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Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame
The Gospel Coalition 2024 Book Awards, Christian Living, Award of Distinction
Body shaming. Marriage shaming. Single shaming. Mom shaming. Lifestyle shaming. Religious shaming. It seems no matter which direction we turn, women can’t shake the shame that is constantly piled on top of us.
Author and podcaster Jasmine L. Holmes knows this struggle all too well. Though shame has been a constant companion (and even a snare) throughout her life, God has broken the chains of shame in Jasmine’s life through the power of the gospel. In this Christ-centered, empowering book, prepare to The story of where it comes from, what it is, what makes it different from guilt or conviction, and why it’s so pervasive. The problem with why the typical methods of throwing off shame don’t actually work. The end of how Jesus puts an end to shame by offering a better covering, a better image, and a better message than the world can. The way to fight how to use practical and powerful ways to fight shame in daily life, breaking its chains in the power of the gospel and resting in the One who has taken all your shame away for good.
The story of shame is a powerful one. But even stronger are the arms of the One who carried your shame and will never cast you out. Are you ready to experience Him and finally be free?
Body shaming. Marriage shaming. Single shaming. Mom shaming. Lifestyle shaming. Religious shaming. It seems no matter which direction we turn, women can’t shake the shame that is constantly piled on top of us.
Author and podcaster Jasmine L. Holmes knows this struggle all too well. Though shame has been a constant companion (and even a snare) throughout her life, God has broken the chains of shame in Jasmine’s life through the power of the gospel. In this Christ-centered, empowering book, prepare to The story of where it comes from, what it is, what makes it different from guilt or conviction, and why it’s so pervasive. The problem with why the typical methods of throwing off shame don’t actually work. The end of how Jesus puts an end to shame by offering a better covering, a better image, and a better message than the world can. The way to fight how to use practical and powerful ways to fight shame in daily life, breaking its chains in the power of the gospel and resting in the One who has taken all your shame away for good.
The story of shame is a powerful one. But even stronger are the arms of the One who carried your shame and will never cast you out. Are you ready to experience Him and finally be free?
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2023
58 people are currently reading
1052 people want to read
About the author
Jasmine L. Holmes
15 books305 followersJasmine L. Holmes has written for The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, Fathom Mag, Christianity Today, and The Witness. She is also a contributing author for Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Our Identity in Christ and His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God. She teaches humanities in a classical Christian school in Jackson, Mississippi, where she and her husband, Phillip, are parenting two young sons.
Jasmine L. Holmes is the daughter of Voddie T. Baucham Jr.
Jasmine L. Holmes is the daughter of Voddie T. Baucham Jr.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 5, 2023
This is my 4th book by Jasmine since the start of the pandemic and it was such a great read. I appreciated how much of herself she brought to the book and her vulnerability in being so open with her audience.
This is definitely a book for Christians, particularly Christian women. It’s also very helpful if you grew up in the era of 90s purity culture and are still grappling with the shame out working from that.
The biggest strength of the book is that Jasmine is constantly confronting shame with the gospel and she is ultimately working to make Jesus the one we can turn to when we are experiencing shame.
I especially appreciate that Jasmine also doesn’t fall into the binary thinking of “all shame is bad,” but rather discusses how shame can be a tool that God used to lovingly bring us back into him. Knowing that we don’t have to wallow in our shame and that God meets us there is a great encouragement to be reminded of. I highly recommend this book.
This is definitely a book for Christians, particularly Christian women. It’s also very helpful if you grew up in the era of 90s purity culture and are still grappling with the shame out working from that.
The biggest strength of the book is that Jasmine is constantly confronting shame with the gospel and she is ultimately working to make Jesus the one we can turn to when we are experiencing shame.
I especially appreciate that Jasmine also doesn’t fall into the binary thinking of “all shame is bad,” but rather discusses how shame can be a tool that God used to lovingly bring us back into him. Knowing that we don’t have to wallow in our shame and that God meets us there is a great encouragement to be reminded of. I highly recommend this book.
April 24, 2025
Second Read This is still such a good book that addresses shame in Christians and how to take that to the Lord.
First Read: In this book, Holmes delves into shame and how often we as Christians experience feelings of shame that are often not warranted or are put on us by the world or other people. She does a good job distinguishing between shame and guilt and worldly guilt and godly guilt which is illuminating.
