A Sense of Shame

Shame ought to happen when one commits sin (the violation or omission of God’s will, 1 Jno. 3:4; Jas. 4:17). There is no shame attached to pure thoughts and actions, only to the impurity of sin (Gen. 2:25; 3:6-11).

     God has always commanded His people to be holy (Lev. 11:44; Deut. 23:14; 1 Pet. 1:15-16). A character trait that engenders and helps guard purity and holiness is “shamefastness” (1 Tim. 2:9, ASV; “shamefacedness”, KJV, “propriety”, NKJV). This “sense of shame” is rooted fast within one’s heart, so much so that he or she is repulsed by sinful things instead of being drawn to them. For instance, shamefastness chooses modest clothing and rejects immodest attire (1 Tim. 2:9).

       Shamefastness disappears when one’s conscience is seared toward sin and one’s heart is hardened toward righteousness. God identified the failure to be ashamed of sin in Judah and in the false teachers who seduced her away from God and His word:

“‘Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed, Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; In the time of their punishment They shall be cast down,’ says the LORD” (Jer. 8:12).

       Shamefastness has evaporated from our society. The lack of clothing that passes as “chic” ought to cause great blushing; instead, both the wearer and the observer is unmoved. They do not know how to blush. Lest we think we are above developing shameless attitudes toward shameful things, we should “take heed lest (we) fall” (1 Cor. 1:12).

       The Bible warns against things that are shameful in the sight of God. Each of these should be shameful in our sight, too. We ought to be repulsed by them, not drawn to them.

       The shame of sexual immorality. Under the law of Moses, a husband who falsely charged his wife with “shameful conduct” was punished and prevented from putting away his wife (Deut. 22:13-19). But, if she was guilty of the “disgraceful thing” (premarital sexual immorality), she was to be stoned to death (Deut. 22:20-21). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul clearly says committing homosexual acts is “shameful” – immoral (Rom. 1:27).

       Today, premarital and extramarital sex and homosexuality have become accepted. More than half of Americans now say same-sex marriage is acceptable. There is no shame; Americans have forgotten “how to blush”. Have you?

      The shame of idolatry. Worshiping false gods is a shameful thing (Jer. 11:13; Hos. 9:10). Many gods are worshiped today instead of the true and living God, not the least of which is the god of materialism (Matt. 6:24). Driven by greed, the covetous person is an idolater (Col. 3:5). Do we fail to blush when we put “things” above God? Many are not at all ashamed of this great sin.

       The shame of insubordination. We all live under authority, and we ought to be ashamed when we do not respect it (1 Pet. 2:13-14).

       The Scriptures teach it is a shameful thing for women to speak in the assembly of the church (1 Cor. 14:35). Many have no shamefastness when it comes to that, as witnessed by women preachers (1 Tim. 2:11-12). In a similar vein, “it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved” (1 Cor. 11:6). Her hair is her glory (1 Cor. 11:15). Likewise, it is shameful for a man to have long hair (1 Cor. 11:14). Today, many men have lost any sense of shame over wearing long hair, and some women shamelessly shave their heads. Both actions show a failure to respect authority; a sense of shame does not exist (1 Cor. 11:3-7).

       The shame of an uncontrolled tongue. Shamefastness will prevent “shameful speaking” (Col. 3:8, ASV). “Filthy language” (NKJV) is rampant in America. You may not use it, but have you become blasé about it? Do you recoil in shame when it is used around you? What about TV and the movies: are you entertained by it? Or, do you maintain shamefastness and refuse it?

       The shame of worldliness. We must rebuke the “works of darkness” because they are shameful, not be drawn to them (Eph. 5:12). Maintain personal shamefastness (Eph. 5:3-11). 

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. Today is the start of Holy Week in the Catholic Church and Protestant Churches.
2. Why is it that we do not?

I. WHAT EASTER IS TO MANY PEOPLE.

  A. To “Christendom”, Easter is the Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.

  B. Belief in Resurrection of Jesus and the Celebration of Easter are not the Same Thing, 1 Cor. 15:4, 12-20 (Matt. 28:6; Rom. 4:25).

  C. First Day of the Week Worship Honors the Resurrection of Christ, Mk. 16:9; Acts 2:1, 24-32, 36, 41, 47; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; Rev. 1:10.

  D. Question: Is Easter from Heaven or From Men? Matt. 21:25

II. THE HISTORY OF EASTER AS A RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY.

  A. Easter Represents the Convergence of Three Particular Events: Jewish Passover, so-called “Christian Passover”, and Pagan festival of Spring (goddess Eastre).

  B. An Historical Addition to Worship.

  C. Using the Name “Easter”, Col. 2:16-17 (cf. Gal. 5:3).

  D. Blending of Pagan Tradition Produced Modern-day Easter.

III. THE PROBLEM WITH THE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY CALLED “EASTER” IS ONE OF BIBLE AUTHORITY: There is none!

  A. Easter is a Man-made Religious Holiday, cf. Gal. 4:9-11; Matt. 21:25; Heb. 8:5; Col. 3:17 (2 Tim. 1:13); Gal. 4:10-11; Col. 2:20-23; Matt. 15:8-9; Gal. 1:6-10.

  B. Easter is an Attempt to Call on Name of the Lord without His Approval, Acts 19:11-17.

Conclusion

1. Be content with God’s will in God’s way.
2. Distinguish between religious traditions and the divine will of God (Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23).
3. Uphold truth and oppose every innovation of men, 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:2-4.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. All who possess authority are also under authority, Matt. 8:8-10.
2. The willingness to submit oneself to another person grows out of humility and respect.
3. Eph. 6:1-9: Applications are made that require both the proper use of authority one possesses as well as humble obedience to the one who has been given authority by God.

I. CHILDREN, OBEY PARENTS, Eph. 6:1.

  B. Obey: To Hear Under Authority, cf. Lk. 6:46-47; Rom. 10:16-17.

We live in a time when excellence is seemingly vilified. In some children’s sports, score is not kept and everyone gets a trophy – lest some child thinks he or she is not “special”. I’m all for children knowing they are special. But, an unintended consequence of this short-sighted policy is the “Entitlement Generation” with its expectation of reward without diligent work, sacrifice and dedication to a task.

For example, the principle of the Ipswich, Massachusetts Middle School has canceled his school’s Honors Night (FoxNews.com). Principal David Fabrizio explained his decision in a letter to parents: “The Honors Night, which can be a great sense of pride for the recipients’ families, can also be devastating to a child who has worked extremely hard in a difficult class but who, despite growth, has not been able to maintain a high grade-point average” (they will be honored in the year-end school assembly). (Ibid) What’s the difference?!

The take away point is that diligent effort is essential to success. It should be recognized and encouraged. When it is not, an entitled attitude arises, while the willingness to exert diligent effort toward a worthy goal diminishes.

God’s word warns against both of these outcomes:

· Prov. 12:27: “The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession.”

· Rom. 12:11: “...not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord...”

· Heb. 4:11: “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”

· Heb. 6:10-11: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love...we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end...”

No one is “entitled” to heaven. We are to be “even more diligent” to make our “call and election sure” and so enter the everlasting kingdom (2 Pet. 1:10-11). God will honor the righteous (2 Tim. 4:8; Col. 3:4). 

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Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated.  03/25/2013