Exorcising shame
Shame can happen on an organizational level, not just an individual one.
“The congregations I grew up in often had an undercurrent of shame. The most obvious example of this was the purity pledge I was urged to make as part of a True Love Waits campaign. If I engaged in sexual activity before marriage, I would smudge the image of God within me and steal a sacred experience from my future husband. (I won’t dignify these messages with a response.)
There were other shame messages. If I listened to certain music, I was cavorting with demonic forces. I didn’t truly love God if I had questions or doubts about my faith. In my adult life, I have distanced myself from these harmful ideas.
However, I still find shame in many of the churches I coach, but it shows up differently. Congregational shame takes on a collective quality…”