The Guilt and Shame of Sin

Last Friday’s post, “When Sin Tracks You Down,” was based on Andy Bryon, the married CEO of the tech company, Astronomer, cuddling with his HR Director and exposed on the Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert.

While there is a lesson to be learned about the seriousness and consequence of sin there is also an important lesson regarding the reaction of both Bryon and his mistress when their pictures flashed on the giant screen. She turned her face, and he ducked down out of view.

Their response reminds us of the reaction of Adam and Eve when God confronted them in the garden of Eden about their sin. Both couples, one from the beginning of time, and the other from the 21st century, demonstrated instinctively their sense of shame and guilt. They knew they were wrong. If not, why try to hide?

Darrell B. Harrison, who serves on staff at Redeemer Bible Church in Gilbert, Arizona, tweeted this observation. “Notice how happy they are in their sin — all smiles and hugs — until they realized their sin had been exposed. They knew inherently that they were wrong. No one needed to tell them, their own conscience having already convicted them (Romans 1:19; 2:15). Hence, why they instinctively and immediately attempted to hide themselves in shame (Genesis 3:8).

“God has wired into us a conscience such that we actually have a knowledge of Him on some level that we suppress,” wrote Christian author and podcaster, Jon Harris. “It’s what [Romans 1] says, and I think it’s reinforced in our culture by a Christian past, and we still have that Christian inheritance.”

“In a liberal order, why would it matter if Andy is cheating on his wife? Who cares, right? Why would it matter, or vice versa, [that] this woman is cheating with Andy? Why would it matter that they are affectionately touching each other at a concert?” Harris said on his podcast “Conversations That Matter.”

Shame is a powerful human emotion. It speaks to the feeling of guilt we experience from the realization we’ve done wrong, fallen short of an accepted standard, or in some way violated our conscience. Though closely related, guilt recognizes a bad behavior and while shame looks inward like King David of old who confesses, “I have sinned.” Shame sees the sinfulness of one’s attitudes and actions. As Lewis B. Smedes wrote, “Guilt is about what we’ve done, shame is about who we are.”

When the conscience is scripturally trained then it becomes a moral governor, or compass to restrain us from hurtful and harmful behavior. The sense of shame can serve as a safeguard from immoral actions. Or it may prick the conscience to seek forgiveness, make amends, and refrain from repeating the behavior.

The degree of our shame and the impact it has on contrition, confession and correction depends on how much we value our relationships, are in tune with our personal identity and have regard for moral integrity. Shame motivated by a godly sorrow ought to lead one to repentance.

Regrading the immoral man in ancient Corinth who repented of his sin, the apostle Paul wrote, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

I won’t presume to know anything about the life, heart or values of the immoral couple caught on the Jumbotron, but I’m sure they’re sorry. But are they sorry for their sin? Or sorry that got caught? Is their sorrow a godly sorrow producing guilt, shame, and repentance? Or is it a worldly sorrow that produces nothing of spiritual substance?

While the sin of Byron and Cabot have been exposed for the world to see, how many more have been guilty of the same sin? Husbands unfaithful to their wives and wives unfaithful to their husbands whose infidelity is only known to a small circle of friends, family, and maybe a church family. Be advised the immoral actions of Bryon and Cabot are no worse than the unidentified couple in an obscure, remote community. The issues and emotions of guilt, shame, and sin cross social, economic, ethical and political lines.

Furthermore, the sin is the same in the eyes of the Lord. Whether it’s seen on a Jumbotron, witnessed by thousands of people, and viewed 77 million times on social media, or committed in secret beyond the view of the world. The Bible teaches that God will judge adulterers. That applies to CEO’s, the rich and powerful, and the lonely laborer scraping by paycheck to paycheck.

This shameful, sordid, sinful affair is a sobering reminder that one day our secret sins will be exposed. Not on a Jumbotron, but in Judgment before the throne of God Almighty.

The Good News, however, is that our guilt can be expunged and our shame absolved through Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:1).

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

-Ken Weliever, The Preacherman