"But other times, we feel shame when no sin is present. This is because we think we've transgressed some 'biblical' boundary, but the truth is that the boundary isn't even real in God's word. It's either culturally contrived or simply imaginary. Yet we still feel the emotional aftermath of transgression said boundary because we genuinely thought it was real."
Holmes beautifully articulates the gospel truths that help banish shame from our lives and truly believe that God will never cast us out. "Our feelings do not determine the truth of our status with God, Christ's death and resurrection does."
I already have this book pre-ordered but when there was an opportunity to read it early through Netgalley I jumped at the chance! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
First Read: In this book, Holmes delves into shame and how often we as Christians experience feelings of shame that are often not warranted or are put on us by the world or other people. She does a good job distinguishing between shame and guilt and worldly guilt and godly guilt which is illuminating.
"But other times, we feel shame when no sin is present. This is because we think we've transgressed some 'biblical' boundary, but the truth is that the boundary isn't even real in God's word. It's either culturally contrived or simply imaginary. Yet we still feel the emotional aftermath of transgression said boundary because we genuinely thought it was real."
Holmes beautifully articulates the gospel truths that help banish shame from our lives and truly believe that God will never cast us out. "Our feelings do not determine the truth of our status with God, Christ's death and resurrection does."
I already have this book pre-ordered but when there was an opportunity to read it early through Netgalley I jumped at the chance! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
February 7, 2024
I cannot recommend this book enough. Although this is not a book primarily about motherhood, this book walked with me so well as a new mom of 2 who is in complete survival mode. Jasmine helped me recognize the way that shame is present in my life, and that I don’t have to continue to live like that, because Jesus never casts me out.
May 22, 2023
This book is a comforting chat with a friend about the reasons for and struggles we have as women with shame. That feeling and belief creeps in easily and if we’re not careful it slithers alongside us, then around us, suffocating and squeezing the life out. She points us to the gospel and how the fall poured in shame but how the life death and resurrection of Christ vanquishes it.
If you’ve never thought about how you experience shame, or if you have and are looking for a biblical perspective, here’s your book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
If you’ve never thought about how you experience shame, or if you have and are looking for a biblical perspective, here’s your book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
March 13, 2023
This book was one that I knew I would love and resonate with. A book where I would feel seen.
What I didn't know is that this book would be read during a time where I needed the reminders. So I wouldn't give into the shame like I did the first time around.
As a full time working mama, I often feel that voice, that taunt of shame. The "you aren't really a true Christian woman because, if you were, your husband and daughter would be enough for you. You're being a selfish woman for wanting more than dishes and diapers."
Yeah that taunt.
Or the feeling like I'm thirty-three with only one child. Content if that's all I am given. Someone that only wants one more if I do get pregnant again. But what Christian woman who grew up in fundamentalist circles....how dare I say that....or so my shame says. When I was on birth control from 2015 to 2020, I was convinced I would get cancer OR I'd never have a child. Some way of God shaming me because I was "playing God" by taking dominion over the Earth.
So, upon deciding to get back on birth control again, the shame and taunts came coming back. Jasmine's book reminded me that while we all have different triggers to our shame, it is something we struggle with. We all have our lies that we listen to. And it's time to put them to rest.
Jasmine and I came from very similar backgrounds (homeschooled, purity culture, etc.). So I knew I would immediately be on board with Never Cast Out. But what I didn't expect (and I should have known better) were all of the highlights, and the few tear stained pages, this slim volume contains for me now. Jasmine does what many people I listened to back then did NOT. Gives the Scripture straight up. No opinions, no "that doesn't apply anymore" or "this is what God really meant." I felt taken to Church; I was made to put my eyes on where they should be: that of my Savior.
I'm always going to have a struggle with shame and people's opinions of me, or my opinions of myself, this side of Heaven. BUT I'm resolved to try better this year. To know that my sin and shame has been paid already. To know what is truth and that truth will set me free. That I'm not less of a mother for loving my librarian career. That I'm not going to receive punitive action for taking a birth control pill. The Gospel is what reigns supreme.
Bravo, Jasmine, on writing such a vulnerable book.
What I didn't know is that this book would be read during a time where I needed the reminders. So I wouldn't give into the shame like I did the first time around.
