Shame Culture

We live in a shame culture. I’m not referring to The Church or our Church. I’m

writing about the culture all around us. It fat shames us, skinny shames us,

clothing shames us, car shames us, job and income shames us, housing

shames us, nose shames us, hair or baldness shames us, short or tall shames

us, smart or…….Well, I think you get the picture.

Knowing that the World is at heart evil and that our flesh makes us susceptible

to its focus on self, Jesus tells us to not JUDGE each other. Our Faith is not

dependent on or granted to us because of our “Coolness” or “Success”.

Likewise, our “coolness” or “success” is not necessarily the evidence or fruit of

our faith. Performance does not equal salvation. Salvation is not dependent on

performance. Faith is a gift from God. Faith is expressed in behavior flowing

from believing trust in God’s provision and God’s sufficiency.

Realizing this and wanting to explore these ideas, I think that it’s important for

us to explore as a family just what does determine our significance, our worth.

Beginning April 27th I will start a series, rooted in a study of Ephesians, called

WHO AM I? It will be followed by another series WHERE DO I FIT IN? Also,

from Ephesians.

God decides who we are. God determines our worth. God knows just where we

fit!

Pastor Brian