[For] I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."] —Romans 1:16 [17])
John Piper writes,
A lot of Christian shame comes from what man thinks rather than what God thinks. But if we realized deeply that God’s assessment is infinitely more significant than anyone else’s, we would not be ashamed of things are so amazing they are even called the very power of God: “I’m not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
This verse tells us another reason that shame in the gospel would be misplaced shame. The gospel is the very power of God unto salvation. The gospel magnifies God and humbles man. To the world the gospel doesn’t look like power at all. It looks like weakness—asking people to be like children and telling them to depend on Jesus, instead of standing on their own two feet. But for those who believe, it is the power of God to give sinners everlasting joy.
Future Grace, p. 134-135, paragraphing mine.