Shame: (Noun): a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. (Oxford Dictionary)
Measuring Shame
I feel pretty ill-equipped to write about shame. Thankfully, it’s not something I’ve lived with much. No doubt I’ve probably done a few dumb things that would cause those feelings, but I know people who’ve truly lived a life filled with shame due to their own actions or have been made to feel ashamed by others. In part one, we’ll talk about what your own actions have caused against a biblical backdrop.
How do you personally measure shame? By definition, it is caused by a sense of wrongdoing or foolishness. If your actions don’t feel wrong to your conscience, then you won’t feel shame. The question becomes, what is your plumb line to measure shame? What’s your moral compass that guides your life? There was a time when things like premarital sex and cohabitation were considered shameful acts. It has become normalized in society today. Biblical concepts shaped our morals, laws, and the Constitution of the United States. The farther the nation has drifted, the less those guidelines are considered the compass.
When Shame Shows Up
So where does a feeling of shame come from? You’ve become a Christian, and you’re reading the Scriptures and finding all those “Thou shalt not” things, and you’re starting to feel the shame. You may feel like you don’t even want to keep reading. Don’t FREAK! And don’t quit, and don’t let yourself get caught up in self-condemnation. Remember the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8: 1-2) You are a new creation, and Jesus made the way for you to get out from under your newfound shame.
Condemnation vs. Conviction
Condemnation and conviction are two different things. Condemnation tears you down. Condemnation says you have failed and will continue to fail. Condemnation is judgment with no hope. Condemnation is the Accuser of the Saints.
Conviction is one of the jobs of Holy Spirit. Conviction wants you to see your failures against the background of HOPE! Conviction says – yes, this was wrong, and yes, you were forgiven when you accepted Jesus, but now let’s work on making you whole by completely tearing out the roots of shame your actions are making you feel. Holy Spirit does convict, but He has a greater purpose. He is also a Comforter and a Helper.
You can be free of shame! Crucifixion was considered one of the most brutal and shameful ways to die. Therefore, Jesus took your shame to the cross with him. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on the experiences in your past that have left you with feelings of shame. Make a list, then confess those things before the Lord, and decree that they are cut off from your life!
Stay tuned for Shame Part 2.
Until next time under the palm, be blessed!
