We do not manage embarrassment well, especially when the challenges appear against our most cherished idealistic contexts of life in matters we hold as pride factors. These include family, national identity, personal image of self, religious orientation, and other areas of what might be termed sacred personal precincts to us, either as individuals or social groupings. We commonly overly react; give them too much time; permit them more consideration than they deserve; and, allow them to guide us to some degree in our lives relating to self and others. The fear of embarrassment may cost us some important experiences of our lives. If vulnerable to the point we may permit our formations of others on a shallow basis. I have met persons embarrassed by some small act, or passing word, who have permitted the momentary occasion to form opinions that are incorrect about that person, or other persons. The offending persons may have had high motives, but must bear the burden imposed from the embarrassment of the offended party.
Christians are rightly embarrassed at the follies, the arrogance, the poorly searched claims, the oddities of a few Christians here and there. The Apostle Paul handled the matter with magnanimity by writing that at least Christ appeared in the conversation. He seemed to suggest a bit of humor might be incorporated in response. It is in humor that I face my own embarrassments, large and small. Decisions and opinions relating to persons should not be based on embarrassments. But, we find them in all of life, sacred and secular, personal and social. They need to be relegated to the customs of persons and societies that live in a sensitive, emotional world. They can be used as passing signs in interpersonal progress, but they are not substantive to foundational truth. We ought to refuse to be embarrassed – or to embarrass others
Recently the prediction of the end of the age was made by a Christian communicator. The ideas he espoused were carried in the world news. He was wrong again – having predicted other dates some months earlier. He was wrong in three tries, and has since apologized for his prognostications. Some damage cannot be repaired, but his followers had biblical instruction on the matter of predication, and must be embarrassed for some of his approach. I was disappointed about the predictions when made, but I know this man and his lifelong effort to express the principles of the Christian life. His error did not reduce my faith. The noble Bereans checked out the Apostle Paul’s claims for the gospel. They believed on their own in the final analysis. I see in the news of July, 2012, that the Scottish friends of Loch Ness have planned for a renewal of some American tourist attractions as a result of one state admitting that students in some religious day schools are taught that the Loch Ness monster has been sighted, and if proved will show that humans and dinosaurs existed at the same time so proving the creation account of Genesis. Another story has a group of Christian fighters preparing a film showing these men beating up on each other. Chuck Sheperd calls it the News of the Weird. He notes that the performance begins with prayer and Christian testimony. Shepherd rightly sees the brawling as savagery. One ordained leader of the group calls it a matter of gifts and skills from God. I deplore, but refuse to be embarrassed, that a Christian would miss the biblical message of the dignity of the human body and God’s concern for health and safety. He is not in approving attendance at such a demonstration, as he does not approve church snake handlers, or the Bar-Jesus personality noted in the Book of Acts, or the arrogance of persons like the violators noted by the Apostle John in short letters captured in Scripture. The stories can be extended. They sometimes fit the story of Balaam. Some may accomplish the purposes of Judas. The stories are odd, but many. Are these persons Christians? Likely, some are and some are not. Mankind has no authority to decide that matter. Like in natural life so in spiritual life, there are ranging children, perhaps eating husks from carnal troughs, when bounty is available from the Lord’s tables. That which might invite embarrassment is turned into prayer for persons poorly wrongly prepared for witness representation, even if well meaning. I feel like telling the world that I am sorry about distraction follies. All contexts for life, good and ill, are embarrassed by cavaliers. We need warning not to permit oddities of persons of any persuasion to cause us to be embarrassed at legitimate public identity with Christ, who loves all. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020