As a full time working mama, I often feel that voice, that taunt of shame. The "you aren't really a true Christian woman because, if you were, your husband and daughter would be enough for you. You're being a selfish woman for wanting more than dishes and diapers."
Yeah that taunt.
Or the feeling like I'm thirty-three with only one child. Content if that's all I am given. Someone that only wants one more if I do get pregnant again. But what Christian woman who grew up in fundamentalist circles....how dare I say that....or so my shame says. When I was on birth control from 2015 to 2020, I was convinced I would get cancer OR I'd never have a child. Some way of God shaming me because I was "playing God" by taking dominion over the Earth.
So, upon deciding to get back on birth control again, the shame and taunts came coming back. Jasmine's book reminded me that while we all have different triggers to our shame, it is something we struggle with. We all have our lies that we listen to. And it's time to put them to rest.
Jasmine and I came from very similar backgrounds (homeschooled, purity culture, etc.). So I knew I would immediately be on board with Never Cast Out. But what I didn't expect (and I should have known better) were all of the highlights, and the few tear stained pages, this slim volume contains for me now. Jasmine does what many people I listened to back then did NOT. Gives the Scripture straight up. No opinions, no "that doesn't apply anymore" or "this is what God really meant." I felt taken to Church; I was made to put my eyes on where they should be: that of my Savior.
I'm always going to have a struggle with shame and people's opinions of me, or my opinions of myself, this side of Heaven. BUT I'm resolved to try better this year. To know that my sin and shame has been paid already. To know what is truth and that truth will set me free. That I'm not less of a mother for loving my librarian career. That I'm not going to receive punitive action for taking a birth control pill. The Gospel is what reigns supreme.
Bravo, Jasmine, on writing such a vulnerable book.
November 3, 2022
Shame is honestly something I haven't thought a lot about. I haven't consciously felt it much. But I see it affecting people all around me, particularly mothers as they navigate all the choices of parenting.
"Never Cast Out" shows how the gospel is the antidote to shame. It frees us from all the false standards of our imagined "cool girl", holds forth the true standard of Christ, gives us forgiveness for failing, and reorients us to what really matters. Jasmine walks through the "beginning of shame" and the entrance of shame into the world in the garden of Eden, our false standards, and the false gospels we use to try to get rid of our shame. In the second part, she discusses the end of shame, with "a better covering, a better image, and a better message," before turning to "living in the middle" in part 3, where she talks about silencing the Accuser, godly grief, and healthy community.
Throughout, she very clearly draws a line between guilt and shame and our need for forgiveness and change when it comes to sin, but freedom from false standards when it comes to shame--but the gospel plays a role in both responses.
(I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley)
"Never Cast Out" shows how the gospel is the antidote to shame. It frees us from all the false standards of our imagined "cool girl", holds forth the true standard of Christ, gives us forgiveness for failing, and reorients us to what really matters. Jasmine walks through the "beginning of shame" and the entrance of shame into the world in the garden of Eden, our false standards, and the false gospels we use to try to get rid of our shame. In the second part, she discusses the end of shame, with "a better covering, a better image, and a better message," before turning to "living in the middle" in part 3, where she talks about silencing the Accuser, godly grief, and healthy community.
Throughout, she very clearly draws a line between guilt and shame and our need for forgiveness and change when it comes to sin, but freedom from false standards when it comes to shame--but the gospel plays a role in both responses.
(I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley)
April 18, 2023
This was the book I didn't know I needed. The exploration of shame in the authors life and exposure of ways in which she has felt shame in spite of being redeemed by the redeemer. Highly recommend this book!!!!
January 1, 2023
[I received a free digital copy of this book from B&H through NetGalley.]
I am not the target audience for this book. I knew that going in. I picked this one out because I so enjoyed another book by Holmes earlier this year, and because I was curious what she had to say. It seems like shame is a big topic right now!
What I appreciated about this book is Holmes' nuance. She seems to be great for that. She acknowledges that shame is not inherently evil, but that it's disordered and that it only exists (in both good and bad forms) because of sin.
The book is also substantive. There's no fluff here. She takes three chapters to define the problems(s) of shame, three more chapters to show how the gospel answers all three problems, and then three more chapters to give practical guidance from Scripture on coping with shame. This book is biblical through-and-through, with meaty meditations on Genesis, Revelation, Romans, Isaiah, Leviticus, 2 Thessalonians, and more. It's also Redemptive-Historical in perspective; Holmes spends a good deal of time discussing the already-and-not-yet dimension of the whole issue.
