VICTORIOUS over Shame

When you spend a long period of time alone, you get to thinking.
 
At first, the thoughts might be fun.
 
Like:
 
It isn’t fair that coffee stains your teeth brown, but milk doesn’t stain your teeth white.
My dog probably thinks "fetch" is a game that I made up and he loves me for that.
Who is Mr. Dorito and where do I find him? And is the factory just like Willy Wonka’s? And if I attended would I eventually fold to pressure, sample the Cool Ranch Carnations will I be turned into a Dorito and be trapped there forever?
 
But eventually…
The things you think about, become less fun.
 
“Look! On Facebook, there’s that one girl you knew way back in high school. Do you remember what you did to her? That was awful. You’re a terrible person.”
“Do you see that couch over there? It’s a nice and comfy place to rest and be very rude to your spouse. Remember? You did it, yesterday!”
“Check out the empty beer cans in the trash. Remember when you drank way too many of them and made a fool of yourself and everyone saw!”
“Oh Listen! Do you hear that? It’s quiet. Because your kids don’t live here any more and they don’t call you because of the awful way you’ve treated them. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
 
Shame is difficult thing to master.
It can come out of nowhere.
 
Today we’ll see how Jesus gives us VICTORY OVER SHAME. Before we do that, a prayer: O Lord, strengthen us by the truth. Your Word is the truth. Open our eyes to see what you want us to see; open our ears to hear what you want us to hear; and open our hearts to believe what you would have us believe. Amen.
 
I. Corinthian Shame
 
Today’s lesson is from a book in the Bible called 1st Corinthians. It is the first letter written by a pastor named Paul to a church in a Greek city called Corinth. He writes this letter to encourage the believers, because a lot of these church members had been feeling ashamed.
 
In Corinth, there weren’t a lot of believers.
Most people believed in reason.
They believed in science.
They believed in what was socially acceptable.
 
Some guy dying on a cross to take away our sins?
That wasn’t reasonable.
 
That same guy coming back to life?
That wasn’t scientific.
 
That guy being the one and only true God?
That wasn’t very socially acceptable.
 
And so…
Society shamed the believers.
 
The produce merchant grabbed the shiny red apple from the believer. “You believe in Jesus. Here. Have him bring this rotten, worm-infested apple back to life.”
The neighbor knocked on their front door. “Listen! I heard you praying out loud from your front window. I don’t need to hear that. Keep that junk to yourself.”
The church’s maintenance man got to church and did a double take. The decorated cross? It had more decorations in the form of a graffiti telling them to get out of town.
 
The shame affected the believers.
 
Some were questioning their resurrected Lord.
Some were engaging in sinful things of the world in order to fit in.
Some were trying to make themselves feel better by shaming other believers.
 
In fact, there was a whole group that made it a point at each church to be divisive:
 
“You were baptized by Pastor P? Ha. He’s kind of a dork. I was baptized by Pastor A. Pastor A is the real deal and so are his followers. The world might shame us, but at least I’m not as shameful as you.”
 
God inspired Pastor Paul to write this letter to correct their thinking.
 
He writes, “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. (1 Cor. 1:26)
 
Take note of the verb.
“Were.”
 
It’s past tense.
The adjectival quality ascribed to the Corinthians by the verb was true before they were believers.
 
But now that they are believers.
It’s no longer valid.
 
They were not wise.
They were not influential.
They were of not of noble birth.
 
Now?
They were not, not wise.
They were not, not influential.
They were not, not of noble birth.
 
To put it simply, the Corinthian believers had no reason for shame. If they were still feeling shameful? it was because…
 
TRUTH:
They were measuring their level of SHAME with the WRONG STANDARDS.
 
It’s kind of like baking a cake. You need to follow the directions and use the correct measuring devices.
 
If the recipe calls for a teaspoon of vanilla, putting in a tablespoon may mess up the consistency.
If it calls for a ½ cup of flour, putting in a full cup may cause it to taste starchy.
If it calls for one cup of sugar and you put in one quart, well, you’re following some six-year-old’s recipe for Kool-aid.
 
The same thing is true for believers. When we’re measuring shame, we can’t use the wrong measuring device.
 
II. Human Standards of Shame
 
What were some of the wrong measuring devices?
 
If you examine verse 26-27 closely, you can see the very standards. They are standards that are still around today and that can infect our mindset on shame.
 
(1) Intelligence
 
Paul begins by writing, “Not many of you were wise by human standards… (v.26)
 
In preparation for our trip to Colombia, I am studying Spanish. I’ve been using phone book, telephone apps, and children’s books to practice. The other day I go to practice Spanish with one of my Spanish-speaking neighbors.
 
And I said something to him in Spanish, the neighbor said, “Tu hablas Espanol?” which means, “Do you speak Spanish?”
 
