When my hero Paul was writing his letter to the Roman Church he spoke about not being ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it was the power of God for salvation, and that Gospel has never lost its ancient touch and power.

In the United Kingdom, there is a cry just now for Christians to arise and stand for Jesus Christ and not to be ashamed of the glorious Gospel.

Over these past months there have been many challenges to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and there is a concern that some will turn their back on Jesus Christ and compromise their stand and faith and beliefs. There are various pressures.

Our nation has turned its back on Jesus Christ. If the name of Jesus Christ and the principles of Jesus Christ and the Word of God were used in Parliament and the Council Chambers of the land some would just not know how to react.

What is behind all that is good within the United Kingdom? Can it not all be traced back to pioneers who had a strong vibrant living faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord? These men were leaders of the highest calibre. They were men of high moral standards and men who knew how to speak for God and proclaim the Word of God.

Not all that long ago there who is jesus to be queues in Edinburgh outside church building when certain men were preaching.

On Sunday evenings in July and August, when we had no Evening Worship Service in Cowdenbeath, my wife and I used to drive across to central Edinburgh to hear these powerful men, and the building would be crammed and packed with eager hearers of the Word of God as we have it in the Old and New Testaments.

You would leave the Services inspired and motivated and more committed to serve the living God. There was teaching and emotion and a word that would encourage the most downcast. These were powerful days.

Do we as a nation want to turn our back on all that?

It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which has given this nation of ours so much that is positive and practical.

Most of our laws are based on the Bible as is the case in many other nations where we have had a degree of influence.

This has been the case in the United States of America too and there the predicament is perhaps even more serious. When I hear of no prayer in schools, and unwise decisions being made to take away physical displays of the Ten Commandments, it causes me to tremble.

Is this not a day for the Church of Jesus Christ to arise and say, "Enough is enough!"

Are you ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Paul certainly was not ashamed and neither am I ashamed.

I am going to continue to stand for Jesus Christ and His Holy Word. After all, that is what the living God has called me to do, and after over fifty years of seeking to be faithful I am not giving up now!

Sandy Shaw