“‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’” — Isaiah 1:18, NIV
Although they have some resemblances and may be confused, shame and guilt are not the same thing. Oftentimes, shame and guilt can come when we look at our past sins and mistakes. It is important that we understand each distinct feeling and how we should respond when they arise.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1, NIV
Guilt is a feeling that we get when we believe we did something wrong.1 Guilt can usually be pinpointed to a specific event, mistake or sin.
There are times when guilt can be beneficial to us. It can lead to repentance and seeking forgiveness from those we may have hurt. For example, say someone is cheating people out of their money in a dishonest way, guilt can cause them to repent and choose to stop deceiving people and take another path.
However, there may also be times when guilt can be hurtful. If someone feels guilty for something they are not responsible for, this can be damaging. For instance, say someone felt guilty because they were not able to keep a local store from going out business. This is a negative example of guilt because it doesn’t relate directly to one’s actions and this situation is out of their control.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV
Shame does not relate to a specific action but rather our self-esteem and how we see ourselves.1 Shame can develop from our guilt and be caused by how we feel about something we did, but it is not about that event in particular but us as a person.
Unlike with guilt, which can be beneficial and lead to change, shame can keep us trapped in our past or in things we cannot change. As Christians, we do not have to live in shame. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, we are new creations in Christ. We do not have to carry shame with us.
Galatians 3:26 says, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” God’s love for us is so great, He calls us His children. Shame is not who we are. God defines who we are.