I replied, nonchalantly, “Si. Yo hablo un poco,” which means, “Yes, I speak a little.”
To which my wife Julianna replied, “No. Tu hablas un poquito,” which means, “No, you speak a very little bit.”
 
To be fair, that’s accurate.
But I felt embarrassed and couldn’t wait to be described as “un poco” Spanish speaker. I use that phrase to bolster my Spanish speaking ability, because I was ashamed.
I was ashamed because I was measuring my shame by intelligence.
 
This happens to all of us.
 
When our friends are mentioning the high-level universities they graduated from, we might feel ashamed of our Community College experience.
When we’re in a conversation with people and they tell a joke that we don’t understand, we feel ashamed and laugh anyways to appear smarter.
When someone points out that we misspelled some words on our social media post, we get mad. And block them from future posts.
 
Even if you are intelligent, when the knowledge is from an area that you don’t know much about you downplay it.
Like if you’re playing one of those trivia games at the local pub and you’ve been knocking it out of the park as you showcase your knowledge of history, arts, and literature.
But the next question is:
 
What is the biggest Football Game of the National Football League?
And you answer: The world series?
 
To save face, you start talking about how, “sports are the drudgery of society,” and, “true intellect is not measured by your ability to name batting averages.”
 
But we say that, because we are ashamed.
We’re ashamed because we’re measuring shame by intelligence.
 
But your intelligence doesn’t determine your level of shame.
 
(2) Power
 
Paul continues, “Not many of you were influential…” (v.26) The word in Greek refers to “being able to do something” or “to be powerful”. This word is used to describe two different types of power, both of which, we often use to measure whether we should feel shame or not.
 
(2a) Physical Power
 
This is the reason that people can be so very intimidated to go to the gym. We measure worth by how much we can lift. If the muscle-bound monkeys are throwing a couple hundred pounds over their heads over there and I’m over here pulling apart a pink rubber band, I feel ashamed because I’m measuring greatness by physical power.
 
Maybe this happens to you:
 
Maybe you feel ashamed because your physical health isn’t where it should be.
Maybe you feel ashamed because you aren’t as athletic as your friends.
Maybe you feel ashamed because you ate a whole bag of Doritos for morning snack.
 
But there’s a second kind of power that also induces feelings of shame:
 
(2b) Influential Power
 
This is the type of power that fits better into the context of 1 Corinthians. It has to do with influence in the community, at your job, in your family, or even in your church.
 
Are you embarrassed by how many YouTube followers you have?
Do you like your own Facebook posts just so it looks like you have more influence?
Are you self-conscious about how your spouse has a better job title than you? So, you made up a title for yourself?
Are you jealous of someone at church because they are in a leadership position? So, at every chance you get, you say things like, “That position’s really unimportant.”
 
Be careful.
Your level of influence doesn’t determine your level of shame.
 
(3) Social Status
 
Finally, Paul writes, “Not many of you were of noble birth… (v.26) The word in Greek here literally means “well-born”, that is, “born while well off.” It has to do with your genealogy and, as a result, your social status. Paul is reminding the Corinthians that not many of them were born into social privilege. It wasn’t as if they lost social privilege by becoming Christians.
 
The point? Don’t measure your shame by your social status.
 
Because the world would love to tell you when your social status should cause you shame.
If you listen to it, it’s easy to feel ashamed.
 
It’s easy to feel ashamed if your family doesn’t have a lot of money.
It’s easy to feel ashamed if your family was homeless.
It’s easy to feel ashamed if your dad was in jail.
It’s easy to feel ashamed if you can’t afford the clothes to make you feel as put together as the other job applicants.
It’s easy to feel ashamed if your family has a history of alcoholism.
It’s easy to feel ashamed if you grew up in foster care.
 
But if you’re feeling ashamed because of your social status, you’re believing the world’s lie.
Social status doesn’t determine your level of shame.
 
III. God’s Standards of Shame
 
What does determine actual shame?
 
It isn’t our standards.
It is God’s standards.
 
Look at what Paul writes next:
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. (v.27-29)
 
Some of the most shameless people at the time of Jesus were a group called the Pharisees.
The Pharisees were the religious leaders of the day.
 
And to be fair…
 
They were intelligent.
They were quite rich.
They were influential in their neighborhoods.
 
But they were also quite shameless.
 
They’d flaunt their intelligence by using big Hebrew words that commoners couldn’t follow.
They’d flaunt their riches by walking around in expensive robes.
They’d flaunt their influence by reminding people daily, “Did you know I’m a Pharisee?”
 
As a result of their influence, intelligence, and social status, they were praised by society!
 
So…                                                                        
 
Imagine how they felt when Jesus left them out.
 
When he selected “idiot” fishermen…
When he ministered to “street beggars”…
When he rubbed shoulders with prostitutes, thieves, and outcasts.
 
