Carl Lentz, of Hillsong NYC was tagged as a celebrity pastor. His name is associated with famous artists including Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner and more. His sermons were dynamic. His challenges to the crowd bring hands raised up in salvation prayers.
Photo from: NBC News
Then, a statement was released. Hillsong fired him for multiple moral failures and leadership issues. An Instagram post was made public. He admitted being unfaithful to his wife. A woman came to speak. It was a 5-month long quarantine affair.
Tabloids, YouTube channels, morning programs as well as prestigious news papers feasted on this story like flies on dung.
Our society gets its high from people's shame.
However, the unsaid truth is that everyone has their fair share of things they ought not to disclose. The only difference is what gets to be revealed in public and what doesn't.
Sin and shame are inseparable partners.
The one causes the other.
Though both are not the kind of things God intended for those who belong to Him, his permissive will allows shame to happen.
Here's why:
Sin can cause people to be so numb to its gravity.
This is what the Bible describes as having a calloused heart.
"Well, if God really doesn't want me to sin, He'll give me a way out!"
He does. In fact, in every chance we are faced with a situation we can do the wrong thing again, there is also a choice not to. Sadly, sometimes we no longer perceive God's hand because we have been desensitized by sin. Because of that, multiple warnings are not enough for us to stop.
"I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality." -Revelations 2:21
God gives ample time to repent. However, people get attached to sin and refuses to let go.
Photo from: New York Times
It is impossible that Carl Lentz never thought about his wife and kids. It is for certain that the common faces in his congregation crossed his mind when he would be thinking about coming to the woman's house. It was five months and each day was a chance to break the relationship off.
Yet, he didn't until his wife found out about it.
Hosea 4:7 perfectly describes this: "They have exchanged the glory of God for the shame of idols."
God, graciously allows us to experience shame
It is a path one has deliberately chosen to be in when a lifestyle of sin is pursued. As Hosea 4:18 puts it, "they love shame more than honor." Still, no one would agree that shame is a pleasant thing to happen in life.
God allows it however, because it is a harsh yet effective tool of discipline. If shame is what it takes to break us though it hurts the heart of God, He will not withhold it.
Photo from: Charisma News
Shame was meant for evil but God can turn it for good.
Carl Lentz needed the shame. God in His loving nature let it happen. He wanted to save him even if had to be a large scale, worldwide exposed kind of shame.
Shame can be the 'second' chance one badly needs to turn away from sin. If one would only respond in humble repentance, a restart can happen.
THERE IS HOPE. Shame is not an end. It can be a start.
Well, I am not in a place of shame. What does this have to do with me?
As a Christian, how do you view other people's shame? Do you look with much condemnation and taking pride that you aren't like them?
That isn't like Christ at all.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -Hebrews 12:2
Jesus endured not just the agony of the cross but also the immense shame that went with it. The cross is for you and I's shame, that we can start again when we give to Christ.
That despite our human frailty that led us to sin, we can be made right with God again through repentance. Through faith in the limitless love of God we can come to Him and say, "I know I'm not worthy but I'm sorry. Help me get out of this."
Shame was on Jesus so we can be free from it.
Turn from anything that leads to shame, not tomorrow but TODAY.
Pray for people who are facing shame. This could turn their lives around.
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