Shame is Good?!

Remember when we used to say, “Shame, shame, I know your name”? Man, I get it. I went through a long season where my biggest fear was for people to know my name… because of my sin and the shame attached to it. Shame is such a weird thing. On one-hand, there’s example after example of self-harm and psychological damage attributed to shame-based religion. And, at the same time, the Bible seems to say sinners should experience shame. 

"...let the wicked be put to shame." - Psalm 31:17

In Jeremiah, God laid-in to those who were falling further and further away and refusing to get right with Him. He said…

"Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?  No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore, they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the Lord." - Jeremiah 6:15

It wasn’t just that they had sinned… it was that they didn’t blush. They didn’t feel ashamed. So, is shame a good thing? Well, what do you mean by shame? Or I guess a better question is what does God mean by shame? Most bible scholars agree that when we look at the culture and context of the writing, the godly shame and worldly shame are two different things. 

Godly shame says, "I made a mistake." Worldly shame says, "I am a mistake."

Godly shame says, "I did a terrible thing." Worldly shame says, "I am a terrible person."

Godly shame says, "I have to put an end to that sin." Worldly shame says: "I have to put an end to me."

Do you see the difference? Godly shame is conviction. Worldly shame is condemnation. 

Think of the countless shame-spirals that have led to leaving the faith, sometimes addiction… sometimes even suicide. Again, worldly shame is condemnation, but...

"There’s no condemnation for those who are in Christ.” - Romans 8:1

The condemnation of Worldly shame versus the conviction of Godly shame. That’s an important distinction. It’s good to own our guilt. It’s good to be like those in Acts 2 who were pierced in their hearts when they realized they had killed the son of God. So, they repented and were baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. That’s what Godly shame does. It leads us to change our ways and return to the Lord.

Worldly shame leads to a bunch of failed coping mechanisms… from alcoholism to workaholism and everything in between. A bunch of performing… trying to prove that everything’s fine…it’s all good…  when we’re really just lying to ourselves. We cry peace, peace, when there is no peace.

The shame in the Bible, guilt that leads to repentance, can be a great thing, but the best way to not feel any shame, worldly shame or Godly shame? Keep our eyes on the Lord. 

"Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame!" - Psalm 34:5

That’s Old Testament language with New Testament implications because we know that...

"(Jesus) The Son, is the radiance of God’s glory.” - Hebrews 1:3

So, when we look to Him, our faces are radiant and never covered with shame.