SHAME
For some people, religion is more about shame and honour than truth and error. Sometimes people simply want to keep the status quo; their faith is not determined by what they perceive to be ultimate truth. Even if we can know the right facts, but we are more intent on keeping the status quo, our hearts are far from God. Many times when we think of religion we tend to think that people believe in something because they are convinced it is true. Yet the fact is, many people feel trapped, either forced to stay in the true religion when they really want to live their lives their own way, or they remain in a false religion simply because they think the consequences of departing from that faith would be too great. Some people realising their predicament try to live a better life because they feel the shame of not doing what's right. The harder they try, the more they fail, the more they fail the more failure and shame they feel. As a result systems are devised to convince themselves into believing that the good they do outweighs the bad. However, the Bible tells us that there is no one righteous. The Qur'an also testifies to the same fact in Sura 16:61 and 35:45, by stating that if God were to judge men according to their deeds, he would not leave a single person alive on the earth. However, many people choose to deny their wrong actions and attitudes. There's an Urdu proverb that aptly says, "No one admits that his own yogurt is sour."
Yet the worst thing is not shame; the worst thing is denying the shame. Dishonour is not the presence of shame, it's the denial of shame. Shame that is denied, covered over and ignored persists under a facade of false honour. In a moment of honesty when asked why they believe, what they believe, this shame says "I don't have a choice", realising that to depart from the faith of their family and friends would be too lonely. Shame is only present when it is confronted with truth. Shame that is denied, tries to remove the truth that reveals the shame, instead of removing the shame itself. Therefore, the reality of this shame is ignored. This shame seems inescapable until we realise the profound truth in an obscure story found in a famous book.
In this story there are two kings. One king realises that this strength is no match for the other king. He sends a delegation to make peace, saving his whole kingdom. He has a choice to make, what really is shame? Is it shameful to admit that the other king's men are stronger or is it shameful to surrender? He decides that to seek to save his "honour" would mean that the people in his kingdom would be destroyed; this would be the ultimate shame. He identifies the true shame and looks that shame in the face. Instead of denying defeat he accepts it and becomes victorious. This is the way of true honour, true faith, and entrance into the eternal kingdom of Allah.
The very first man of the human race, Hadrat Adam, knew the result of shame. He and Eve (Hawa) were created without sin and without clothes, yet they felt no shame. Yet the moment they sinned, they tried to hide from God because of the shame. God covered their shame with skins of animals, the first evidence that animals were killed for the sins of man. (Taurat, Genesis 2:25-3:1-24) The Qur'an also states, "O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment Upon you to cover Your shame . . . But the raiment of righteousness--That is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah. . . ." (Sura 7:26) The Bible teaches that the birth of Jesus Christ was a sign from God (Anbia, Isaiah 7:14) to make us righteous before God.(Anbia, Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:1-12) The Qur'an goes on to say, "O yet Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you, In the same manner as He got your parents out Of the Garden, stripping them Of their raiment, to expose Their shame. . . ." (Sura 7:27) Yet as is stated in Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:1-12, though people would be ashamed of him, God's al-Masih, his righteous servant, would cover the sins of many people and made them acceptable (righteous), at peace, before God by the offering of his life to cover sin, "by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities."
Jesus Christ, Hadrat 'Isa al-Masih, is this righteous servant. It is written of him, "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." (Injil, Hebrews 12:2-3) Although Adam needed God's provision of animal skins to diminish the shame, Jesus Christ, himself, conquered shame. Having offered himself, the Bible shows how he is able to cover our shame, so we can stand before God. It is written, "For whoever is ashamed of Me [Jesus] and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man [Jesus] also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.'' (Injil, Mark 8:38) Having conquered shame, Jesus Christ, the final judge will either deliver us from shame or hold us accountable for our shame that we have tried to cover.
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