"...and through you, all the families on earth will be blessed."
-Gen 12:3
Shame and blame are proof positive of the reality of sin. Read Genesis 3. After eating, they realized they were naked- then they hid. God called them out in an act of mercy in order to demonstrate grace. Adam pointed at her... she pointed at the serpent... it pointed back at God.
If you’re experiencing shame, the knee-jerk response is to blame someone (Mom, Dad, a teacher or coach, a pastor, Adam, Eve) or something (nature, bad breaks, circumstances, finances, romances), all in an effort to avoid recognition. All in an effort to avoid ownership. All in an effort to avoid repentance.
A great failure of Christianity today is that so-called Christians have never recognized their sin. They’ve never owned their sin. They’ve never truly repented (not to feel bad about actions, but to literally and willfully turn from it to God).
They’re stuck in the shame of sin and, like the serpent, with no one left to blame - they point a finger of condemnation back to God. Some cover it with religious activity in an effort to soothe, but, like a goat in a herd of sheep, association doesn’t equate to transformation.
They’re stuck in the shame of sin and, like the serpent, with no one left to blame - they point a finger of condemnation back to God. Some cover it with religious activity in an effort to soothe, but, like a goat in a herd of sheep, association doesn’t equate to transformation.
Oh yes, the blamers point, but not with overt conviction, such would require conviction and backbone. Instead, they demonstrate their disapproval by withholding their tithe (insert excuse here), by prioritizing things before corporate worship (insert excuse here), Bible Study (insert excuse here), prayer... and devotion to fellowship. They sit at home and scoff, “Churches are full of hypocrites!” as they drown in a flood of tragic irony.
The true follower of Christ reads Matthew 6:25-33 and 28:18-20 and is lovingly humbled and broken into yieldedness to Christ.
We can engage in lots of activities today, some may even be highly religious, but none are of any value to God apart from our recognition of sin, thankfulness to Christ, and submission to the sovereignty of God.
What’ll it be today? Blame or blessing?
Your call.
Blessings,
-Kevin M. Kelley
aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com
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