And here\u2019s another thing I\u2019ve been thinking about: Paul talks a lot about our \u201csinful nature\u201d (Romans 7 & 8, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Galatians 5, Galatians 6:8, Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 2). What if when he talks about the \u201csinful nature\u201d, he\u2019s talking about our unhealthy, harmful, hurtful ways of dealing with our shame? Puts a different perspective on things, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n
Growing up in an evangelical church, I had the impression that the \u201csinful nature\u201d was my flawed – almost evil – self. Something to feel\u2026shame about. But as I mentioned in other posts, shame does not bring about positive change, rather it is correlated with destructive behaviours. So this attitude seems counterproductive. How can I stop doing the things I hate about myself when I feel deeply flawed?<\/p>\n
But\u2026if we view the \u201csinful nature\u201d from the perspective of shame as the driving force behind it, then accepting grace \u2013 that we are loved and accepted by God even in the midst of our brokenness \u2013 is what rescues us from our \u201csinful nature\u201d.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll admit I haven\u2019t done a theological study on this, but I don\u2019t think what I\u2019m proposing as a perspective is counter to what the New Testament authors wrote about. For me, it\u2019s a more liberating perspective. It\u2019s no longer about trying to somehow contort myself into being a \u201cbetter\u201d person. It\u2019s about resting and receiving the love and grace of God. When I live my life from that place, being a \u201cChristian\u201d (i.e., little Christ) becomes more like breathing and less like striving.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow, I\u2019m writing about my thoughts on the concepts of light and darkness and how they fit with this whole topic.<\/p>\n
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