Shame / ‘a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behaviour’

The Problem

Whereas in recent centuries people were more conscious of the Bible, which brought an awareness of sin and guilt, nowadays people in general are not in that situation. What really troubles people today is their sense of shame, perhaps amongst younger people as well as older. 

What is the difference between guilt and shame? Guilt is acknowledged on the basis of authority, evidence and conviction; it can bring deep feelings of humiliation and shame. Shame itself is more of an intuition, an emotion, a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the self-consciousness of our wrong or foolish behavior. Are they the two sides of the same coin? Not necessarily; shame is not always connected to sin. Perhaps we have been subjected to a form of abuse which has left us with a feeling of shame, for instance. Or perhaps we are deeply disappointed in ourselves and feel ashamed by our own performance, or lack of it … Shame is damaging and destructive. It spoils our lives and separates us from others.

There are personal consequences of shame

Shame disturbs our sense of emotional well-being. Because we may be ashamed by our choices, decisions, actions, so our own sense of self-esteem, of self-worth, diminishes. This can lead to anxiety and depression.

There are social consequences of shame

Our social openness becomes restricted by the fear of people recognising our shame and discerning its cause. So, we seek to hide our real selves and that decision begins to isolate us, taking away our freedom of expression with others. We may feel as though someone has written ‘shame’ across our foreheads for all the world to read and explore. Fear, anxiety, social isolation can evolve as coping mechanisms. When we withdraw from our closest relationships out of self-protection, it worsens our situation even further.

There are spiritual consequences of shame

Our ability to relate openly with the Lord is damaged. 

In 1 John 2: 28 the Apostle writes “and now little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame … Then in Revelation 3: 18 Jesus says “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness…” –  that is, your inability to hide your real self from Him when all you want to do is run away in fear. Jesus says that He can clothe us so that we no longer have to fear.

Does the Bible have anything to say which might help? Of course it does. The word shame alone occurs 153 times. It contains examples, warnings and help. Our personal lives and experiences probably contain enough examples and warnings for us, so let’s look directly for help. Let’s deal with our personal shame and see how we might put it to death forever! 

The Solution

When King David deliberately sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba, he was hit by shame as well as a sense of guilt for his sin. He helpfully lays out his response for us in Psalm 51.

Maybe you and I can tackle our shame and put it to death by using David’s experience as a model for our own response. How might we do this? 

A Prayer

Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters, that shame may be broken over their lives and that freedom, security and faith may be transparently alive in them. Every prisoner of shame, I bless you now in the name of Jesus that you might relinquish that shame and walk in total release and fulness of joy. Amen.

Has this been helpful for you? If so, please encourage us by letting us know at mail@roygodwin.org

© Roy Godwin 2020

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

Hi, welcome to this virtual meeting place. 

There is a statement found in Genesis which goes like this: 

There were Giants in the land in those days. 

Genesis 6:4

We have just lost three of those Giants

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Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias was an amazing Christian apologist. Born in India, Ravi immigrated to Canada, in his own words, having been a dunce, he suddenly developed into being exceptionally intellectually bright. Doctor Ravi Zacharias became a famous Christian apologist who crisscrossed the world for around 50 years, speaking in particular to University students and defending and explaining with intellectual rigor the basics of the Christian faith. He will be sorely missed. His clarity of expression, logical explanations and sheer Christlikeness shone like a light in the darkness. He was Ravi, a Giant, and we mourn his passing.

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David Pawson

David Pawson was a man who came from famous early Methodist stock. While training for the Methodist ministry he roomed with Donald English, who went on to become the Methodist President on several occasions, and John Bedford, who became a Baptist Minister and won many to the Lord and who delivered the address at our wedding! All Giants. David Pawson also switched to the Baptist denomination, becoming very well known as the pioneering pastor of the Millmead Centre in Guildford, and then as a significant International Bible Teacher and author. I first met him 50 years ago when a young student, and he also came to visit me perhaps three or four years ago. I count it a privilege to have known him; he was David, a Giant whose passing we mourn. 

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Roger Every

Roger Every also passed on to his reward. You may not have heard of him, but he was a Giant. Married to Tisha, together they were our friends, serving on our team for some years and blessing countless numbers of people. Roger was an engineer at heart, skillful at repairs and replacements of all manner of things. He was wonderful with people, a joy to have around, interested in classic cars (hurray!) and everyone loved him. Although we cried out to God for his healing, he has gone to his reward, where he is absolutely and totally made whole forever. He might not have won the international recognition that Ravi or David had, but in God’s eyes – and ours – he was Roger, a Giant, whose passing we mourn. 

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These three Giants who have recently gone home to their reward, and there is joy in heaven. You might have some names you would like to add. 

But where are the Giants of tomorrow? Where will we find them? 

We are invited, called, chosen, loved, children of God himself, co-heirs with Christ of all things and blessed in him with every spiritual blessing. You and I are invited to walk as Giants in our own way, carrying the presence of Jesus wherever we go, stretching out hands of mercy and grace, helping, listening, lifting up the poor and needy by practical means, speaking the Name, demonstrating that in God’s kingdom authority is exercised with humility.

And don’t say that you are not clever enough, skillful enough, to be a Ravi Zacharias Apologist, David Pawson Bible teacher, or Roger Every, a quiet gentle man. You are not supposed to be a copy of anyone else; it’s the real ‘you’ that the world is waiting for. You can learn to be a uniquely ‘you-shaped’ Giant in a way that no-one else will ever be able to copy in all eternity. So why settle for anything less? 

