Over the past few years, I've noticed that in praise music, emphasis on
the Lord taking our shame away has been the norm for many song lyrics.
All well and good when we isolate the emphasis to its meaning. But,
the trend also seems top-heavy and out of proportion to what a balanced Christian
experience should be.
From Hebrews 6:1 (NIV - 1984):
Therefore let us leave the elementary
teachings about Christ and go on to
maturity,
Assured that our confession of faith in Jesus as Savior has caused us to
cross over from death to eternal life,* we can confidently live and express our
conviction (and sing) of the grace-filled life. This life is one that brushes off self-condemnation,
condemnation from others, condemnation from the "deceiver of the brethren" (Satan).**
We often hear of this as "abiding in Christ".^ Certainly, God has dealt with the root cause of
shame within humanity when he brings the happy soul into relationship with Him. However,
that is the start. There is life, communion to be experienced together, through the thick and thin,
the joyful and the sad. This calls for an understanding on our part that we have a role to play
when it comes to guarding against feeling ashamed.
There are two verses of Scripture that help us focus on living for Christ and
avoiding shame. Meditate on them; live out the truth conveyed in them
by the Spirit of God:
Psalm 119:80 (NIV-1984)
Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
1 John 2:28 (NIV-1984)
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence,
and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
A very instructive Scripture passage to balance this all out is Romans 8:1 (KJV-brackets mine). We see here
how salvation in Christ (freedom) paves the way for a "walk", and "abiding in Him". Both realities help to guard
against the burden and ravages that shame has the potential to cause.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation [shame] to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
___________
^ Scriptures about abiding in Christ
* John 5:24
** Revelation 12:10
the Lord taking our shame away has been the norm for many song lyrics.
All well and good when we isolate the emphasis to its meaning. But,
the trend also seems top-heavy and out of proportion to what a balanced Christian
experience should be.
From Hebrews 6:1 (NIV - 1984):
Therefore let us leave the elementary
teachings about Christ and go on to
maturity,
Assured that our confession of faith in Jesus as Savior has caused us to
cross over from death to eternal life,* we can confidently live and express our
conviction (and sing) of the grace-filled life. This life is one that brushes off self-condemnation,
condemnation from others, condemnation from the "deceiver of the brethren" (Satan).**
We often hear of this as "abiding in Christ".^ Certainly, God has dealt with the root cause of
shame within humanity when he brings the happy soul into relationship with Him. However,
that is the start. There is life, communion to be experienced together, through the thick and thin,
the joyful and the sad. This calls for an understanding on our part that we have a role to play
when it comes to guarding against feeling ashamed.
There are two verses of Scripture that help us focus on living for Christ and
avoiding shame. Meditate on them; live out the truth conveyed in them
by the Spirit of God:
Psalm 119:80 (NIV-1984)
Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
1 John 2:28 (NIV-1984)
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence,
and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
A very instructive Scripture passage to balance this all out is Romans 8:1 (KJV-brackets mine). We see here
how salvation in Christ (freedom) paves the way for a "walk", and "abiding in Him". Both realities help to guard
against the burden and ravages that shame has the potential to cause.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation [shame] to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
___________
^ Scriptures about abiding in Christ
* John 5:24
** Revelation 12:10
