Shame on us

Shaming or social stigmatism used to be the way a society or culture responded to wrongdoers who broke laws and transgressed moral norms. This is no longer encouraged. In fact, the newer system of thinking says equality and human rights demand that this method of punishment be replaced by something that appeal to all moral persuasions. By this new system, not only is shaming given the boot, those who think it should still be done wind up being shamed for thinking they should do it.

This is one more instance in which much of society has taken the opposite view of biblical teaching. Other examples include the current idea of marriage. The Bible says it is the union of a man and a woman and intended for life. Civil liberties and current practice overturn that biblical idea. Instead, divorce and freedom of sexual orientation are both “okay” but not only that, it is also okay to heavily criticize anyone who says both are outside of God’s will.

Christians get caught in the middle of these debates. Some denominations cannot see how the Bible applies in the modern world so they dump the Bible. Others stick to it and are called dinosaurs at best. I am certain the Bible is relevant to today’s issues, yet realize this is not a popular view. Even Christians struggle with some of it, such as verses like this . . .

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. (Ephesians 5:8-11)

The last imperative says to “expose” the sin of those who walk in darkness. That word is also translated as reprove, rebuke, convince, tell one’s fault, and convict. It is carries a suggestion of shame regarding the person convicted. Their sin is supposed to be brought to the light, exposed as sin, and their fault found and corrected. They are to be reprehended, admonished, reproved, called to account, shown their fault. Also included in this little word is the idea of demanding an explanation along with chastening and punishing.

My devotional reading uses the term “spiritual CIA” for believers who are to do all this, yet there is more to it than just the shaming of sinners and making them feel ashamed. Christians also are to walk in love, caring about others as God cares for us. Since God’s love is best expressed by Jesus Christ in His life and death on the cross for our sins, the love we show is to be like that, sacrificial and with their eternal well-being in mind.

Therefore, when someone sins and God’s people are called upon to “expose” that sin, it is not so we can look down our self-righteous noses and condemn them to current or eternal punishment. Jesus died for me that I might live, that I might have what it takes to conquer sin. His love for me includes forgiveness and mercy. He wants me to be restored to a better life.

When someone sins, these verses say they need to know that what they have done is unacceptable, both to God and humanity. Certainly the biblical idea of shame is that it leads to godly sorrow and repentance. After that, there is forgiveness and restoration. However, far too often this process is forgotten in our desire to expose sin. We fail to speak the truth in love.

As Christians err, so does the world. In the desire to “restore” offenders, the idea of shame and the need for sorrow and repentance are left out also. In making the offender’s right to restitution a priority, there is no encouragement for shame and sorrow.

By missing the steps offered in God’s Word, we wind up with a segment of the population in spiritual darkness thinking they have done the right thing, another segment upset because there is no justice, and a mass of offenders who have no idea that what they are doing is unacceptable to us — and to God.