Mentor UMC iConnect
As we enter a new year, let's live life the way that God intended -- free from fear, anxiety and anger! Join us as we look at living a Responsive Life according to the Word of God instead of a Reactive Life.
Consider this...
We all face trauma, difficulties, hurts and pains in life. How we respond makes a huge difference. We can live reactively or responsively.
Romans 7:14-25 NIV
Romans 8:1 NIV
The Shame Game
Shame can be a gift, but it can also be harmful. Whether we’re the Prodigal Son or the Elder Brother, we experience shame—shame for our actions or shame for our attitudes. We don’t just feel shame, we wear it. Shame can be good, but it can also be harmful.
1. Good Shame
Good shame, or godly shame, is a gift from God. Another word for it is guilt This godly shame is a warning system that tells us we’re on the wrong path and need to make some adjustments. Good shame helps us understand that we are made in the image of God and we can do better. What it does is help us desire to get better or do better, and certainly not compounding one mistake with another.
2. Toxic shame
Toxic shame comes about from repeatedly being told, not that we did something bad, but that we are something bad. Shame, when toxic, is a paralyzing. It poisons the soul, it can take us hostage. The shame is etched into our hearts leaving a negative and nasty self-image. This is not a godly shame, but a shame manufactured from our woundedness.
Reactive Living
For those living in toxic shame our reaction leads us to dysfunction.
Responsive Living (Taking our life back)
1. Position in Christ
Toxic shame distinguishes itself by leaving us feeling disgraced because we acted in a less than human fashion or we were treated in a less than human manner.
In Romans 7 Paul speaks about shame for sin. But the key to Paul is that through Jesus he is redeemed (Romans 7:24) and there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
That’s what delivers us from toxic shame: our position in Christ.
2. Naming it - lie
Naming what has happened to us is important. Giving it a name is helpful. The bottom line, it is a lie.
3. Get on the path
We need to get on the path of following Jesus. It is a process of stepping away from shame and stepping into the loving embrace of a loving heavenly Father who cares about us and loves us without condition. It’s a healing path.
The Old Testament prophet spoke of healing and wholeness:
Isaiah 61:1-3 (The Living Bible)
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God’s favor to them has come, and the day of his wrath to their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.
Jesus came to fulfill that promise, thus there is healing in Jesus:
Luke 4:16-21 (New International Reader's Version)
Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. On the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue as he usually did. He stood up to read. And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. Jesus unrolled it and found the right place. There it is written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me.
He has anointed me
to announce the good news to poor people.
He has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners.
He has sent me so that the blind will see again.
He wants me to set free those who are treated badly.
And he has sent me to announce the year when he will set his people free.”
Then Jesus rolled up the scroll. He gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were staring at him. He began by saying to them, “Today this passage of Scripture is coming true as you listen.”
Worship Through Music
Music this week:
- Hands to the Heavens (Kari Jobe)
- Your Love Awakens Me (Phil Wickham)
- The Same Love (Paul Baloche)
- Lead Me to the Cross (Hillsong United)
- Our God Saves (Paul Baloche)