“For shame!!” they would exclaim. We’ve all heard this ‘pearl-clutching’ phrase, most commonly practiced by our grandparents. But today, we are losing the basic human decency of a civilized society at an accelerating rate. Why?

Diagnosis: I believe it’s the death of shame. This death is otherwise known biblically as ‘the reprobate mind’.

What am I talking about? The glorification of pride, aggression, obscenity, perversion, belligerence, crime, and hate. It’s the lack of shame. When you don’t fear God — you have no shame. Therefore, the immorality displayed today is indeed shameful. We are becoming an increasingly narcissistic society that does not experience shame for acts of wrongdoing or evil. Instead, we parade it. We broadcast it. We monetize it. We hang our dirty laundry on social media to obtain sympathy, clicks, and payouts. It’s horrifying and embarrassing. Not only are we becoming lexically and numerically illiterate, but we are becoming reprobate in our minds and souls. It’s no longer an outlier. It’s becoming far too normative.

This is a clarion call. It’s a call to everyone who has any shame left. It’s a call to anyone who fears God even a little. It’s a call to everyone. We must begin to restore shame.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them,” (Romans 1:16-32, KJV).

What Does Shame Do?

Shame has a profound purpose.

Shame is unique in what it’s able to accomplish in the human conscience. It’s one of the most fundamental emotions people can experience, precisely because there is a cascade effect that solicits a specific outcome. Shame demands a response. It’s also the basic means in the human psyche by which we are convicted of wrong. It pricks us. It keeps us in check. Shame is one of the first things Adam and Eve experienced after they came to the knowledge of their sin. No one had to tell them. No one had to chastise them. No one had to rebuke them. Shame is instinctual to every human being — unless we are of reprobate mind. God has placed it within the conscience of every single human being.

Shame is characterized by the following, progressing through each fundamental step:

• Sorrow: we experience initial sadness for what we have done.
• Guilt: the stain of a guilty conscience whereby we know what we have done wrong, we understand it, and are able to intimately acknowledge our wrongdoing. This allows us the ability to confess our sin before God and man. However, we may not always know why. The motivating force behind our behavior may remain deeply hidden.
• Embarrassment: we hide in an attempt to protect our dignity.
• Fear: The fear of God; fear of judgment and punishment; fear of being fully discovered.
• Remorse: A deep desire to make things right. A desire to both restore and be restored to righteousness
• Repentance: a desire to turn away from sin and be restored.
• Restoration and Redemption: the righteousness Christ offers all those who come to Him.

It used to be that shame brought condemnation. There was little hope for reconciliation with God for those who suffered shame. They often bore the consequences for their sin, and God delineated precisely what that outcome would be in the Law of Moses. Ultimately, the end of all sin is death. But Christ changed that outcome. Now, those who suffer shame can eventually progress through the steps that bring restoration. But without shame leading the way, we remain hopeless. We become hardened and sick. We remain in our sin and consequently repentance and restoration eludes us.

We cannot progress toward righteousness without a healthy conscience that first experiences shame. A guilty conscience is extraordinarily heavy. Without Christ, we bear the weight of our shame and guilt which brings absolute condemnation. What is one to do? How do we respond to our shame?

The Theological Misunderstanding of Shame

Shame has a fundamental purpose. God built it into us. It’s at our very core.

Some (perhaps most) people have an improper theology about shame. It’s regrettably misunderstood. They shun it, claiming Christ took our shame. That is true and accurate. But what does that really mean? This is where context is so important. The shame revealed in scripture is the shame which brought guilt — and ultimately condemnation to Adam and Eve. They were cursed and died. Christ took our shame, meaning our sin was atoned for by His blood on the cross. Therefore, shame that results in condemnation is no longer applicable for the Christian.

Christ took our shame in that it no longer leads to condemnation.
Conversely, it now leads to righteousness.
Our sin was fully atoned.
Where there is no sin — there is no shame.

Christ’s gift does not imply that we cannot any longer experience shame, and that shame no longer has a godly place or purpose in our lives. But rather the outcome is much different. Nor does it imply that God cannot use shame to correct us and reveal His righteousness. Christ changed that end game entirely.

1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed,” (Isaiah 53:1-5, KJV).

With Christ’s gift of redemption, shame no longer ends in condemnation. Instead, it offers repentance and restoration whereby we are reconciled to God in righteousness. When Christ took our shame He fundamentally shifted the outcome of our sin. The Adamic sin that was our birthright in Adam was atoned for once and for all.

If we sin (and we all do sin), then shame still has a rightful place in a tender healthy conscience by which we obey the Holy Spirit and are enabled to repent. Shame is ultimately an indicator of spiritual health. People who do not experience shame for their sin and wrongdoing, also fail to feel empathy for those whom they have wronged or hurt. They are unable to repent. They are not moved by sorrow, remorse, or guilt. They are not restored to righteousness. They remain cold, stoic, and brazen. Their conscience is hardened. It’s unable to be disrupted or disturbed by the pain of others and their personal sin. This is the reprobate mind the Bible talks about. However, in our day it is often termed ‘psychopathy’. One of the hallmark signs of psychopathy is a lack of shame, remorse, or empathy.

People who are unable to experience a sense of shame are in a scary place. Their souls are darkened. According to the Gospel they are reprobate, meaning they are depraved and corrupted, being without God.