The book is also deeply personal. It's full of illustrations from Holmes' own life that not only flesh out the concepts but also demonstrate her own sincerity. The book is highly relatable.
That's not to say it's perfect, by any means. But any complaints I have are nitpicks. The biggest issue I had was one Christological statement that I think needed a bit more clarification. Something along the lines of Jesus experiencing shame the same way we do (the point being drawn from Hebrews).
I also found the writing to get a bot repetitive and redundant toward the end of each chapter. This isn't exactly a flaw, though; it's my own personal stylistic preference. Holmes writes each chapter like one might write a speech, with abundant illustrations, pop-culture references, and so on. That's not a problem -- just not my cup of tea.
Overall, this is a solid book on the subject. And even though it's explicitly written to and for women, I would still recommend it even to a man who struggles with shame.
I am not the target audience for this book. I knew that going in. I picked this one out because I so enjoyed another book by Holmes earlier this year, and because I was curious what she had to say. It seems like shame is a big topic right now!
What I appreciated about this book is Holmes' nuance. She seems to be great for that. She acknowledges that shame is not inherently evil, but that it's disordered and that it only exists (in both good and bad forms) because of sin.
The book is also substantive. There's no fluff here. She takes three chapters to define the problems(s) of shame, three more chapters to show how the gospel answers all three problems, and then three more chapters to give practical guidance from Scripture on coping with shame. This book is biblical through-and-through, with meaty meditations on Genesis, Revelation, Romans, Isaiah, Leviticus, 2 Thessalonians, and more. It's also Redemptive-Historical in perspective; Holmes spends a good deal of time discussing the already-and-not-yet dimension of the whole issue.
The book is also deeply personal. It's full of illustrations from Holmes' own life that not only flesh out the concepts but also demonstrate her own sincerity. The book is highly relatable.
That's not to say it's perfect, by any means. But any complaints I have are nitpicks. The biggest issue I had was one Christological statement that I think needed a bit more clarification. Something along the lines of Jesus experiencing shame the same way we do (the point being drawn from Hebrews).
I also found the writing to get a bot repetitive and redundant toward the end of each chapter. This isn't exactly a flaw, though; it's my own personal stylistic preference. Holmes writes each chapter like one might write a speech, with abundant illustrations, pop-culture references, and so on. That's not a problem -- just not my cup of tea.
Overall, this is a solid book on the subject. And even though it's explicitly written to and for women, I would still recommend it even to a man who struggles with shame.
April 27, 2023
Shame can be pervasive. It can be debilitating. It can cause us to believe things about ourselves that, as believers, go against the message woven throughout Scripture about us. Jasmine does such an amazing job of tackling this subject in this book.
Her aim is to help us understand the story of shame, the problem with shame, the end of shame, and the way to fight shame. She does this by tracing its origin and walking us through the Word to the place where shame was defeated once and for all—by Christ on the cross.
I appreciated how she did this—using shame’s origin story (with Adam and Eve in the garden) to show us our need for better ways to deal with our shame. I appreciated the way the truth of the gospel and what Christ accomplished for us on the cross was continuously spoken throughout the pages of this book. I appreciated her vulnerability. And I appreciated that she spoke to our need to wrestle with the truth that our shame has been dealt with while still feeling shame as we long for Christ’s return (known as the “already-and-not-yet” of the gospel).
If you struggle with shame, or just want to be better equipped to help other walk through shame struggles, I highly recommend this book!
Her aim is to help us understand the story of shame, the problem with shame, the end of shame, and the way to fight shame. She does this by tracing its origin and walking us through the Word to the place where shame was defeated once and for all—by Christ on the cross.
I appreciated how she did this—using shame’s origin story (with Adam and Eve in the garden) to show us our need for better ways to deal with our shame. I appreciated the way the truth of the gospel and what Christ accomplished for us on the cross was continuously spoken throughout the pages of this book. I appreciated her vulnerability. And I appreciated that she spoke to our need to wrestle with the truth that our shame has been dealt with while still feeling shame as we long for Christ’s return (known as the “already-and-not-yet” of the gospel).
If you struggle with shame, or just want to be better equipped to help other walk through shame struggles, I highly recommend this book!
