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By Dr. David Cannistraci
Many Christians allow shame to immobilize them. Yet
Jesus can remove the reproach of the past.
Too many people allow the past to paralyze them. Even people of
faith who know what the Bible says about forgiveness and redemption
often disqualify themselves after they experience a disappointing
failure.
Such failures come in many forms: A messy divorce. A child on drugs.
An out-of-wedlock pregnancy. A failed business venture. A church
split that results in broken relationships.
Such tragedies tend to leave a brandmark on people's souls. And
society-along with the church-often stigmatizes people when they go
through such experiences.
Yet this is a time when God is restoring the hearts of His people
and preparing us to cross over into our inheritance. As a part of
this, He is removing the reproaches of the enemy that have held us
to our past and hindered our futures.
When Israel was crossing the Jordan into their promised land, the
Lord said to Joshua, "'This day I have rolled away the reproach of
Egypt from you'" (Josh.5:9, NKJV). He is speaking the same to us
today!
What is a reproach, and how can it be rolled away? Let's go back in
time to a story that helps us discover the answers.
William Shent was an 18th-century barber who became a prominent
Methodist preacher under John Wesley. Sadly, Shent fell into sin,
but the response of many of his fellow believers was even more
sinful.
Wesley heard that the church had been unusually hard on his close
friend. He blistered: "I have a few questions. ... Who was it that
invited me and received me when I came? William Shent. Who was it
that stood by me while I preached in the street with stones flying
on every side? William Shent.
"Who was it that bore the storm of persecution for the whole town
and stemmed it at the peril of his life? William Shent. Whose word
did God bless for many years in an eminent manner? William Shent. By
whom were many children now in paradise begotten in the Lord and
many now alive? William Shent.
"Who is he that is ready now to be broken up and turned into the
street? William Shent. And does nobody care for this? William Shent
fell into sin ... but must he be also starved? Must he with his grey
hairs and all his children be without a place to lay his head? Can
you suffer this? ... Where is gratitude? Where is compassion? Where
is Christianity?"
Then Wesley issued a compassionate command to those who had
condemned the fallen preacher: "Arise as one man and roll away the
reproach. Let us set him on his feet once more."
How Reproach Works
A reproach is a supernatural condition of shame or disgrace that
settles into a person's spirit. Shent's problem was not just that he
had fallen into sin. It was also the subsequent shame and despair
that the enemy brought upon him-using God's people! Wesley acted
quickly to ensure that Shent's reproach would be rolled away.
Reproach is a demonic device that leaves us feeling disgraced and
unworthy. Psalm 44 reveals how reproach surrounds us with the lies
of the enemy:
The Psalmist said: "My dishonor is continually before me, and the
shame of my face has covered me, because of the voice of him who
reproaches and reviles, because of the enemy and the avenger" (vv.
15-16). Reproach changes the way we see ourselves. It establishes a
mind-set of shame that is contrary to the way God sees us.
Like a heavy cloud, reproach blocks out the light and warmth of the
Father's love, leaving us in the chill of hopelessness. David's
inner struggle with reproach broke his heart and drove him into
depression: "You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; my
adversaries are all before You. Reproach has broken my heart, and I
am full of heaviness" (Ps. 69:19-20)
Though many Christians struggle with reproach, the finished work of
Jesus on the cross can roll these dark clouds away and release us
into the fullness of our future. Freed from reproach, we gain new
joy and faith. With the mind-set of shame broken and our hope
renewed, we can cross over into our inheritance-but only if we first
allow the Holy Spirit to expose the lies and root them out with the
promises of God.
The Lies of the Enemy
Though there are an endless number of reproaches the enemy may use,
Scripture points out a few strategic ones he favors most:
1. The reproach of barrenness can come over women who are unable to
bear children. This lie says, "You will never be fruitful or
significant." The difficulties of infertility or a miscarriage can
be an anguishing trial to couples, but when a subsequent reproach
tries to settle over them a more sinister force is at work.
This reproach can also hit people who feel insignificant compared to
those they feel are successful. Pastors of smaller churches, owners
of smaller businesses, and anyone who struggles to feel productive
in life may face this reproach.
Even believers who have not received their prayer language may
battle this. They may have even been told by cruel Christians that
they are somehow second-class.
2. The reproach of widowhood seeks to suffocate those who find
themselves lonely in life. This lie says, "You will always be
alone." There is a cruel strategy of the enemy to oppress widows and
widowers with a supernatural hopelessness that goes beyond the
normal feelings associated with their situation.
Similarly, singles and divorcees often hear the enemy whisper that
they are defective and doomed to be alone. It doesn't help when we
isolate them and forbid them full participation in the life and
ministry of the church.
Yet God truly is the God of a second chance. This reproach is broken
by the promise that we will never be alone. Since the Lord is our
Spouse, our mourning can be turned into the joyful dancing of a
wedding party.
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Move Beyond Your Failure