Do you experience shame when you’ve done wrong? Do you feel sorrow? A sense of guilt? Are you able to acknowledge your wrongdoing? Do you desire to be made right? Do you desire to restore and be restored? Are you willing to repent? Do you desire righteousness?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then you can know that your conscience is still tender.  It is functioning as God intended. It may not be perfect; it may not be clear. But you are still able to experience the very necessary shame that ultimately draws us back to God and restores us to Him in righteousness. When shame brings us to Christ weeping for our sin and seeking His righteousness, He says we will be filled. Repentance is a gift the Lord has given us. But for those who have no shame, such opportunities sadly elude them.

Shame is a critical component to living a peaceful life — whether you are a Christian or not. It is the most basic spiritual indicator by which we know and measure right and wrong.

Betraying Your Conscience

1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water,” (Hebrews 10:1-22, KJV).

When you study the human conscience from a biblical and theological frame, it’s extraordinarily powerful. God found it necessary to cleanse our conscience through Christ’s redemptive work. Why? It’s the proverbial compass for morality by which we function, by which we know right and wrong, and by which the Holy Spirit speaks and bears us witness. It’s where God’s law is written in our hearts. It’s that part of the soul that weighs right and wrong in the balance. Essentially, it’s where our moral code, ethics, and integrity are seated. Everyone has a conscience, regardless of whether or not they are born again in Jesus Christ, or even believe in God.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel,” (Romans 2:14-16, KJV).

Scripture makes it clear that our conscience can be seared (1 Timothy 4:2), and that we can have a clear conscience and still be guilty of sin (1 Corinthians 4:4). But to to betray our conscience, whereby we lack a sense of shame or the fear of God, we become reprobate and in grave moral danger. This tender yet powerful guardrail God set in place in our souls becomes darkened and hardened. When this happens we shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:19).

Have you betrayed your conscience? Are you doing wrong even though you know to do right? The scripture says ‘to him it is sin’ (James 4:17). Are you living in a manner of which you are ashamed? Are you hiding like Adam and Eve?

Please, don’t ever betray your conscience. Keep it tender. If something feels off or wrong — it is. We may not always no why. We have to trust. When we betray our conscience, we grieve the Holy Spirit. We fail to take heed to His Word and do what God has instructed us to do. We fail to walk in Him, abide in Him, and live peaceful lives. When we betray our conscience we also betray others, and we betray God. It’s important that people understand the purpose of shame, how God uses it, and why Christ redeemed us from the shame that brought condemnation. We are now free to experience shame that brings reconciliation to God so we can experience His redemption.

Keeping a tender conscience will keep your life clean and peaceful. Acknowledging your shame and your shortcomings will keep you spiritually sharp, and it will keep your conscience before God clear. You’ll be able to sleep well, experience the gift of rest Christ gives, and you will ultimately live a healthier life. People who have no shame perpetuate sin, and the fruits of it plague their lives with anxieties of various kinds, including depression, and even death. People who have no shame sin against themselves and others without any guilt or remorse. This perversity ends in spiritual death and hell.

Welcome shame back into your life as Christ intended, deliberately, and watch what happens.

It is my prayer that we can restore a godly and healthy sense of shame: the shame Christ intended us to have — that which saves us — not that which condemns us. Shame is able to save your soul if you will embrace it.

What are the Fruits of Shame?

Shame acts as a guardrail in our lives. When we have a tender conscience in Christ, we naturally shy away from anything shameful, by which we could become ashamed. It’s natural to want to hide when ashamed, just as Adam and Eve did. Shame creates a distinct sorrow and embarrassment for sin by which guilt can bring conviction. When we have a healthy sense of shame, that guardrail keeps us in check spiritually, by which moral boundaries are followed. Right and wrong is sometimes nuanced. We may not always know why something is expressly wrong, but our conscience and a natural sense of shame will prompt us by the Holy Spirit. Thus, we are kept by Christ.

When we have shame in healthy amounts it will bear the fruit of righteousness in Christ in the following ways:

• We are more likely to behave in a manner that is circumspect.
• We are enabled to walk humbly with others.
• We are enabled to be kind, tender, and patient with the sins of others when they are struggling.
• We are enabled to better love and practice the gifts of grace and mercy.
• We are more likely to respond to the gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit’s convictions.
• We walk in peace, and we can furthermore enjoy a relationship with Christ intimately.
• We are enabled to see our sin for what it really is, undisguised, and repent.

Being caught in shame is painful, and it can be difficult to overcome. A healthy conscience will indeed experience a sense of shame for wrongdoing. But in Christ, we can know redemption, forgiveness, and freedom. Without experiencing shame, we would not be able to appreciate His extravagant gift.

Conclusion

Please understand the gift that shame brings when it is healthy — restoration and righteousness; a peaceful life with God and man is one of redemption and reconciliation. Once shame has disappeared from a person’s conscience, they are in grave danger with God. This is the biblical sign of a reprobate. That is absolutely frightening.

The old adage, “you have no shame” was often rehearsed by our forefathers in the ears of rebellious children, and by pastors toward those whose souls were in mortal danger, bearing a weight of eternal significance. I hope you now better understand why.

If you are experiencing shame for a sin committed, or a grievance caused, then your conscience is functioning as God intended. Let shame finish its work and bring you all the way home.

With that said, shame is a gift given to every human being. Shame is powerful. It initiates a spiritual process that no longer leads to condemnation, but paves a straight and narrow path for Christ’s redemption.

Cheers & Shalom,

Image Credit: Chukovskaya | Pixabay

Did you enjoy this post? Please share it!