Question 1

Is it wrong to lose my temper when I’m embarrassed?

Accepted Answer

Numbers 22:21-31Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. . . . As Balaam and two servants were riding along, Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. . . . “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!” “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.James 1:19-20Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.Embarrassment is often the result of wounded pride. When we are embarrassed, rather than quickly responding in anger, we should ask if God is trying to teach us something.

Question 2

How can a Christian handle embarrassing situations?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 1:18-19This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.Even when his engagement and reputation were on the line, Joseph was careful not to humiliate Mary publicly. In any embarrassing situation, we must stay calm, hold our tongue, and consider how God would want us to respond.Matthew 14:1-11When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.” For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip). John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet. But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. So John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.We must not allow the threat of embarrassment to pressure us into doing what we know is wrong or sinful.

Question 3

How can I deal with feelings of embarrassment when people make fun of my faith?

Accepted Answer

Mark 8:34-38Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he [Jesus] said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”When we are ridiculed for believing in and following Christ, we can feel embarrassed because we want to fit in with other people. And we may be tempted to respond with an insult or other angry words. Remembering, however, that faith is a life and death matter can give us the strength not only to stand up for our faith but to call others to the joy of following Jesus.Romans 1:16-17I [Paul] am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”Paul was not ashamed of the Good News because he knew that it alone holds the power to heal our relationship with God. Those who know Jesus know the secret to living forever—a right relationship with God by having faith in his Son, Jesus. Rather than embarrass us, this should empower us.2 Timothy 1:7-8God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.Sharing something with others can be difficult if we think we will be ridiculed for what we say. Still, God has given us what we need to be confident in our faith and to love others more than our reputation so that our embarrassment can be overshadowed by our joy for the Good News.