
Title: Book Summary – Feeling Ashamed – Part 1
Shame can leave us
- Questioning God’s goodness and/or sovereignty
- Doubting God’s existence, love, and/or acceptance
- Rejecting God
- Social discomfort, leading to withdrawal
- Varying degrees of self‑pity
- Mental and/or physical self‑deprecation
- Self-sabotage or self‑injury
- Addictive behaviours
- Wallowing in despair and self‑doubt
- Indulging vengeful thoughts/actions, anger, and bitterness
- General irritability
- Anxiety and worry
- Perfectionism and/or legalism
- Escape or pursuit of relief through such means as daydreaming,
- overeating, overworking in career or ministry, intense pleasure-seeking, excessive socializing or social withdrawal, shopping, leaving home, adultery, divorce, or suicide
- Definition of Shame: Shame is described as a painful feeling arising from the consciousness of having done or experienced something disgraceful, leading to a sense of exposure and vulnerability before God and others.
- Proverbs 18:12 (NLT): “Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honour.”
- Proverbs 18:12 (NLT): “Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honour.”
- Impact of Shame: Shame can result from personal sinful actions or from the actions of others, leading to feelings of guilt, self-condemnation, and disgrace.
- Romans 3:23 (NLT): “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
- Romans 3:23 (NLT): “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
- Reactions to Shame: Various reactions to persistent shame include questioning God’s goodness, withdrawal from social interactions, self-pity, addictive behaviours, and mental or physical self-deprecation.
- Romans 6:23 (NLT): “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 6:23 (NLT): “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Forms of Shame: Shame generally takes two forms: “sin-shame,” which arises from personal guilt, and “provoked-shame,” which stems from the actions of others.
- Ezekiel 18:20 (NLT): “The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behaviour, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.
- Ezekiel 18:20 (NLT): “The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behaviour, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.
- Sin-Shame: Sin-shame results from personal guilt due to committing sinful actions, which is a universal experience as everyone has sinned according to biblical teachings.
- James 2:10 (NLT): “For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.”
- Romans 3:10 (NLT): “As the Scriptures say, ‘No one is righteous— not even one.
- Provoked-Shame: Provoked-shame arises from the actions of others, leading individuals to feel condemned and ashamed, even though they are not responsible for the actions of others in the sight of God.
- Proverbs 17:15 (NLT): “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the Lord
- Proverbs 17:15 (NLT): “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the Lord
- Mistaken Tendencies with Shame: People often tend to reject the truth of sin-shame while accepting the lies of provoked-shame, leading to detrimental consequences.
- Romans 12:17–21 (NLT): “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honourable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
- Romans 12:17–21 (NLT): “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honourable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
- Consequences of Rejecting Truth and Accepting Lies: Rejecting the truth of sin-shame and accepting the lies of provoked-shame can lead to self-loathing, doubt, and a sense of victimization.
- Hebrews 4:14–16 (NLT): “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
- Hebrews 4:14–16 (NLT): “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
- The Role of Truth in Overcoming Shame: Overcoming shame involves discerning between truth and lies, accepting personal responsibility where appropriate, and seeking freedom through the truth offered by Christ.
- John 8:32 (NLT): “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
In understanding the nature of shame, recognizing its various forms, and discerning between truth and lies, individuals can embark on a journey toward healing and freedom from the shackles of shame through the transformative power of truth and grace found in Christ.
If you are interested in purchasing this book, it can be found here:
HELP! I Feel Ashamed (LifeLine Mini-book) (Life-Line Mini-Books) : Sue Nicewander, Paul Tautges: Amazon.com.au: Books
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Laurie