Unashamed

Shame is defined as a sense that something is wrong with us. When we sense something is wrong with us, we attempt to hide that part of ourselves from others and we (mistakenly) think we can hide it from God. We may have an idea of what caused the shame, or we may not.  But when tested with criticism, our shame will move to protect us, often in the form of anger. You have probably seen this in yourself or others. In my experience, shame is deeply seated and difficult to understand or remove, perhaps because it is from very old hurts.  Nonetheless, it is possible to be rid of it. One of the transformational tools Freedom in Christ uses to help us overcome shame and move forward into healing is recognition of our true identity in Christ.

Our true identity tells us that we are God’s children, and He is not ashamed of us.  Instead, He is for us, works on our behalf, and loves for us to run to Him when we stumble.  God rejoices when we take our first steps into healing, make confessions, or cut ties with evil by renouncing it. In Christ, we really are accepted and secure.

Here we have a choice to make.  Either what we feel is correct, or what God says is correct.  Personally, choosing God’s truth over my feelings has made the difference.  Insecurity and lack of acceptance were the very first, and most foundational, strongholds that needed to be broken.  The results have been noticeable healing and significant changes in my life and relationships.

In Christ, we are fully known, fully loved, fully accepted, and fully secure. These are true for each of us.  Are we not in the hands of the almighty God?  Can anything or anyone separate us from Him and His love? (See Romans 8:31-36). Settling these key issues can lift the burden of shame.  It can change the way we feel about ourselves. And it can change the way we act and interact with others.

What about being ashamed of God?  In our days, we are starting to feel more resistance toward Christianity.  I felt this strongly when working in a large high-tech company.  The corporate culture pushed against my beliefs.  But Christianity really is more believable than anything else out there.  Christianity rightly describes the world we live in, the relationships we have, and the spiritual realm. Once we adopt the view the Bible proposes, life makes a lot more sense.  

Paul understood this when he wrote, “...I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes...” When reading this, a twinge of shame used to cross my conscience. Why the shame?  Was I ashamed of God’s gospel?  Did I really believe it? What I now understand is the importance of moving this from the head to the heart.

It is not enough to know God by reason and logic.  We need to know God by experience. Paul knew God this way, and we can too. And when we do, we will not be ashamed of Him or His gospel. It is too beautiful and too powerful, as Paul says, to illicit any shame from us. 

Friends, we can come out of the shadow of shame.  For in fact, we are fully known by God already.  I love how David says this in Psalm 139:1-4:

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even when a work in on my tongue, behold, or LORD, you know it altogether.”

We can’t hide from God, but we don’t need to either.  He embraces us in love and will not let us go.