Summer Spotlight: Shame: What Does the Bible Actually Say About It?

Shame and being set free from shame is such a hot topic, in both Christian and secular circles. Resources abound, but what does the Bible actually say? As we completed a biblical survey on shame, we were surprised at how much the Bible had to say on this topic! Listen in as we share key biblical principles that are necessary in order to deal with the universal emotion of shame.

Biblical Survey on Shame:

I. Genesis 2-3- Naked and unashamed… No sin, nothing to hide from one another or God, perfect unity in relationships, acceptance of one another. After sinning, they hid and covered themselves and were afraid… shame leads to fear, hiding parts of ourselves, isolation, and disconnection. Shame came when sin entered the world.

Now, there are two general sources of shame- directly from personal and/or corporate sin, or indirectly due to the brokenness in the world.
There are also biblical examples of people trying to make others feel ashamed for things they shouldn’t feel ashamed of, such as barrenness. So there is appropriate shame and inappropriate shame.

II. Appropriate shame due to sinful behavior in Proverbs and prophets:

Proverbs: There are ways of foolish or sinful living, such as dishonesty, gluttony, and laziness, that are shameful, that bring shame on oneself and one’s parents or spouse.
-Prov 10:5
-Prov 12:4
-Prov 13:5
-Prov 17:2
-Prov 18:13
-Prov 19:26
-Prov 28:7
-Prov 29:15
Sexual sin/misconduct is especially shameful:
-Lev. 20:17
-2 Sam. 13:12-13
-Matt. 1:19
-Rom. 1:27

Isaiah: A life of rejecting God and worshipping idols is the most shameful life. Idolatry always leads to shame and disappointment.
-Is 30:3-5
-Is 41:8, 10, 11
-Is 42:9-11
-Is 42:17
-Is 45:16-17, 19, 24-25
-Is 49
-Is 50:6-9
-Is 51:7, 12-13
-Is 61:7

Sometimes shame is due to both sin and resulting defeat from enemies and/or God’s judgment:
-Ezra 8:22
-Ezra 9:6-7
-Neh. 1:3
-Daniel 9:7

III. Shame not directly due to personal sin, but due to perceived failure, deficiency, or defeat:
Barrenness was considered shameful by society:
-Gen. 30:23
-1 Sam. 1:6
-Luke 1:6

Being defeated by enemies feels shameful:
-1 Sam. 17:26
-2 Sam. 10:5 / 1 Chron. 19:5
-2 Kings 18
-2 Chron. 32:21
2 Sam. 19:3, 5-Shame due to disapproval from others, but not necessarily personal sin.

Sometimes shame is a result of seeing others’ devotion and our lack of devotion (comparison): 2 Chron. 30:15

Now let’s see how God responds.

IV. When shame is an appropriate response to sin and a part of true confession and repentance, God is always ready to receive His children, welcome them into His Presence, replace their shame with gladness, and heal their faithlessness.
-Jer. 3:19-25; 4:2, 4, 14
-Jer. 31

V. When people continue in shameless sin, pride, and idolatry, God shames and judges them. In the book of Jeremiah, God’s people are persisting in unrepentant idolatry, defiling God’s places of worship with idolatry, and prophets are lying to the people in the name of God. God warns His people many times, but they are stiff-necked, stubborn, and unashamed of their idolatry. “They do not know how to blush.” God shames Israel and sends judgment upon them- for their unrepentant idolatry, for changing their glory (God) for that which does not profit (false gods), which is appalling, evil, and bitter. But God’s heart is ALWAYS that His judgment (and shaming words) would lead to them feeling a proper shame over their sin, confess, turn back to God, and be restored. He remains ready to receive them, heal them, and turn their shame into joy.

