Clad in bright yellow shirts, the women were hard to miss. Shackled and standing in line, some of the suspected prostitutes covered their faces with their hands. People who witnessed this spectacle of shame raged online, claiming that many women resort to prostitution to feed their families. The nation’s government responded by creating a new law to ban the practice of public disgrace for sex workers.
Jesus encountered a shame spectacle when the Pharisees dragged an adulterous woman to the center of a crowd and then suggested stoning her. Jesus responded, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone” (John 8:7). Forced into uncomfortable self-examination, the Pharisees slithered away . . . one by one.
Jesus then asked the adulteress, “Where are your accusers?” (John 8:10). This question showed that Jesus was not one of them. When we struggle with shame, Jesus doesn’t accuse us either. Rather, He defends us.
As Christians, even when we sin, “we have an Advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ” (1 John 2:1). As the woman’s Advocate, Jesus posed another question, “Didn’t even one of [your accusers] condemn you?” (John 8:10). When she said no, He continued, “Neither do I.” Jesus’ grace released the adulteress from her sin and, consequently, her shame. His grace does the same thing for us. “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
After His public pardon, Jesus said to her: “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). He was telling her how to stay free of shame. Because ongoing sin produces ongoing shame, we too have to give up the sinful stuff that breeds disgrace.
When we realize that Jesus is our gracious Advocate and abandon our sin, shame can’t shackle our hearts.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 10:1-24
More:
Read Genesis 3:6-10 to see how shame can affect our relationship with God. Read Isaiah 61:7-9 to learn about God’s ability to remove His people’s shame.
Next:
What is the danger of allowing shame to rule our hearts? Why is it important to avoid shaming people because of sexual sin?
cricket41 on July 31, 2011 at 6:34 am
But for the grace of God,there go I.
winn collier on July 31, 2011 at 8:10 am
shaming causes the deepest wounds. I’m thankful Jesus doesn’t use it – and I wish Jesus’ people would follow his example.
jsscgoh on July 31, 2011 at 10:15 am
I must say that in recent times I have come to more fully appreciate the need to segregate the behaviour from the person.
We often hear “love the sinner but not the sin”. But after a while it is such a cliche.
We are all sinners and judging another is akin to the pot calling the kettle black. And here I often hear people comment that unless we are on a higher moral ground we should not criticize another.
I am not sure about criticizing but I think that if a behaviour is wrong, it is wrong whether I am on a higher moral ground or not.
Now judgement is a different matter altogether. Judgement is God’s job, not ours. Prostitution by the precepts of God is not acceptable. But as Christians how do we respond. The people involved each has her story and it will almost always be heart wrenching.
Can we show them an concrete alternative? It is always so easy to spout “Prostitution is a moral sin”. Yah but they need to make ends meet or break a cycle in their lives. Can we propose a credible alternative; can we stand by and help them break the cycle for them to see light at the end of their tunnel.
Judgement belongs to God. Christians (are also part of the fallen race) but because we experience God’s grace, our job is to help steer them towards the Throne of Grace that they may also experience the grace that we have in our hearts.
jennifer benson schuldt on August 4, 2011 at 2:39 pm
jsscgoh,
Thanks for the comment about prostitution being a moral sin, and our need to help those involved break the cycle. Many people are forced into this lifestyle because of financial needs. As Christians, it is not our place to judge or condemn, but to be the hands and feet of Christ–to view the problem with compassion and be a source of help and guidance, rather than condemnation. Romans 14:12 reminds us to stay focused on our own holiness issues: “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.”
jennifer benson schuldt on August 4, 2011 at 2:42 pm
eduardo,
Thanks for sharing about your life. An encounter with Jesus changes everything, doesn’t it? : )
Jen