Only to turn to the Pharisees and say.
 
These.
These ones that you shame.
These ones are valued members of God’s family.
 
Why?
Why did Jesus do this?
 
Easy.
 
So the Pharisees would be jealous.
So the Pharisees would be forced to think.
So the Pharisees would realize they were using the wrong measurement.
 
TRUTH:
God chose the “SHAMEFUL” things (according to human standards) so the “UNASHAMED” (according to human standard) would realize their SHAME (according to his standards).
 
God finds value in holiness.
God finds value in godliness.
God finds value in “without-sin-ness.”
 
So many people miss that.
They think…
 
God must love me ‘cause I’m smart.
…‘cause I’m pretty.
…‘cause I’m muscular.
…‘cause I’m successful.
…‘cause I’m privileged.
 
Nope.
 
God doesn’t use human standards.
God uses God standards.
 
God says, “Be holy as I am holy.” (Lev. 19:2)
God says, “Be perfect as I am perfect.” (Mt. 5:48)
 
God finds value in holiness.
God finds shame in sin.
 
Therefore, Jesus came to earth.
To remove our sin.
Which would remove our shame.
Which would leave God unashamed to have us in his family.
 
But if worldly things get in the way…
If you think like a Pharisee and use your own human standards.
 
Then, you miss out on the Savior.
 
TRUTH: Real shame comes from missing out on your SAVIOR from SHAME.
 
IV. The Savior from Shame
 
But…
 
When you see your REAL shame.
When you see your REAL Savior from shame.
When you see Jesus?
 
Shame goes away.
 
Paul writes, “It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (v.30)
 
To be “in Christ Jesus” means to have faith in him.
It means you are not in shame.
But you are in Jesus.
Believers in Christ are no longer in shame.
 
And look at the benefits of being in Jesus:
 
(1) Wisdom
 
Because true wisdom comes from knowing Jesus. Knowing Jesus is knowing forgiveness of sins. It’s knowing removal of guilt. It’s knowing how to get to heaven.
 
You don’t get that from achieving a high-level degree.
You don’t get that from having honor cords.
You don’t get that from answer 49 out of 50 IQ question on a Facebook quiz.
 
You get to heaven by knowing and trusting Jesus.
 
By God’s standard, knowing Jesus means you are wise.
 
It doesn’t matter if you retook the 4th grade.
It doesn’t matter if you got a high school diploma.
It doesn’t matter what your GPA was.
 
If you know Jesus, by God’s standards you’re wise.
 
(2) Righteousness
 
Righteousness is a courtroom term. It’s a term used by a judge. In fact, a judge determines if you are righteous or not.
 
If you aren’t? Then you’re guilty. That’s shameful.
 
The news will report that you’re guilty.
Twitter will trend with your guilty verdict.
Your face will appear on the front page of the Slammer.
 
But in Jesus?
You aren’t guilty.
 
In Jesus?
You’re innocent.
 
In Jesus?
You are unashamed because there’s not any wrongdoing anyone can pin on you.
 
(3) Holiness
 
Holiness has to do with purity.
In the Old Testament, if there was something impure about you, you need to do a ceremonial washing.
 
If you touched a dead body, unclean. Wash your hands.
If you ate the wrong food, unclean. Wash your hands.
If you had bled, unclean. Wash your hands.
 
If you were impure, then you dare not come anywhere near the temple.
You’d better stay outside the temple.
Across the street.
Near all the dirty scoundrels.
 
But in Jesus?
Cross the street.
Walk up the temple steps.
Go through the temple door.
Walk all the way up to the front altar…
 
Unashamed.
 
(4) Redemption
 
Imagine for a second that you’re a young man taking a young girl out for a first date. You promised you’d pay. They’re excited. You pick them up. You take them to the restaurant. You let them order up as my appetizers as they want. You’re excited to show them that you’re a working man at your newspaper deliver job.
 
But when you get the bill.
You don’t have enough money.
 
You excuse yourself to the restroom and text your mom to wire you some money.
Because it’s way less shameful than saying to your date, ‘Can you spot me a $5?”
 
Jesus is our redemption.
In Jesus, we have enough of a payment.
 
In Jesus we have heaven.
We are a part of God’s family.
We are UNASHAMED.
 
V. What Now?
 
(1) Be Unashamed about Jesus!
 
All of this leads to Paul’s final point for the Corinthians, “Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
 
What’s his point?
Stop worrying about earthly standards.
Stop finding your glory in how wise you are.
Stop finding your glory in how influential you are.
Stop finding your glory in how high your social status is.
Stop bringing other people down just to make yourself look better.
 
Instead, find your value in Jesus.
Boast about his love for you.
Boast about your Savior.
 
Be unashamed of the one who removed your shame. Amen.