Read
November 1, 2022Jasmine Holme's book Never Cast Out was a good read! Although it wasn't without its flaws, I appreciated Jasmine's stories, both her own and her summary of many biblical stories.
Things I liked:
💗 Jasmine talks about a lot of different walks of life and how shame impacts them... motherhood, childhood, singleness, and so on.
💗 She has great advice on how to manage messages - internal and external - of shame!
Things I didn't like:
👎🏼 I often feel like books that are centralized around one theme can often become repetitive and I definitely felt that in this one.
👎🏼 I appreciated the biblical stories that supported the author's points but I would have also appreciated some research on today's society and shame.
Thank you to Net Galley and B&H Publishing Group for an eARC for this book in exchange for my honest rating and review 💛
Things I liked:
💗 Jasmine talks about a lot of different walks of life and how shame impacts them... motherhood, childhood, singleness, and so on.
💗 She has great advice on how to manage messages - internal and external - of shame!
Things I didn't like:
👎🏼 I often feel like books that are centralized around one theme can often become repetitive and I definitely felt that in this one.
👎🏼 I appreciated the biblical stories that supported the author's points but I would have also appreciated some research on today's society and shame.
Thank you to Net Galley and B&H Publishing Group for an eARC for this book in exchange for my honest rating and review 💛
February 8, 2023
Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden--and Jesus was cast in shadow, away from God's presence, so that we could be invited back in. Friends, he has already experienced the pain of isolation and humiliation on our behalf. It is not our portion anymore.
There are messages coming at us from all directions -- even from inside ourselves. They can make us feel "less than" and like we don't measure up. We feel shame. To get rid of our shame we might try to Shake It Off, Work It Off, or Pass It Off. All of these are false gospels. Using wise words laced with scripture, Jasmine L. Holmes reminds us to look to the Word and the example of Jesus using the Spirit as our guide. This is a book I did not know I needed. I did and in God's providence I am better equipped for the days ahead.
Thank you to B&H Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
There are messages coming at us from all directions -- even from inside ourselves. They can make us feel "less than" and like we don't measure up. We feel shame. To get rid of our shame we might try to Shake It Off, Work It Off, or Pass It Off. All of these are false gospels. Using wise words laced with scripture, Jasmine L. Holmes reminds us to look to the Word and the example of Jesus using the Spirit as our guide. This is a book I did not know I needed. I did and in God's providence I am better equipped for the days ahead.
Thank you to B&H Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2024
Jasmine Holmes does an amazing job of delivering God's truth through this book.
The burden of shame is one everyone deals with; as someone who's been a Christian most of their life, I particularly resonated with the glimpse into her own struggles with shame amidst having the head-knowledge of a Savior who offers love and freedom. Her connection to scriptures and faithfulness in citing them often helped cement in my own emotions and thinking the true weight of what it means to be free in Christ, the extent to which His freedom goes. (It helped too that she has what I think is a captivating and refreshing writing style for a spiritual study book.)
Honestly, especially in regards to women, I know so many people who identify with that lonely, ever-constant feeling of shame - if that is you too, I cannot recommend this book to you more, friend!
The burden of shame is one everyone deals with; as someone who's been a Christian most of their life, I particularly resonated with the glimpse into her own struggles with shame amidst having the head-knowledge of a Savior who offers love and freedom. Her connection to scriptures and faithfulness in citing them often helped cement in my own emotions and thinking the true weight of what it means to be free in Christ, the extent to which His freedom goes. (It helped too that she has what I think is a captivating and refreshing writing style for a spiritual study book.)
Honestly, especially in regards to women, I know so many people who identify with that lonely, ever-constant feeling of shame - if that is you too, I cannot recommend this book to you more, friend!
February 8, 2023
Thanks to B&H for the free book.
This is a book about Holmes experience with shame and how she finds freedom in the gospel. I think this book would be good for those that have felt like the expectations to be a good wife, mother, or Christian woman. Those are the topics that she delves deeply and honestly into in this book. I will add, I just read a different book on shame recently and should've waited a bit longer to read this one because it was hard to not compare. However, the repetition in this one worked well for me. I think being reminded about Adam and Eve throughout helped keep me focused on the message of this book.
