Is Shame Something to Resist—or to Reconsider? - Lecture 3

In this concluding lecture of a three-part series, Oxford-trained biblical scholar Dr. Shannon Parrott brings together theology, philosophy, and scripture to answer the question at the heart of the series: how do we actually move from shame toward transformation?

Drawing on the Gospel encounters of the Samaritan woman (John 4) and Zacchaeus (Luke 19), Dr. Parrott shows how Christ reorients identity — not by erasing the difficult or contingent parts of who we are, but by becoming the axis around which our entire self is re-understood. She then unpacks Paul's language of being "in Christ" as the theological framework for lasting freedom from shame, and closes with grounded, practical guidance for managing shame in real life.

In this lecture, you'll explore:

· Why God's perspective — not our own or others' — is the final authority on who we are

· How Jesus' interactions with the Samaritan woman and Zacchaeus model identity transformation without shame

· What Paul means by being "in Christ" and why it matters for how we see ourselves

· Why being defined by Christ expands rather than shrinks our sense of self — and how this differs from the crushing experience of shame

· The concept of transfiguration: becoming more fully yourself in Christ

· Why transformation is relational, not just personal — and the role community plays

· Practical steps for identifying what's defining you in a moment of shame, using the Psalms as prayer, and asking God directly who you are

This lecture is ideal for those navigating chronic shame, questions of identity and faith, or anyone seeking a theologically grounded and personally honest approach to spiritual transformation. It is the third and final lecture in the series, and the most practically oriented of the three.

This recording captured one of our Friday Night Lectures on January 30, 2026.

About the Speaker:

Dr. S. J. Parrott completed her DPhil in Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford after earning two master's degrees at Regent College in Vancouver. She specialized in topics of shame, ethics, human formation, rhetoric, prophetic and poetic literature, and more.

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