Shame can easily tear apart a person and deteriorate the Church. When believers sin, an overwhelming sense of shame overcomes them and, certain their foreheads are marked with a scarlet letter betraying their sin, they begin to avoid gatherings with fellow believers. Non-believers, too, shy away from "organized religion" and "public places of worship" for fear of being judged. They fear their dirty laundry will be aired for all to mock and snub them. What we forget is that all of humanity has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Ro. 3:23). Basically, we're all in the same miserable boat. You are not the first to have ever sinned and you most likely will not be the last. Human beings have been sinning since before any of us was even alive, and they will continue to do so until the world comes to an end. What we must focus on is, not the fact that we sin, but the redeeming work of Christ. His death on Calvary's cross made it possible for our sins to be forgiven and washed away; never to be remembered again.
God said "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Is. 1:18). The God we serve is a merciful God; His mercy endures forever and his compassions are new every morning (La. 3:22-23). Furthermore, Jesus' death made it possible for each and every one of us to escape the hold of sin. We no longer have to live bound by sin. We were granted the freedom to live a sinless life free of remorse, guilt, and shame (II Co. 3:17). To judge each other for sinning would be like people stranded on an island laughing at each other for being stranded, despite the fact that they are all stranded. What we must do, instead, is encourage each other to break free from sin's talons. We must help those who have fallen to get back up and keep fighting the good fight.
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