This year, nearly 800 students from Arizona, California and Hawaii, convened in San Diego for this year’s Christmas Conference.

The theme of this year’s conference was “No Shame”.

What does it mean to live with “No Shame”? It means to live in such a way as to bring honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. It means that our lives reflect the character of Jesus. Living with No Shame means that my attitudes, actions, words and deeds will not bring dishonor or disgrace the Lord in any way.

Have you evaluated your life lately to determine whether or not you are living a life of No Shame?

How do you determine whether or not your actions do/will glorify Christ?

This year’s speakers focused on what it means to live a life of no shame.

shame n. 1 a painful feeling of having lost the respect of others because of the improper behavior, incompetence, etc. of oneself or another 2 a tendency to have feelings of this kind; or a capacity for such feeling 3 dishonor or disgrace [to bring shame to one’s family]

No Shame to the Name

As I talked to Joe about his weekend plans, he got really excited. “I have this certificate for a free night’s stay in a pretty nice hotel. My girlfriend and I are going to get away for the weekend.”

What would you say to Joe at that point? What problems might occur by putting yourself in a situation like Joe’s?

“Do you think it’s such a good idea to spend the night in a hotel room with your girlfriend?”, I asked.

“Oh, don’t worry, nothing’s going to happen. We’re not planning on sleeping together or anything like that.”

“Perhaps nothing will happen. But what do you think the manager will think? Do you think the manager will assume that nothing happened? Or is it more likely that he’ll assume that something did happen?”

Sometimes our actions can indirectly bring shame to the name of Christ. How do you determine whether or not something you say or do will glorify Christ? Do you do whatever feels good? Or do you think about what the Bible says?

Living with No Shame requires us to think about how our actions will reflect upon the one whose name we bear.

No Shame to Proclaim the Name

When I was in high school, I hung around with a group of students who weren’t Christians. One day as we were eating lunch, one of them opened up a copy of the school newspaper. On the front page was an article by another student proclaiming his belief in Biblical creation over evolution.

My friends began to ridicule the author. “How could anyone believe that fairy tale?” “How could any rational, intelligent human being even believe in God?” “What an idiot.”

At that point, I had the opportunity to speak up for Christ, but I didn’t. I was afraid of being labeled “an idiot”. I was afraid of being rejected.

Imagine my surprise, when I later read in the Bible these words from Jesus:

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the Holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)

Do you stand up to friends and co-workers when the name of Christ is being maligned? Living with No Shame means that we’re not afraid to defend Christ.

No Shame in the Pain

Have you ever asked, “What is the purpose of suffering and pain in the Christian life?”

Some who call themselves Christians teach that suffering results from sin, or a lack of faith in one’s life. However, that is not what the Bible teaches.

Hank Hanegraaf, in his book Christianity in Crisis, sums it up best:

“Job...was faced with the ultimate test of faith. Even though God acknowledged Job as “blameless and upright,” Job suffered unspeakable tragedy. First he lost his financial base; then he lost his family. Finally even his health failed.

Questions and doubts must surely have raced through Job’s mind...Were Job’s friends correct in suggesting that tragedy had befallen him because he had indulged himself in some secret sin? Or was a sovereign God working all things together for good in the life of a man who loved God and was called according to His purpose?

Job and those closest to him were left in the dark, for Scripture reveals that what was happening in the heavenlies was hidden from them.

Job’s wife impugned the Sovereign of the universe. ‘Curse God and die,’ she said (Job 2:9).

Job’s “friends” impugned Job. Unanimously they accused him of suffering for some secret sin. ‘Surely God does not reject a blameless man,’ they cried.

Job, however, impugned neither himself nor God. Emotionally he was on a roller coaster as his mind searched for answers, but in the end he uttered the ultimate words of faith: ‘Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him’ (Job 13:15).”

When you or another Christian experiences poor health, emotional or physical pain or suffering, abuse, etc. who or what do you usually blame?

Living with “No Shame” means that we exalt God even when we are suffering or when we don’t feel like it.