Each Christian has to overcome their own fears – fears of being humiliated, fears of being unacceptable, fears of physical persecution, fears of standing out in a crowd. Paul and multitudes of other Christians before you have had to think about it before saying that they are not ashamed of the gospel. Alastair Begg writes that it is as if Paul, when he first started in ministry was saying, “I don’t know if I can do this!” In his head was a mixture of love for God as well as fear of the crowds. Some people he would speak to would be governors and kings. Some would have been the smartest people of his own age! Yet, working through his fears he declares, “I am not ashamed…!”