THE GOOD NEWS!
The Spirit of Yahuah is upon me because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Luke 4:18
This is good news indeed! Our Heavenly Abba Yahuah has given us His Son Yahusha. Yahusha tells of His purpose for coming. Yahusha wants to make Himself known to those who believe in Him. He wants Believers to know who He is and who we are in Him. He wants us to know He came to heal the brokenhearted. Anyone suffering from shame has a broken heart. Yahusha came to let us know that we do not have to be prisoners to the stigma and isolation shame brings. He came to give back freedom and He educates us about the wiles of Satan, the accuser of the brethren, and that we no longer have to live in captivity.
This is His gospel, He came to heal the brokenhearted, those who for whatever reason are so broken that their hearts, the very soul lacks life. He came to teach and be an example to us by removing the scales of our minds so that we may see the way to walk in Him. Yahusha is the Way, the Truth, and Life (John 14:6). Yahusha also said He is the light of the world and anyone that follows Him will not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life (John 8:12). Now this Gospel is comforting for the shamed person. But how do those who are broken in the shame of darkness move from the grip of darkness into the light and life of Yahuah?
Yahuah has placed His laws in the hearts of those who believe in Him (Jeremiah 31:3), Hebrews 9:10). Because we love Him, Yah leads us into His path of righteousness. This is when deliverance begins. I call this the grace and mercy state, the scales begin to fall, and the desire to repent of our sin blossoms.
For by grace are we are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Yahuah. Ephesians 2:8
Five Types of Shame
- Inherited shame results from the basic sin nature which we all receive at birth due to the original transgression of man in the Garden of Eden.
- Individual shame results from sins you personally commit
- Incessant shame refers to the continuous cycle of shame manifested from generation to generation. If you do not deal with shame successfully, then you pass it on to your children and they duplicate it by passing it on to the next generation.
- Imposed shame is inflicted upon you by others who put you down and tell you that you are stupid or not good enough.
- Institutional shame comes through the institutions of society. You may be shamed by society because of the color of your skin, your family background, or the city or nation in which you live. (http://www.biblicalcounselingdatabase.net/shame/)
Whichever area speaks to you, whether you find yourself living in silence, isolation, in a stigmatized vacuum, suffering emotionally and perhaps even physically, Yahuah delivers us through His Son Yahusha haMashiach. Indeed, Yahushua’s very name tells us He is our Messiah, our Savior, He both saves and delivers through His Father Yahuah and the Ruach haQodesh, the Holy Spirit.
Shame can enter as early as when a child can sense disapproval whether verbally, by looks, tone of voice, or body language from their caregiver. As such a parent can easily activate this emotion in their child causing the child to become prone, susceptible, or predisposed to shame.
Scripture tells us to train up a child in the way they should go. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). With life being fair and equal, training a child gives them wisdom and tools to fight against the wiles of haSatan. This training of course is biblical training which also prepares them to have an answer to everyone who asks them the reason for their hope (1 Peter 3:15). This reason for hope when deeply seated inside equips the child to say no to those things that will create shame, those things that will give Satan, the accuser an opportunity to pierce their innocence. Children not properly trained and loved can become predisposed to falling into shame.
Shame can enter when a child begins school, an evil spirit begins to introduce another way of thinking causing them to respond negatively like developing a feeling of worthlessness due to academic failure, bullying, or ridicule. Scripture calls ridicule mockery. Some versions use the term revile, insult, jeer, and reproach. The word is blasphemeo in Greek, or as most know it blasphemes. A child as early as grade school can experience blaspheme. If that child is not equipped to withstand such insults psychological damage can occur. Honestly, even a child trained up can fall victim to blaspheme.
Religion can damage especially in family environments where it is idolized rather than understood in the proper context. Idolatry can come in many disguises where often it relates to doctrine. When the cause of shame comes from within the church, members may go elsewhere. The person reads the scriptures and hears the sermons that reinforce the nails in their shame-filled coffins often built and perpetrated by the very place they trust will provide them love, solace, and guidance.
Individuals with toxic shame may be vulnerable to joining religious groups in which those on the inside are considered good and those on the outside bad. These people are also prone to religious addiction in which they seek out feelings of righteousness through religious activities and behaviors. [1]
When it comes to social behaviors and how we interact relationally with others the individual may find themselves ill-equipped to live a Spirit-filled life. Satan knows this, he was there from the beginning setting the stage for introducing humanity to shame. Whether from a caregiver and this is most likely where it came from, it can also happen during school years, from church, and community. Young adults by this time in life have learned the ability to discern and make decisions. If they are prone to shame, they can become fearful of their decisions, causing all sorts of behavioral problems such as misguided sexual tendencies leading to uncontrolled lust or homosexuality. Habitually making wrong decisions can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even suicide ideation. How do you think Adam and Eve felt when they were removed from the garden? Did they rejoice or fall into depression? Did they feel regret? They felt fear of the unknown with remorse for the wrong decision.
One Hebrew word for shame (shamed) is boosh (bush). In the pictograph, it is: House, or Tent, a Peg, or Nail, and two front teeth.
Reading from left to right it is a picture of a house (Bet), the next picture is that of a nail, or tent (Peg) (Vav, WaW), there is a picture of two front teeth (Shin) meaning sharp, press, destroy, eat. This message becomes obvious when put together. The house can be seen as our temple, or tabernacle, where Yahuah and the Ruach dwell. When it loses its foundational, spiritual support (peg/nail) through the wiles of haSatan the house weakens. Teeth are for chewing, the dread of shame chews away at the fabric of our righteousness. Shame reminds us of our failures, it gnaws and chews at the conscious level.
(Be sure to read next month’s newsletter for the conclusion of Understanding Shame)
[1] Christine J. Park. “Chronic Shame: A perspective Integrating Religion and Spirituality.” Journal of Religion & Spirituality In Social Work: Social Thought” 1999, 35, no. 4: 358