God’s judgment of Israel’s shameless idolatry and refusal to repent in Jeremiah:
-Jer. 2:11-13, 26, 36
-Jer. 5:3, 30, 31; 6:13-15
-Jer. 6:13-20
-Jer. 7:18-20
-Jer. 8:5-6, 9
-Jer. 10:14-16
-Jer. 11:12-15
-Jer. 13:24-27
-Jer. 17:13
-Jer. 23:40

The book of Jeremiah ends with God’s judgment on foreign nations and Israel’s enemies who rejected God and continued in shameless sin, pride, and idolatry (Jer. 46-51). Their sin and idolatry led to their shame, disappointment, and God’s judgment. This is the fulfillment of God’s promise that His enemies would be ultimately shamed, and His people would be ultimately honored.
Jer. 46:12, 24
Jer. 51:17, 47-53

Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Zechariah all continue the theme of unrepentant idolatry leading to shame and God’s judgment, and when repentant, to restoration with God.

Ez. 7:18; Ez. 16:61, 63; Ez. 32:24, 25, 30
Ez. 39:25-26
Ez. 43:10-11
Ez. 44:10-13
-Hosea 2:5; Hos. 4:7, 18; Hos. 9:10; Hos. 10:6.

NT examples of God shaming prideful, unrepentant, shameless people:
-Luke 13:16-17
-1 Cor. 1:27
-Rev. 3:18

VI. God promises not to let His people be put to shame (be ultimately defeated, ridiculed, or proven wrong), but to in the end to defend them, give them justice, honor, and eternal life. God’s enemies will ultimately be put to shame.
-Psalm 25:2-3, 20
-Psalm 34
-Psalm 71:1, 13, 24
-Ps 97:7
-Daniel 12:2
-Rom. 5:3-5
-Rom. 9:33
-Rom. 10:11
-Phil. 1:20
-Heb. 11:16
-1 Peter 2:6-7

VII. Jesus was shamefully treated (ridiculed, mocked, considered a failure, embarrassed, dishonored)- by others and b/c of our sin- in our place on the cross. On the cross he took not only our sin, but also the accompanying shame, for us. On the cross, he defeated Satan and all his enemies, putting them to shame.
-Psalm 22
-Isaiah 53
-Luke 18:32
-Heb. 12:2
-Col. 2:15
-Rom. 8:1

VIII. Jesus-followers are commanded by Jesus to follow Him and not be ashamed of Him, the gospel, or suffering for the gospel, at all cost.
-Jeremiah warned the people of judgment for their sin and idolatry, in the face of persecution and rejection (and feeling shamed), and trusted God to ultimately honor him and shame the people.
-Jer. 17:
-Jer. 20:11, 18-
-Jer. 37-38-
-Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26
-Rom. 1:16
-1 Thess. 2:2-
-2 Tim. 1:8, 12
-2 Tim. 1:16
-1 Peter 4:16
-Heb. 2:11

IX. Believers have been set free from sinful lifestyles that lead to shame, unfruitfulness, and death. Believers should live honorable lifestyles that will not put them to shame, but that results in fruit, sanctification, and eternal life, and puts their opponents to shame.
-Rom. 6:21-22
-Phil. 3:19
-2 Tim. 2:15
-Titus 2:8
-1 Peter 3:16
-1 Peter 5:2
-Jesus taught His followers to purposefully humble themselves, take lower positions, and allow other people to exalt us, instead of exalting ourselves, which could lead to shame (embarrassment). Luke 14:9.
-Believers can be put to shame by other believers’ behavior. 2 Cor. 7:14.

X. Sometimes believers need to rebuke one another for doing shameful things.
-1 Cor. 6:5
-1 Cor. 14:35
-1 Cor. 15:34
-Eph. 5:12
-2 Thess. 3:14
-Titus 1:11
-We also can call out and rebuke others’ sin without shaming them. 1 Cor. 4:14.

XI. Sometimes, people “shame” others in order to express their anger, contempt, or criticism, and when it is unfair, we can refuse to be ashamed.
-1 Sam. 20:30, 34
-2 Sam. 6:20-22
-Job’s friends tried to shame him many times: 6:20; Job 8:22.
Job 10:15
Job 11:3; Job 19:3
In the face of unfair criticism, Paul defended his ministry and refused to be ashamed: 2 Cor. 10:8; 2 Cor. 11:21