Shame is like a weed.
It begins with a thought. Our past experiences give it shape and nourishment while it invades our thoughts, emotions and our actions.
We often equate it as guilt - you've heard of "mom-guilt" - but it's not the same. See, when our child takes something from someone else, they've stolen it, and once their sin comes to light, (but hopefully sooner) they feel guilty. We teach them to give it back, to confess what they've done and apologize. They're restored through making amends.
This is how we navigate guilt, the healthy conviction of our sin, which leads us toward restitution.
Shame, however, isn't the same. Not "I did something bad," shame runs a lot deeper. It sounds like, "I am bad," the belief we're not worthy of love or belonging.
If we consider the truth of who we are as sinful people, there's so much we don't deserve, but just as restoration occurs through confession of sin, shame finds healing in the grace and mercy of God through the work and person of Christ.
In Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame by Jasmine Holmes, you will find a comforting chat with a friend about the reasons for and struggles we have as women with shame and the answer we find in the gospel.
Never Cast Out | Book Review
Content
Purpose of the Book
Table of Contents
Summary
My Take
My Recommendation
Quick Stats
Books Like This
Scriptures About Shame
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Content
Purpose of the Book
Jasmine writes this book to help you notice where shame creeps into your life and how the gospel sends it packing!
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
PART 1 The Beginning of Shame
CHAPTER 1 Shoddy Fig Leaves Can’t Cover You
CHAPTER 2 An Impossible Image You Can’t Obtain Anyway
CHAPTER 3 Three False Gospels That Can’t Get the Shame Off
PART 2 The End of Shame
CHAPTER 4 A Better Covering
CHAPTER 5 A Better Image
CHAPTER 6 A Better Message
PART 3 Living in the Middle
CHAPTER 7 Silencing the Accuser
CHAPTER 8 The Power of Godly Compassion, Good Grief, God’s Spirit and God’s Word
CHAPTER 9 The Power of Healthy Community
CHAPTER 10 The Last Memory
Summary
In part one, she shows us how shame began with fig leaves and continues with messages the world would have us believe about ourselves and how to escape it. Then, in part two she points us to the gospel and how it puts and end to our shame through the person and work of Christ. Lastly, in part three, she shares some practical advice about how to live in the already-not-yet kingdom with healthy practices we can lean into to give us peace and confidence in who we are and who God calls us to be.
My Take
Our emotions sway like trees on a windy day.
On particularly rough days, we’ll notice how we allow our emotions to dictate what we believe. This is where we run into trouble, spiralling through the haze of our feelings. What we feel is important, it’s okay to feel - though we often seem to fight or bury it. When we experience pain and hurt it’s difficult to discern through it all.
The impact shame has on us can be subtle, it can also be a direct hit.
That feeling and belief creeps in easily and if we’re not careful it slithers alongside us, then around us, suffocating and squeezing the life out - just like the weeds can overtake a garden. Jasmine points us to the gospel and how the fall poured in shame but how the life, death and resurrection of Christ vanquish it, “because in Christ, you always can run into the presence of God and you will never be cast out.”
This is a precious promise of Scripture, that we are loved more than we can imagine and if we are in Him we have belonging as His child and among His people. To stand firm in Him, we do need to pay attention to the way the world shapes our beliefs about who we are and plant ourselves in the truth of His Word.
My Recommendation
If you’ve never thought about how you experience shame this resource helps you see how your emotions are deeply affected and how the gospel brings light and healing to how we feel and what we believe about ourselves.
Quick Stats
# of pages: 224
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 5 stars
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Scriptures About Shame
Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. (Is 61:7)
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2)
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Rom 10:11)
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. (Ps 34:4-5)
Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. (Zeph 3:19)
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*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and for the opportunity to post an honest review
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