This is a book about Holmes experience with shame and how she finds freedom in the gospel. I think this book would be good for those that have felt like the expectations to be a good wife, mother, or Christian woman. Those are the topics that she delves deeply and honestly into in this book. I will add, I just read a different book on shame recently and should've waited a bit longer to read this one because it was hard to not compare. However, the repetition in this one worked well for me. I think being reminded about Adam and Eve throughout helped keep me focused on the message of this book.
March 8, 2023
I've been following Jasmine online for years and was super excited to hear she was writing a book on shame. I was not disappointed!
I love how she writes as a friend to friend and maybe part of it is because I've been reading her words for so long, but I always enjoy her books in terms of writing style, not to mention the content.
The whole book just keeps pointing back to the Gospel and mentions several times how we are free in Christ even when it doesn't feel like it. That is something that keeps coming up in my life. I am loved by God even when my feelings are telling me otherwise, and when that happens to bring those feelings to Him.
Overall, would absolutely recommend this to anyone! It's definitely written more towards Christian women as that is the experience Jasmine is writing from, but the truth shared is for everyone!
I love how she writes as a friend to friend and maybe part of it is because I've been reading her words for so long, but I always enjoy her books in terms of writing style, not to mention the content.
The whole book just keeps pointing back to the Gospel and mentions several times how we are free in Christ even when it doesn't feel like it. That is something that keeps coming up in my life. I am loved by God even when my feelings are telling me otherwise, and when that happens to bring those feelings to Him.
Overall, would absolutely recommend this to anyone! It's definitely written more towards Christian women as that is the experience Jasmine is writing from, but the truth shared is for everyone!
April 23, 2024
This has opened my eyes to shame struggle in my life and has given me ways to recognize and fight it with truth. The author has humor and gentleness and vulnerability and it makes for a fantastic read!
May 27, 2023
For me this was the right book at the right time.
October 24, 2022
Christian author and podcaster Jasmine L. Holmes grew up Black in a predominantly white evangelical community. A pastor's kid and the oldest of 9, she went through puberty in front of the watchful eyes of her church. She said she often felt like wore a mask. She tried to live up to the image of the perfect Christian daughter because she wanted to protect her family’s ministry. She felt the mask start to slip in adulthood when she went through a miscarriage with her first pregnancy. Fearing the same during her second pregnancy, Jasmine sought counseling. She thought her counselor would focus on the loss and her fears, but the process she went through was so much more. Areas of shame in her life were drawn out of the darkness into the light.
In her book "Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame," Jasmine talked about the weight of shame many Christians carry within their hearts and minds as a result of living in a fallen and broken world. She focuses primarily on female shame in our culture, but her message applies to everyone.
Jasmine's book is steeped in scripture and rings out the truth of the Gospel's message to believers and unbelievers alike. She invited her reader to pull up a chair and sit with God and her as she explored the Bible to learn how to recognize and remove shame's harmful effects. Everything we do in this world is in the presence of the enemy, the source of the shame-game, so it's fitting that she used the imagery from Psalm 23:5 where it says God "prepare[s] a table before [us] in the presence of my enemies."
Jasmine began in Genesis where the birth of guilt and shame happened in paradise, a place where Adam and Eve had perfect communion with God. They were made in God's image and given dominion over God's creation. But then Eve chose to become less than the person God created her to be, Jasmine said, when the serpent tempted her with the image of another, better version of herself. She’d be like God, he said, and she wouldn’t die if she ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When she responded to the serpent, Eve had partial knowledge of what God spoke to her and Adam. She added something God didn’t say to her and yet believed, which led to further doubt about God. See Genesis 3:3-4.
Eve touched the fruit, and when she didn’t die, she ate it and offered some to Adam who ate the fruit as well. They realized they were naked and sewed fig leaves as covering. Then they hid because they heard God walking in the garden. They knew they’d done something wrong.
Jasmine used the fig-leaf theme to show the promise God made to Adam and, His plan to permanently cover humanity's sin and shame. The wage for their sin needed to be paid and the first sacrifice was made as a covering. God had to sacrifice the animals, Jasmine explained, to cover Adam and Eve before banishing them from the Garden of Eden. But God also made a promise to Eve that through her seed would come another who would cover over the sins of the world: Jesus Christ. He would stand in humanity’s place and ransom us. Jasmine talked about God’s rescue plan, as foreshadowed in Genesis. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to become the perfect Lamb of God who would sacrifice Himself to cover our sins so that we might be made righteous and have eternal life.
