The Problem of Shame

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God…

And hope maketh not ashamed. Rom 5:1-5  

Shame is a Condemnation

The answer of shame for the believer rests in the above verses. In the previous chapter of Romans 7 Paul speaks volubly of the indwelling nature of sin.

I know good.

I want to do good.

But a lot of times I fail in my effort to be good.

And part of the reaction I feel is shame.

True there is a time when shame is deserved, and there’s a time when it is misplaced.

Sin and Shame

Shame in its depth is a work of sin.

It is the condemning voice of the devil.

Sin distorts the mind.

Sin is wont to exaggerate things.

Sin shifts the blame.

In Adam I can detect the early awakening of shame. He had loved God, and he had failed God. Sin gives birth to shame. We are left naked. And only the skin of God can cover our sin. A son of God has no shame. There is no shame or fear in love.

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 

Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. Psa 32:1-2  

Shame and Pride

Shame may be the work of pride.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

It can be a refusal to believe God.

It can be the sin of limiting God.

It is when I feel the urge to measure things by my own standard and not that of God.

It can be born of the temptation to be over righteous. When a man feels God’s salvation work is not quite enough, but that he must add to it by, for example, extreme self-mortification.

I can convince myself that I have failed and I am completely beyond salvation. And the result is the rising millstone of shame.

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 

Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? Ecc 7:16-17 

Other times we feel shame because we feel we did more, or we feel we did less. And the result is always a rollercoaster of warring emotions.

But God has shown us the way to overcome shame. It is in every word he has spoken. It is there in every instruction on how to combat sin.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Joh 3:17-21  

And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 

For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 1Jn 3:19-21  

Shame and Self-Loathing

I pray that I am not passing judgment here. In writing this piece I may as well have been writing about myself. Personally, there are instances when I feel like an emotional springboard. I feel shame right and left. I feel shame when I am standing up, and I feel shame when I am sitting down.

It is the evil day Paul famously spoke of in Ephesians 6. And there’s no way of winning that battle except through the taking up the whole armour of God.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:10-13  

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Rom 8:33-34

Shame and Doubt

Shame can easily become chronic if left untreated, and that can impede the development or growth of the whole person. Shame can literally stop life. It will happen if we listen to people, if we worry about people, if we fear people, if we make lies our refuge…

True salvation must involve death. Dying to the world and dying to self. When we fail to do that we open ourselves to the relentless attacks by the devil.

When that happens remember your position in Christ. Remember God in his promises. Cheer up! You are a child of God, and you are of more value than many sparrows.