Then, one unexpected day, you too will leave this earth to go to your reward: that glorious day when you will see Jesus face to face, finding rest in that place he has gone ahead to prepare for you. That is the reality of the believer’s life. And will he complain about your small spiritual stature compared to the Ravis, Davids, and Rogers we hear of? No, hear His voice: “well done, you good and faithful servant; enter into your master’s joy”. And then, like the prodigal, we will try to explain how unworthy we are, how we have sinned and failed in so many ways, what a mess we have made of so much of our lives, the people we have hurt on the way, our own disappointment in ourselves, while he sweeps it all away in the Father-embrace we have longed for since birth; welcoming us home, clothing us with the robe of a new body, filling us with the joy of salvation complete. The Giant a son in the Kingdom of God, to shine forever.

As we say goodbye to the Giants who have gone before us, let us recommit ourselves to becoming the Giants we were created to be in our own way, in our worship, our personal life and world.

A Prayer

Father, so teach me to number my days that I may get a heart of wisdom.
Lord, I often feel so small, insignificant, lonely and unworthy. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit, replacing my fear with power, and give me a mind that aligns itself with your Word. Amen.

A Blessing

I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ, that the blessings of God Almighty might come as a summer shower to soak you, warming you, healing you, forgiving you and restoring you. 

I bless you in Jesus name that the failures of the past and the power of words, curses and Satan may be broken over your life, setting you free right now, this moment. I rebuke shame in Jesus’ name. I bless you in his name that you may arise once more into the fullness of who you are, comfortable in your own skin and taking your rightful place in the purposes of God. Be loosened in Jesus name. Restored by his grace. Amen 

Roy Godwin

Certainty and hope in an uncertain and fearful world

On Friday 8^th May we will celebrate 75 years since the ending of World War 2 in Europe. The horrors had ended, and peace had returned to our shores, and life would never be the same after such death and destruction had ravaged families, towns and cities. It would be a long climb upwards from there into a new and nationally prosperous future. The ration books would remain for quite a few years. 

Today there is a new war. The enemy? Covid 19. It’s a killer, and every human being in the world is at risk, especially the poor, as 3.5 million are infected and 250,000 die. A new global challenge has been issued: let’s work together towards the destruction of this threat. 

Meanwhile, in the waiting world of lockdown, everyone is straining forward to reach for the future. Will the world quickly return to how it was? Not for the bereaved. A phrase increasingly used is “the new normal’. What will that look like? At this stage nobody knows, so any confident statements about what that will mean are at best conjecture, and at worst, fantasy. One thing we do know is that so many old certainties we took for granted were pretenders all along; they were never certain at all.

A Christian holds certainty about the future while living in the reality of the uncertain world we live in. We experience the stress and pain, the same as everyone else. Yet, in the midst of today’s uncertainty, we are the ones who carry extraordinary hope and eternal certainties. And this hope has stood firm for 2,000 years. OK, it requires revelation, faith and trust, but it has nothing to do with pipe dreams or fantasies. It is guaranteed. How? By the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the fulfilment of the promise at Pentecost.

We celebrated Easter in April. Here in May we remember the ascension (21st) and the day of Pentecost (31^st). Here’s the narrative.

In Jerusalem. The disciples met with Jesus on what became the day of Ascension and asked whether this was the time that the kingdom would be restored to Israel. He answered that it was not for them to know the times and seasons that the Father had fixed. What they actually needed was to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit had come upon them. Once that happened, they would be his witnesses to the whole world.

Suddenly, as they were looking at him, the most amazing thing happened. He was lifted up, and then a cloud took him out of their sight! 

In Heaven. Suddenly one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven and they brought him to the Ancient of Days. And dominion and glory were given Him, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages, should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.)

Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem, two shining angels spoke to the disciples, saying ‘don’t stand looking into the heavens. Jesus will return in the same way that you have seen him leave’.

The disciples, around 120 of them, remained in Jerusalem, prayed and waited. Suddenly a sound was heard as if a mighty wind was there and- wow! Heaven broke out upon them and within them. Fire came! The Holy Spirit had come, just as Jesus promised, and these very normal people became normal but supernatural, filled with gifts and boldness.  Peter announced ‘God raised Jesus up, and there are 120 witnesses right here. Being exalted to the highest place and having received the promise (of the Holy Spirit) from the Father, it is the risen Jesus who has poured all this out upon us. 3,000 men committed their lives to Jesus there and then. The promise of the Holy Spirit, heaven invading earth, Peter reminded them, was for them, their children, their grandchildren and to all future generations. That includes you and me. A new way of living broke out, with Jesus at the centre. And so it continues…

Acts 1:6-11. Dan 7:13-14. Acts 2: 1- 47 (My narrative and translation)

Jesus is indeed the light of the world who has rescued us out of darkness. Death has been killed. The fear of death is no longer a terror for us. We have certainty because Jesus is alive. He is risen! He has gone to prepare a place for us where we shall be welcomed and see him face to face. Let’s lift up our heads and hold fast to our confession; speak it into our own hearts and minds; welcome joy again; be bold yet wise in sharing the good news: Jesus is alive!  Because he rose, we too will rise and be with him forever. 

May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Num 6:24-26

For a wonderful national blessing 

Visit youtu.be/PUtll3mNj5U

For Encouragements

Joel News at joelnews.org  Follow their link for a free download of the e-book ‘How The Early Church Handled Two Devastating Epidemics’. 

© Roy Godwin 2020

Original photo by Niels Smeets on Unsplash