Shame from sin is natural, Jasmine said. Adam and Eve hid because they were convicted by sin. When we don’t meet God’s standards, we’ve sinned, and if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will convict you. You repent and are restored to fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit has the job of molding you into the image of Christ.
Shame from something that’s not sin is often the calling card of the world that wants to mold you into your culture’s image. Jasmine talked about the differences between guilt, "a state of being," and shame, “a painful feeling of distress and embarrassment after doing something wrong or foolish.” She further gave examples to show the differences between godly and worldly shame.
To remove the latter shame, Jasmine said the world has three “false gospels”: “shake it off,” “work it off,” and “pass it off.” All three are not good news at all. You can see all three at work in our present culture. They don’t remove shame’s influence but instead either blind us to sin against God or bind us to a worldly image that continues to burden our spirits. Each of these false gospels have followers as well to make up their own warped communities that will keep us blinded and never provide true healing.
But we have a better covering, image, and message in Jesus Christ, Jasmine said. As members of God's family, we can run to the Father with both kinds of shame. Both are covered in Christ's work on the Cross on our behalf. The Holy Spirit will guide us in the scriptures to provide truth so we can shout over the shame messages we hear from our enemy. (And sometimes the enemy uses other people, Jasmine said, whether well-or-ill-intentioned.) The Spirit will also lead us to a place where we can find a fellowship of believers who will walk beside us as we fight shame and seek healing.
I loved this book so much I can't stop talking about it. I am excited for this book to publish on Valentine's Day 2023. My favorite part of this text is Jasmine's interpretation of the Samaritan woman at the well who had one of the longest conversations with Jesus. I cried trying to talk to a group of ladies because that woman went from feeling shunned to feeling joy as she "put on Christ" and ran to tell others about Jesus, the Messiah.
Jasmine took me through an emotional, intellectual, and scriptural journey as she uncovered areas of shame within me. I liked that she put scripture right within the pages; it was like an all-you-can-eat-buffet for the soul. I could relate to her description of this “Cool Girl” image, a standard she tried to meet growing up. She talked about perfectionistic tendencies women adopt in their efforts to become more like this ideal woman within the Christian community. We have all these "shoulds" thrust on us that she said are "extrabiblical" in that the guilt and shame isn't because we've not met God's standards. It's guilt and shame from not meeting our culture's standards.
Jasmine said God can rescue us from both the godly shame of sin through our repentance and from the culture's grief and shame that comes from us not measuring up in the eyes of other people in our lives. Believers aren’t supposed to conform to this world. We have a better image in Jesus Christ. We are made right with God because of the work of Jesus on the cross that covered our sin and shame, gave us access to the Father, who has work only we can do as part of His family.
Thank you to Netgalley and BH Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy of this excellent book.
In her book "Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame," Jasmine talked about the weight of shame many Christians carry within their hearts and minds as a result of living in a fallen and broken world. She focuses primarily on female shame in our culture, but her message applies to everyone.
Jasmine's book is steeped in scripture and rings out the truth of the Gospel's message to believers and unbelievers alike. She invited her reader to pull up a chair and sit with God and her as she explored the Bible to learn how to recognize and remove shame's harmful effects. Everything we do in this world is in the presence of the enemy, the source of the shame-game, so it's fitting that she used the imagery from Psalm 23:5 where it says God "prepare[s] a table before [us] in the presence of my enemies."
Jasmine began in Genesis where the birth of guilt and shame happened in paradise, a place where Adam and Eve had perfect communion with God. They were made in God's image and given dominion over God's creation. But then Eve chose to become less than the person God created her to be, Jasmine said, when the serpent tempted her with the image of another, better version of herself. She’d be like God, he said, and she wouldn’t die if she ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When she responded to the serpent, Eve had partial knowledge of what God spoke to her and Adam. She added something God didn’t say to her and yet believed, which led to further doubt about God. See Genesis 3:3-4.
Eve touched the fruit, and when she didn’t die, she ate it and offered some to Adam who ate the fruit as well. They realized they were naked and sewed fig leaves as covering. Then they hid because they heard God walking in the garden. They knew they’d done something wrong.
