A Five Letter Word: SHAME
Shame sends us into hiding
According to the Soul of Shame:
Shame is the emotional weapon that evil tries to use to corrupt our relationships with God and others and stop us from using our God given gifts to serve others
Jackie Hill Perry says that shame and pride are connected–when we don’t feel like we are enough and experience shame in that, we have to add ‘fig leaves’ to cover that shame–more degrees, more possessions, a better lookin man, etc….started in the Garden…continues today–social media comparisons–feeling shame that we are not as good as…all lies from the enemy….
Shame’s power does not lie in facts that we can clarify but rather in its emotional state
Shame has power in isolation and separation Shame can’t be fixed in the privacy of our mental processes Shame is combated within conversation, prayer and other communal, embodied actions
'let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ' Hebrews 10:22-25 https://www.bible.com/bible/100/HEB.10.22-25
I love the idea of drawing near, James 4:8 says the same thing, Draw near to God You sinners “The word used for sinner is hamartolos, which means the hardened sinner, the man whose sin is obvious and notorious.” (Barclay)
Isn’t astounding that a holy and perfect God knows that we are double minded and prone to sin but yet He still invites us to draw near Then we are told to hold fast to hope and consider how to stimulate others to love and good deeds and don’t give up the habit of meeting together Here are some real practical ways to work through shame
1.Get in a small group
2. Join a prayer group
3. Go to church on Sundays
4. Invest in a friendship (share, ask for help, be vulnerable)
God is faithful to redeem us We each have a shame script or a shame attendant in our heads. We must recognize it and then be willing to share it with others
Savor Moment
In the same way that an onion has many layers, so do we. It is a slow process to begin to work through shame but it is worth it! Invite a friend over for dinner and discuss the following questions: What is the running shame script in your life? What techniques do you employ to prevent yourself from being vulnerable? Spend some time praying together
