Shame… I wrote about it the other day and a friend sent me a link to the following public source – WIKI ON SHAME. Another older perspective on the meaning and implications of shame can be found in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary online HERE.
Is there any use in shame? We all know its paralyzing aspects. Even private shame, when you’ve done something you’re not proud of but no one else knows what it is, this stuff is paralyzing! Shame at a family or close friends’ level is rough too, and perhaps what we fear most is shame among these closest to us. Public shame is surprisingly not as potent or feared as it used to be, and in fact it seems to almost be a thing of the past in the US compared to a generation or two back.
What does God’s Word say about shame? A word study in the ESV translation shows 141 appearances of the word SHAME in God’s Word – CLICK HERE. When it happens that there are so many appearances of one word and I don’t have as much time, I’ll camp out in Romans for a few minutes, so let’s check out the book of Romans on the word shame:
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
as it is written,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So our hope isn’t a hope that uses shame to get us to obey God. Shame, apart from our faith in Christ, pushes us into shaddows or into a place of prideful ignorance. When we push against Christ as believers, we slide back into these patterns of shame or brandished pride. Shame is one of the most unproductive things to dance with, friends. When we lean heaviest upon our Redeemer, we find our shame slip off our shoulders and our joy in the Lord become our increasing mode of operation.
As we embrace our God’s ways for our lives and embrace the true hope available to us in the Savior Himself, our hope increases and consequently our joy and confidence increase as well.
Any thoughts on this? Please feel free to leave a comment or email me at torreymoe@gmail.com.
Would love to hear your stories of overcoming shame in the hope of Christ.
In His joy,
– Torrey
Grounded Gospel 