Lifted out of Shame – an illustration

I drew this on Saturday May 12, 2012. Shame causes us to recoil inside of ourselves.  We feel naked, exposed, and hopeless.  Praise Christ, the gospel lifts us out of our shame.

Zephaniah 3:19 says, “…I (God) will take off your disgrace, I will remove your reproach, I will deal with your oppressors and gather your outcasts, lifting them out of their shame.”

Simul Justus et Peccator – At the same time a Saint and a Sinner

This is a picture that Callie drew representing the idea of "Simul Justus et Peccator". She did the drawing and we both did the color.

“Simul Justus et Peccator” is a phrase coined by Martin Luther that may be translated: “Righteous and at the same time a Sinner.”   In making this statement Luther was making the point that every believer, in this life, is still in conflict with the sinful the nature.  Therefore, our lives are impacted by the contaminating influence of sin.  The Westminster Confession unpacks the point further:

“(Our good works) are good, in that they proceed from God’s Spirit; but as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s judgment.”

“Notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, also have good works that are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God’s sight; but that he, looking at them through his Son, is pleased to accept and reward those works which are sincere, although they are accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.” (The Westminster Confession of Faith, “Of Good Works,” Chapter XVI, v, vi.)

Therefore, in this life, Christians will always be – “Simul Justus et Peccator – At the same time a Saint and a Sinner.”

The Only Shamegiver became the Only Shamebearer

Yesterday I preached on the issue of Shame.  I used three particular passages.  In Genesis 3 we see where Shame entered the world and how humans were cast out of the Garden to live a life of shame and disgrace.  In Leviticus 16 we see where Shame is dealt with in regard to the Scapegoat, who is cast out into the wilderness, just like Adam and Eve.  Yet, this scapegoat is not enough for us.  In Isaiah 53 we see Jesus who became the Divine Scapegoat.  He was cast out that we may be brought in.  The Only Legitimate ShameGiver became the Only legitimate ShameBearer.

During the sermon, my daughter, Callie, drew the picture to the left that emphasizes in big letters “SHAME.”  Then above the word SHAME is the phrase “He Will Give…” and underneath is the phrase “He Will Bear…”  I thought it was pretty cool.

Shame: I Kings 19:9

In continuing my meditations on Shame, I drew this picture after reading I Kings 19:9.  Shame drives us into a cave of darkness.  Our vision is distorted.  Our wounds are open.  We withdraw from community.  Like Adam and Eve, we hide ourselves from the Lord.  In this verse, we find the prophet Elijah, full of shame and fear, running from God, hiding in a cave.  All his confidence has evaporated.  His faith has dried up.  Someone must draw him out.  He is paralyzed.  He cannot save himself.  In the darkness, Christ kneels beside him and quietly and whispers, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

“There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
– 1 Kings 19:9