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Carjacked by Shame and Fear, Part 1
Once we are in Christ, shame and fear remain the two most powerful, tyrannical drivers to action. They come, they push you into the passenger seat and they drive you to a dry place. But you know what breaks my heart dear Beloved? It’s that these two carjackers, shame and fear, are often used against God’s Beloved by God’s beloved. May I suggest some ways to identify the carjackers of shame and fear? 1. Examine closely how the sermon, book, song, etc., makes you feel in Christ. 2. Do you feel an inward sense or urge to do something in order to gain God’s favor or acceptance? 3. In the doing of the work or…
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Favoring the Fig Leaf
In the beginning, when great innocence reigned, and fellowship with God was constant and normal, good and evil didn’t have residence in dust-made human flesh. Without an ear to listen to that loudest of deadly sounds, the knowledge of good and evil didn’t have a voice. But when that moment came, that moment of large enough doubt to tempt Eve to believe that God was holding out something desirable, something to “make one wise,” it happened: the knowledge of good and evil found an ear. An ear where its powerful and loud voice would lead to death by shame. Shame requires a cover and cover, we do. Most of us,…
