No More Shame!!

As human beings, we live in a broken world. People are broken, nature is broken, systems are broken, governments are broken...nothing is as it should be. The work that Jesus did on the Cross was the start of redeeming that which man broke when sin entered into the world through Adam and Eve. That means we have this promise, this hope that God will make all things new. And that starts with humans.

We as humans all sin. We've all been tainted by sin and cannot do enough to cleanse us of our sins in order to be made right in God's sight. So Jesus did that for us, by cleansing us with his blood.

Something this past week that I've discovered is that most of the time we find ourselves stuck in sin because we cannot get over our sense of shame. If you've ever been stuck in sin and/or addiction - food, drugs, alcohol, internet, television, sexual addictions, etc., you've probably (albeit very simplistically) noticed that there's a sense of "Well, I've already failed, I'm already guilty. May as well keep doing it." And you're constantly afraid of what would happen to you if people really knew. I think the Church has done a good job of alienating people into thinking that they shouldn't struggle with sin after they've come to Christ. Which isn't true - it's more of a journey, a race toward the finish. Where the finish line is us being made complete and whole. It's almost as if this idea that Christians shouldn't sin, shouldn't struggle, and if they do God will give them complete healing (which He does, but not always) is exacerbating the problems. Maybe I need more faith, maybe I need to deny myself more, maybe I should just stuff these feelings, maybe I should just bury these temptations, maybe I should cease to realize that I am still human.

And before you know it, you've closeted away the beautiful person God made you to be...the very person God wants to embrace wholeheartedly and unconditionally. Sin, struggles, imperfections and all...

This past week God has given me a heart for others locked away in shame. Shame..the very thing that kept me trapped in my sin...shame...the very thing that tells me/us I/we can never be good enough to be in God's presence. Why in the world would God want us when we are so incredibly tainted by sin!? But He does...and that's what makes God so great...is that He WANTS and LONGS for us to turn to Him and let Him love us, accept His love because we KNOW we are imperfect, damaged, broken, and sinful.

We all sin, and because we all sin I cannot judge the next person because I'm just as guilty. Even as a Christian. But God has paid the price for my sin and so I believe in His grace, His redemption, and His salvation. And because of this, I want others to know about God's grace and believe in Him as their Lord and Savior. Therefore I say to you, my readers, do away with shame!! Don't let it twist your mind any longer about who God is. Don't let shame deceive you into seeing you as anything less than "very good" in God's sight because you failed. Don't let shame be the thing that keeps you closeted away and incapable of entering into communion with God and with others.

I want people to see - I hate shame!! It has stolen so much from my life, it has kept me from receiving the more abundant life (John 10:10), and it has kept me in bondage for so many years. I hate shame!! It is probably the biggest tool Satan has to take us down and out.

If you are held down by shame, please I implore you, do everything within your power to get yourself free from shame!! Because when shame is gone the sin loses it's grip and power over your life as it comes face to face with who God is. Go see a Christian counselor, talk to a pastor, tell a safe and trusted friend, and go to God with the shame and sin. Yes repentance and confession are hard - VERY HARD!!! But believe me, you'd be surprised what joy comes on the other side!

Blessings!!

P.S.  Courtesy of my counselor I've added links to two TED talks on shame and vulnerability by Brene Brown: www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html and
http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame.html