others you feel that integrity coming through.

    Thanks!!

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