Shame: Suppress or Address

by: Dan Curry

When you were young and you did things that you knew would get you into trouble with your parents, what did you do? Try to hide it? Come right out and admit it? Most children hide it and hope they do not get caught. Or they think Mom and Dad will not find out. Maybe you even think that you got away with some things. You know, that one or two things they never found out about. But you know you did it and some part of you still feels the shame of going against their rules. At least to some degree, we felt bad that we had disobeyed them. Perhaps the fear of the punishment that would be had caused us to repress the feeling of shame, but it is there anyway.

Sin causes us to feel that same pang of guilt and shame, knowing that we have sinned against the loving all powerful all knowing God. This feeling should lead us to seek the forgiveness that He is able to give. Yet many times that feeling is suppressed. There is that feeling of “I can do what I want”. The allurement of the sin is greater than the desire to please God. James describes it like this in chapter one and verses 14 and 15:

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

When we give in to the lust or desires of the flesh it is displeasing to God. We may feel that pang of shame and then we have a decision to make. Do I suppress it or address it? This is a constant battle wanting to be pleasing to God and submit to His will, but giving in to the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life that John writes about. (1 John 2:15-16) Paul explains this battle very well in Romans 7:15ff. We, too, have this battle raging in us.

But as Paul stated in verses 24 and 25, we can thank God that we can have forgiveness through Jesus Christ. When we address the issue of sin, then we can have forgiveness. God allows this wonderful blessing as Christians. After being baptized one has an avenue of pardon through recognizing the shame of sin and instead of suppressing the feeling, He gives us the ability to address it. Look again in 1 John 1:6-7

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

And again in chapter 2:1

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

Our righteous Savior knows our weaknesses and wants us to be forgiven and to walk in the Light. Knowing this, Christians can be assured that if our heart is right then we have a way of being forgiven those times and of those things that bring us shame. We will never keep things from nor should we think that anything is hidden from God. We know when we sin. Let us admit it and address it. Suppressing it only leads to more sin and separation from the God who loves us and sent His Son for us. Address never suppress.