It’s a delicate tool and must be used wisely.

Shame On You

Many books have been written in these postmodern times about the negative effects of shame. But there is a blurred line between shame and shaming. Too many parents, authors, and mental health professionals (Christian and otherwise) have been complicit in this blurring. Circumstances may even dictate the benefits of shame now and then.

Shame, like jumpstarting a car, isn’t the best routine for getting the desired result. But it can be a motivator at times.

I’m not saying you need to set the stage for shaming kids. I’m saying you need to set the stage for imparting moral absolutes into kids. Then despite our culture’s shameless condition, the intrinsic and holy spirit-inspired emotion of shame will do its own work.

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