"Shame on you!"

 I remember growing up hearing the expression, "shame on you!" when I had engaged in some behavior that did not meet parental expectations. Maybe you can relate? When I think about those words, covering someone in shame, figuratively speaking can inflict emotional wounds that an individual can struggle with for years. In today's culture there is no shortage of shame. Social media has made shame an everyday occurrence with total disregard for the negative consequences. I was recently meditating on a verse from the book of Romans. Paul in chapter 9 is lamenting over the unbelief of Israel and as a result God opens up the gospel to the Gentiles. In verse 9:33b Paul states, "..the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame." (NIV) 

THE SHAME OF THE CROSS

Jesus understood shame well. The act of crucifixion was meant to impart shame and totally degrade the crucified person. To add insult to injury, some people mocked Him, spit at Him, and challenged Him to prove His deity by coming down off the cross. (Matthew 27:40-43) The irony is that Jesus could have covered His accusers with shame by coming down from the cross but He endured the shame to save us from our sins and for the glory yet to come after His resurrection. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, "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." (Hebrews 12:2b NIV) One of the thieves who hung on a cross next to Jesus had a different take on the situation. In Luke 23:40-41 the thief acknowledged that he deserved to be punished for his crimes but Jesus had done nothing deserving of death. Then looking to Jesus he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (v.42 NIV) "Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise." (v.43 NIV) 

FREE FROM CONDEMNATION

The thief who made the request of Jesus demonstrated the reality of Romans 9:33b. He believed in Jesus and in essence scorned the shame for a glory that Jesus promised him. What a gift! I wonder what that thief felt hearing those words from Jesus. The good news is that we like that thief are all guilty of engaging in sinful behaviors that evoke a wagging finger and a verbal condemnation, "shame on you!" However, because Jesus came and lived among us, was crucified, died, was buried, and resurrected, we no longer have to live condemned or be covered with shame. Paul states in Romans 8, "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 NIV) What shameful things have you done in the past that you are still carrying today? Jesus wants you to scorn that shame and commit your life to following Him so that like the thief on the cross you can experience hope, receive eternal life, and one day enter into the kingdom of God. 

Glory to His name! 

Pastor Sheree

The Unholy Trinity-Part 2

"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

The Unholy Trinity-Part 1

"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)

Over the next three months I will be sharing a foundational key as to what underlies all of the emotional challenges which we may face. It's what I call the "unholy trinity," which are fear, shame, and guilt. After the Fall, these three emotions emerged as the core of every struggle humanity faces and will face until Christ returns. Every challenge we encounter either has one or more of these characters at the center of it all. I like to visualize the unholy trinity as throwing an ongoing party to which we have a never ending invitation. Our first character, fear, often manifests in feelings of anxiety and insecurity. Many of the clients I see in my practice often express feelings of anxiety. Fear was the first thing that Adam expressed after God called to him in the garden, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid....(Genesis 3:10) When we accept the party invitation from fear, we are hindered from moving forward with what God has called and gifted us to do. 

Fear Is Always Inviting Us To The Party

Fear is always holding out our favorite food and whispering in our ear, "You don't want to do that, you may fail" or "what happens if..." or "what's that person going to think if you say or do that?" "Come join the party and eat your fill of fear!" My word of encouragement when clients are expressing these fears is, "Don't listen and don't go to the party!" The words, "Do not be afraid" are expressed in both the Old and New Testaments. Some scholars have estimated the phrase occurs over 365 times, which shows how much emphasis God places on the significance of those words. For example, the Lord said to Joshua before he was to lead the people into the Promised Land, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."(Joshua 1:9) Joshua had a monumental task ahead of him but God promises that He would be with Joshua. Jesus also comforted His disciples after He informed them that He would be leaving them, but that He would send the Holy Spirit to be their strength in Jesus' absence, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27) 

God's Word Is Our Weapon Against Fear

God knew after the Fall fear would try its best to hinder us from following Him. Therefore, God encourages us through His word to trust Him, to listen to His voice and don't go to the party! There are times when fear is healthy and serves as an ally versus an adversary. For example, in situations when our safety is threatened, fear triggers within us the need to flee in the opposite direction. However, in circumstances where self doubt and insecurity arise, God is our strength, "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7) Moreover, like Joshua, we have the promise that God will always be with us, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5b-6) So in those moments when fear holds out that party invitation, we can counter with a better invitation. The invitation of God's word, which grounds us and strengthens us through His promises.
Thanks be to God!
Pastor Sheree