"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." (Genesis 3:8-10)
What's wrong with you? How many times have we heard that familiar question growing up? How many times have you heard it as an adult? This is the question often asked by the second member of the "unholy trinity." Shame manifests itself by declaring there is something wrong with you. The "wrong" may be a physical difference like skin color, some physical disability or anything that society labels as outside of the "norm." Growing up we may have experienced an adult or some authority figure pointing a finger at us for a poor choice that had been made or unkind words that may have been spoken declaring, "Shame on you!" It's not too far from the truth in those instances that shame is figuratively speaking all over us! Shame enjoys adding to the menu at the party that fear has already initiated. If fear is offering up the cake, shame is the icing on top. The two of them work hand in hand to point out how inadequate we are as well as the rejection that we are going to experience because we are "different."
GOD DELIGHTS IN OUR DIFFERENCES
After the Fall, Adam and Eve experienced shame in being exposed by virtue of their nakedness, "I was afraid because I was naked..." (Genesis 3:10) They noticed something was wrong with them. They noticed their differences. However, like fear, God's word has an answer to shame's taunting. The Bible tells us that God delights in His creation and that includes us. A psalm attributed to King David declares, "For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalm 139:13-14) Furthermore, Genesis tells us that God created us, both men and women in His image. (Genesis 1:26) Why would the God of the universe place His image on something shameful? Jesus often ministered to many individuals who were considered shameful for their conditions or poor choices. (Mark 5:25-34; Luke 17:11-19; John 7:53-8:11) Moreover, God gave up His only Son to remove any sense of shame we may carry. The author of Hebrews tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, "For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:2-3)
TAKE UP THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
Shame like its buddy fear, is constantly wooing us to come join the party, constantly trying to convince us that we will be better off tasting their delicacies. As mentioned in part 1 of this series, the warning is "Don't listen and don't go to the party!" Take hold of God's word which Paul declares in Ephesians 6:17 is the "sword of the Spirit." The Bible is God's weapon to help us combat fear, shame, and the third member of the "unholy trinity"(guilt) that we will read about in part 3. Be encouraged as the psalmist declares, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me." (Psalm 28:7a)
Be blessed,
Pastor Sheree
