Facts about Shame, Part 2
6. God never uses shame (condemnation) to motivate a change in behaviour. It’s not His voice nor His character.
But while she was still a long way off, her father saw her and was filled with compassion for her; he ran to his daughter, threw his arms around her and kissed her. The daughter said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your daughter.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on her. Put a ring on her finger and sandals on her feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this daughter of mine was dead and is alive again; she was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:20b-24 (Edited to be the Parable of the Prodigal Daughter.)
If there is ever a moment you feel unworthy to sit at the table because of your past, remember what the Father did when His prodigal son came home.
Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. Song of Songs 2:4
7. Condemnation is related to judgement, whose fruit is death. It is the opposite of conviction which is related to love and discipline1, and whose fruit is holiness.
Condemnation takes the shame caused by our sin and pronounces a damnatory sentence2 and pushes us into hiding and darkness. Jesus took the penalty of sin upon Himself (Isaiah 53:4-6) and did not come to judge3, but to save! He came to convict, not to condemn. This free gift of grace brought justification in place of condemnation (Ephesians 2:8-9). If you are in Christ, condemnation is not for you! Don’t believe the liar4 if he tells you it is!
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification… So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. Romans 5:16, 18
For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18
8. The enemy can use shame and condemnation and judgment as a tool to cause us to want to keep things hidden.
Everything will be exposed one day (Luke 12:2; Mark 4:22; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 4:5), but I want everything in my life to be exposed to the light today so I can live in the freedom that is available to me today.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23,24
9. The enemy can use shame to tempt us to keep our face down; be downcast, lie down and accept defeat. What if we refuse his lies and believe truth? What would we find if we look up instead?
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God. Psalm 42:11
No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame. Psalm 25:3a
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. Psalm 25:1-2
The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:22
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. Let me not be put to shame, Lord, for I have cried out to you. Psalm 31:16-17a
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5
[1] https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/paideuo.html https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/paideia.html https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/muwcar.html
[2] https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/katakrima.html
[3] https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/krino.html
[4] John 8:44b “... there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”