Embarrassment

Written by: Gari

The other day I was sitting at a baseball game watching the fans around me (Don’t tell my husband that I wasn’t watching the game!)  I couldn’t help but notice a young couple that was obviously on their first date.  They were performing for each other; telling jokes, laughing, nudging each other’s arms in a playful game of hopeful bliss.  Everything seemed to be going fine until the pretty girl took a bite of her hot dog and it sprayed ketchup and mustard into her eyes! The more she rubbed them the more she looked like a clown ready for a circus. 

            She was so embarrassed that she finally took a heap of napkins and ran for the ladies’ room.  When she came back to her seat she was a little less playful.  Actually, she was a bit shy—and I got the sense that embarrassment got the best of her.  It has a way of doing that.

            My guess is that embarrassment has robbed us all of some finer moments.  I know I’ve had my share of knee-slappers when it comes to looking stupid, but what really shakes me up is spiritual embarrassment.  Deeper and more cutting than physical embarrassment, spiritual embarrassment has the power to snatch me away from God’s glory.  It dresses itself to look cute, but underneath the attractive exterior it’s nothing but a bogus counterfeit to authentic belief. Let’s peek into embarrassment’s closet and see if we’re wearing any of its latest designs.

·       When God doesn’t deliver the answers we hoped for after praying publicly with our requests; we’re embarrassed we made ourselves so vulnerable. 

·       When God moves or engages people in ways we don’t understand, we feel like we need to defend His reputation—or worse, distance ourselves from Him so we won’t be associated with questions we don’t have answers for.

·       Filled with confidence in most areas of life, when it comes to talking about Jesus we clam up, embarrassed that we may step on some pedicured toes.

·       Going to church is great, but when asked to lead or volunteer in ways that place us outside our sphere of security, the answer is always an immediate “no thanks.”

Unfortunately, I’ve worn some of the clothes from this closet—and I'm embarrassed to say--they're not so pretty. 

Always a lover of drama, the Apostle Peter is a man after my own heart.  If there’s action, he wants in on it.  Yet, as bold and in love with Jesus as he was, one of his toughest opponents was spiritual embarrassment. 

            Peter, like every other faithful Jew, had been waiting for a Messiah; for someone that would sweep away the political landscape and overturn the Roman government’s power and abuse.  He knew He had found this Messiah in Jesus, but towards the end of Jesus’ life, the political coup wasn’t playing out like Peter thought.  When Jesus began talking about suffering, and eventually being murdered; Peter pulled Jesus aside to let Him know this kind of talk was a little embarrassing to the cause. 

"From that time Jesus Christ began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and raised up on the third day.  And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him saying, 'God forbid it, Lord!  This shall never happen to you.' "  (Matthew 16: 21-22)

I can just picture Peter taking Jesus aside to rebuke Him.  Oh... the patience of Jesus is astounding!  What came over Peter to make him think he could tell Jesus how His life should play out? Simply put...embarrassment.  He had traveled with Jesus, served with Jesus, and had big plans for Jesus.  I wonder if Peter could have avoided his famous denial if he hadn't been so embarrassed by the events God choose to make His son a King.   

That's the rub...God chooses how He wants our lives to play out, and if we bravely keep from being embarrassed by the way it looks; we're on our way to glory.  Kids misbehaving, marriages that struggle, habits we need help overcoming, prodigals that leave God after years in a youth group, downsizing, capsizing, overturning...may cause an initial blush of confusion; but if we boldly look to God rather than circumstances to define our lives--we'll never have to bow our heads in embarrassed shame.

Blessings!

Gari