What’s the Difference Between Guilt and Shame?

Although guilt and shame are often used interchangeably, they are very different.  The words describe distinct experiences and emotions.  While one might experience guilt and shame simultaneously, it is also possible to experience one without the other. Therefore, it can be helpful to distinguish how these feelings differ in order to better cope with them.

What is Guilt?

In legal terms, guilt is defined as having committed a breach of conduct, especially violating the law, and resulting in a penalty.  The legal declaration of guilt carries no emotional connotation. 

Personal guilt, however, is a feeling.  It is an acknowledgment that one has committed an illegal, harmful, or unacceptable offense.  It evokes feelings of regret and remorse, and guilt will often lead to feelings of shame.

What is Shame?

Shame is a feeling of embarrassment, humiliation, or distress that one experiences due to having thought, said, or done something wrong, illegal, dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc. It is the awareness of guilt and can be self-imposed or imposed by a friend, family member, acquaintance, or adversary.  

Shame imposed by others can be exceedingly hurtful to the heart and troubling to the soul, and one should always discern if the person’s intent was to hurt or help.  Sometimes, people will shame others to put them down or control them.  But there are also times when shame comes from words intended to help, correct an error, or bring about a lasting change for the better.  In such cases, the shame felt can be beneficial.  Sadly, we live in a world where identity has almost become a competitive sport, and blame and shame are often inflicted on others as a way to win the game by fueling self-justification and elevating oneself over another.

No Shame for Christians

As Christians, we are never to live in shame.  We are new creations in Christ.  “There is no condemnation [no shame] for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). And positionally, in Christ, there is also no guilt. Every sin we have ever committed and every sin we ever will commit has already been paid for by Jesus.  He has redeemed us and forgiven us.  Therefore, any feelings of shame or guilt should prompt us to turn immediately to Jesus in repentance, seeking to be cleansed (1 John 1:9).

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit will not impose shame on us.  It is His job to convict us, and that is not the same as shaming us.  His conviction is to point us to Jesus so we surrender to His will and ways– that will lead us to repentance, which will lead us to make right that which we have done wrong. In other words, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will help us repair and restore situations and relationships that have suffered from something we said or did that was wrong, illegal, improper, or hurtful.

Conviction vs Shame for Christians

There is a significant difference between conviction and shame.  

Conviction is of God. It is a work of God in us to bring an awareness of sin that is intended to bear the fruit of repentance and bring about restoration and reconciliation.  

Shame is of the flesh and of Satan.  It is not of God. It will discourage and dishearten one’s soul, and all too often will lead to inward self-deprecation rather than up-ward repentance.  

Shame is a powerfully destructive weapon that the enemy will use against us in his efforts to deceive us, to cause us to depend our ourselves, and to destroy our identity in Christ.

Unashamed Living

We are to live unashamed because our identity is sealed in Christ.  The wrongs we do (sins we commit) are forgiven in our standing in Christ, and with the Holy Spirit’s help, we can make right our wrongs so as to live in peace with others, as best we can. 

We can live with confidence in the Lord and His Word by always remembering who we are in Christ. 

Proverbs 3:26  For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.
Proverbs 14:26  In the fear of the LORD, there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.

Watch “The Fellowship of the Unashamed”

Live each day with:

• Eyes focused on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2)
• Hearts established in His grace (Hebrews 13:9)
• Souls anchored in Him (Hebrews 6:19) and
• A desire to share His saving grace, unashamedly, with all people.

Non-believers will often reject or ridicule us for the truths they so adamantly suppress (1 Corinthians 1:18).  And Satan will skillfully try to shut our mouths or destroy our testimonies (1 Peter 5:8) by using shame.  Satan doesn’t want us living like Jesus, and he certainly doesn’t want us talking about Jesus.   But we have a power far greater than all who oppose us.  We have God’s Holy Spirit who lives in us and gives us confidence in the Lord to live unashamed and boldly for the Lord.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14  Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.  Let all that you do be done with love
1 Peter 3:15  be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes..

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