Breaking Free…from Shame
John 8:31-36
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
First
Presbyterian Church, Brownsville, TN
February 22,
2009
Dr. Will Jones
Summary: Jesus promises his followers that they
will be free. In the book of John, he promises to set us free from
spiritual slavery and from sin. Freedom through Christ is a major theme of
Paul’s writings as well, especially in the books of Romans and Galatians.
Being a Christian brings freedom from the shame that causes humiliation
and anger.
Outline:
I.
Breaking free…
a.
Jesus’ promises of freedom:
i.
“If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!”
ii.
…free from slavery to sin.
iii.
…free for God and others
1.
“Let my people go, so that they can worship me.”
II.
….from shame
a.
Living in a shame culture: public embarrassment is rife;
i.
Biblical examples of shame
1.
Genesis 3: Adam and Eve in the garden; ashamed to see God after
sin
2.
Joseph & Mary: public disgrace
3.
Paul in Corinthians, dealing with lots of moral issues: “Come back
to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are
ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.”
4.
Psalm 31:7 “Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried
out to you”
5.
God’s own sense of shame toward sinful & ungrateful
people
a.
Genesis: 6:6 – God’s shame at creating such a sinful people
b.
“For the sake of your name, help your people” Jeremiah 14:21: “For
the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne.
Remember your covenant with us and do not break it.”
c.
Ezekiel 36:22 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘It is not
for your sake, O house of
6.
Jewett on Greco-Roman culture: honor is everything; shame is
worse than death
a.
Roman historian Plutarch, b. 46 AD: Sayings of Spartan Women:
“Come back with your shield or on it.” Meaning…
ii.
Modern examples of shame
1.
The Scarlet Letter: Nathanial
2.
The Prince of Tides; Wingo
family; Charleston, SC; Tom – adult relationship problems due to childhood
shame of being abused; painful and shameful secrets.
3.
Nassau County, NY: posted “Wall of Shame” last year after 109
drunk driving over Memorial Day weekend; online mugshots
of drunk drivers.
4.
Weekly example in
5.
Internet shaming: Craig’s list; Angie’s list
6.
Problem: what if, in the day of Jerry Springer, we have entered
into the age of the shameless society?
iii.
Your own sense of shame
1.
Parent: “I am so ashamed of you.” To be judged…and found
lacking;
a.
When I was 15…
b.
the power of shame coming from a parent; it is a tactic used
carefully and infrequently;
2.
Nervous, everyone is looking at you; being judged;
III.
Types of shame
a.
Definition of Shame: Fowler (Healthy Change)
i.
Our weakness, deficiencies, mistakes are revealed to others. Shame
is the awareness of yourself being seen by others in a
way that is defective, lacking, or inadequate. Shame involves a painful
self-consciousness in which we feel exposed to others as deficient, weak, or
helpless. “I am perceived and judged by others as flawed.”
b.
Healthy shame: emotion within human nature
i.
Discretionary shame; disgrace shame
1.
Protects our relations with groups & individuals
a.
Moral standards to live up to
i.
Motivated by wanting to avoid shame
1.
Avoid stealing; plagiarizing;
1.
Every moral decision you make has shame in the background
a.
This choice is right; flip side: this choice is wrong and would
bring me shame; family shame
2.
Guardian of our desire to be a worthy person; reputation; image
and morality
c.
Unhealthy/Toxic shame:
i.
Distortion of healthy shame into destructive
1.
Shame intended to manipulate and control
2.
Often by parents/grandparents/guardians
a.
Creating a “false self”; survival depends upon “double bind” of
emotional relationships
IV.
The Shame of the Gospel
a.
The cross and shame:
i.
The most humiliating way to die
1.
Jesus & Peter on cross-bearing in Matthew 16; Jesus predicts
death; Peter rebukes; Jesus speaks of death on a cross – the most shameful of
all.
2.
Early Christian community identity of Jesus: willing to bear the
brunt of shame: Hebrews 12:2
“Let us
fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of
our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame.”
b.
The shame Jesus faced
i.
Human judgment: Insults; laughing; mocking
1.
To be publicly humiliated
ii.
The shame of God toward sinful and ungrateful people
1.
To feel God’s judgment
2.
Scorned by God
c.
The Good News of the Gospel:
i.
The shame Jesus removes when he brings freedom
ii.
To be a disciple is to have your shame removed and taken away
1.
Secret and painful shames: met by the love of God and forgiveness
2.
Shame of being a sinful and ungrateful human being: replaced by a
new life of appreciation and love for God.
iii.
The new freedom of a shame-less life: if God is for you, who can
be against you?
1.
Others can’t shame you because you have God’s approval
2.
Freedom to live apart from being judged.