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Features

A crying shame

If ours is a religion of reconciliation and grace, why are so many Christians immersed in shame? CLARE CATFORD examines the most corrosive of emotions.

FeatureCatford1.jpgSteve was a family man who was always kind, always punctual and always the first to help. He never said 'no'. But underneath all that 'goodness' he never believed he was really good enough. His own father, a ...

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Comments

Stuart Alcock

I too, like many readers of this article, will know of personal shame. Yet in my case, it is not because of mis-understandings or preconceived ideas of God. I know I am fully accepted by God, I know He loves me and I know His Son died in my stead for the sins I have committed and, possibly more importantly, will commit. My personla shame is not in confessing my sin to God - every day without indulging in my particular vices is a triumph though Christs strength (I know that without relying on Him I will not get past this sin that does so easily entangle). I also know that the majestic and glorious God of the heavens was human just like me, and was tempted in every way I am. My personal shame comes from lack of trust. I can confess to God, but I cannot confess to my peers, my family, for fear they will reject me. And so with no accountability and little mentoring, I have only what stregth Christ gives me to get through each day, and sometimes that's just not enough.

Posted: 07 September 2009