Monday, January 30, 2012

I wonder...about shame

I've been wondering lately. Sin produces shame in people...it just does. When we sin we are rebelling against God, our created purpose and all that is good. In Christ I can go to the Lord and confess my sin and He takes my shame upon Himself. It is why the Son of God allowed Himself to be beaten and marched baked through the streets of Jerusalem. He was taking our place; taking our shame. And it wasn't just 2000 years ago. He is still taking people's shame and giving them His holiness instead (what a trade!) So I've been wondering about this shame. I know it's there in people, but it doesn't seem like it these days does it? So what happens to this shame in people apart from Christ? I think people are trying all kinds of things to deal with it. How many prescriptions are written due to suppressed shame? (record numbers of anti-depressants each year.) How many are trying to redefine society through rewriting our laws due to what they perceive as the source of the shame they feel? How many good deeds or religious acts are being done out of some misguided belief in a Karma-like system in the universe? I see people persisting in some sort of sense of self-reliance, self-sufficiency trying to deal with the sin problem that only Jesus Christ can free them from. The whole time Jesus keeps repeating, "come unto me you who weary and I will give you rest." The invitation to trade our burden of shame for His life and freedom... I am so glad I made that choice years ago and continue to make that choice everyday. How about you? Aren't you tired of fighting? Time does not erase the stain of sin. Good or religious deeds do not erase or balance out sin. It took the blood of Jesus, the Son of God. He gives us the gift of being able to come to Him and fess up (confess) and by His power to turn away from patterns of sin (repentance). Be free. Be clean. Come into the light.