The Label of Shame

Shame on you. How many times did you hear those words? Think them? Feel the weight of the trio tearing at your heart–your identity? Your value?

Many first heard the harshness of the phrase in childhood as angry parents responded to childish behaviors or accidents. For some, it became a mantra spoken over us–familiar and accepted.  Perhaps, you uttered the words in whispers, too. Agreeing with the label parents, abusers, or other uninformed adults placed on you.

Before shame, only God’s approval existed. But when deception drove shame into humanity’s heart, God’s first people experienced:

1. secrecy.
2. a fear of being known.
3. blame-shifting.
4. a new burden.

 

The Introduction of Shame

Consider Genesis 6:25 and 3:7-10 (NKJV), which dives into the inception of shame in the Garden of Eden.

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

Before the fall, failure, and folly there was perfect communion with the Lord. Meeting face to face with the Creator along God-crafted trails. Then, secrecy and fear dictated action and heaven’s hand-hewn couple crouched in paradise. Isn’t that what we do when shame makes itself known? We fear nakedness.  Vulnerability.  All our terrible, horrible secrets exposed only to be thrust away as if another agrees–you are not worth my time or attention.

Isn’t that what we do when shame makes itself known? We fear nakedness.? Vulnerability? All our terrible, horrible secrets laid bare only to be thrust away as if another agrees--you are not worth my time or attention. Click To Tweet

The Pain of Shame

Frequently, shame leads to finger pointing. Even from the beginning, there was someone else to blame for sin. For the heaviness of self-inflicted pain.

 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:11-12 NKJV)

Adam shifted blamed to Eve–and God–while Eve pointed to the serpent. Even the phrase “shame on you” assigns blame without offering hope from being labeled “bad” or “unworthy”.

The worst of the first couple’s shame resulted in the burden of separation from God and others. Accustomed to strolling with God in the Garden, Adam and Eve were cast out Paradise. One small bite led to fruit metastasizing into murder at the hands of one son as death grieved a parent’s heart. Oh, shame is a weight painful to bear.

The Shame of the Cross

Was shame spoken over you? Friend, it has no power over you if belong to Jesus. There is no shame in His kingdom. Why? Because Christ took on shame that we might be made new. Hebrews 12:2 (NLT) reads, “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.”

An instrument of torture, the cross was reserved for criminals.  Jesus was spat on, stripped, mocked, abused, and brutally whipped in a public forum. The cross was shame. Christ invited every hidden deed any one of us has or will have committed to be laid on his back in the form of the tree. Resolute and bleeding, he bore it to the place of The Skull. Our fears of being known embraced in the open arms of those nailed on the cross; all blame placed on the Lamb as the Father turned away from the righteous one who accepted each burden.

Before the cross? Before confidence realized? Before Christ? Shame. But when Christ drove shame into Sheol’s coffer, God’s people discovered:

1. hope.
2. restored relationship.
3. forgiveness.
4. freedom.

These gifts belong to us. We are redeemed from the shadow of shame.

 

Recommended resource (an affiliate link):

If shame pursue you, consider reading Shame Off You by Denise Pass.

Peace and grace,
Tammy

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