Jasmine used the fig-leaf theme to show the promise God made to Adam and, His plan to permanently cover humanity's sin and shame. The wage for their sin needed to be paid and the first sacrifice was made as a covering. God had to sacrifice the animals, Jasmine explained, to cover Adam and Eve before banishing them from the Garden of Eden. But God also made a promise to Eve that through her seed would come another who would cover over the sins of the world: Jesus Christ. He would stand in humanity’s place and ransom us. Jasmine talked about God’s rescue plan, as foreshadowed in Genesis. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to become the perfect Lamb of God who would sacrifice Himself to cover our sins so that we might be made righteous and have eternal life.
Shame from sin is natural, Jasmine said. Adam and Eve hid because they were convicted by sin. When we don’t meet God’s standards, we’ve sinned, and if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will convict you. You repent and are restored to fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit has the job of molding you into the image of Christ.
Shame from something that’s not sin is often the calling card of the world that wants to mold you into your culture’s image. Jasmine talked about the differences between guilt, "a state of being," and shame, “a painful feeling of distress and embarrassment after doing something wrong or foolish.” She further gave examples to show the differences between godly and worldly shame.
To remove the latter shame, Jasmine said the world has three “false gospels”: “shake it off,” “work it off,” and “pass it off.” All three are not good news at all. You can see all three at work in our present culture. They don’t remove shame’s influence but instead either blind us to sin against God or bind us to a worldly image that continues to burden our spirits. Each of these false gospels have followers as well to make up their own warped communities that will keep us blinded and never provide true healing.
But we have a better covering, image, and message in Jesus Christ, Jasmine said. As members of God's family, we can run to the Father with both kinds of shame. Both are covered in Christ's work on the Cross on our behalf. The Holy Spirit will guide us in the scriptures to provide truth so we can shout over the shame messages we hear from our enemy. (And sometimes the enemy uses other people, Jasmine said, whether well-or-ill-intentioned.) The Spirit will also lead us to a place where we can find a fellowship of believers who will walk beside us as we fight shame and seek healing.
I loved this book so much I can't stop talking about it. I am excited for this book to publish on Valentine's Day 2023. My favorite part of this text is Jasmine's interpretation of the Samaritan woman at the well who had one of the longest conversations with Jesus. I cried trying to talk to a group of ladies because that woman went from feeling shunned to feeling joy as she "put on Christ" and ran to tell others about Jesus, the Messiah.
Jasmine took me through an emotional, intellectual, and scriptural journey as she uncovered areas of shame within me. I liked that she put scripture right within the pages; it was like an all-you-can-eat-buffet for the soul. I could relate to her description of this “Cool Girl” image, a standard she tried to meet growing up. She talked about perfectionistic tendencies women adopt in their efforts to become more like this ideal woman within the Christian community. We have all these "shoulds" thrust on us that she said are "extrabiblical" in that the guilt and shame isn't because we've not met God's standards. It's guilt and shame from not meeting our culture's standards.
Jasmine said God can rescue us from both the godly shame of sin through our repentance and from the culture's grief and shame that comes from us not measuring up in the eyes of other people in our lives. Believers aren’t supposed to conform to this world. We have a better image in Jesus Christ. We are made right with God because of the work of Jesus on the cross that covered our sin and shame, gave us access to the Father, who has work only we can do as part of His family.
Thank you to Netgalley and BH Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy of this excellent book.
August 18, 2024
The things I liked: at the very beginning, the author points out that Jesus despised the shame of the cross, disregarding it because of what his death would accomplish (and his love for his father and humanity and all the other reasons). I don't think I have ever read someone explain or point that out so explicitly.
She acknowledged how evangelicalism is largely responsible for a lot of the struggles with perfectionism and moralism that those of us raised in the Moral Majority heyday deal with.
There's hope throughout the book that God looks at us differently than we see ourselves and we can take encouragement from that.
Things I struggled with: from other reading, I've come to understand guilt as feeling "I did something bad" and shame as feeling "I am bad." With that working definition, most of this book speaks to guilt, not shame. The conflating of the two made it challenging and I had to sort out my own understanding as I read.
Lots of repetition. Reminding the reader of what you just said is a legitimate technique, but I ended up skimming large portions because I felt like I was reading the same scriptural references over and over.
I've read interpretations of the woman at the well that don't characterize her as an adulterer and I find that reading to be cliche and tired. Same with blaming Eve or making her the more responsible party.
I like the premise, but I didn't come away from reading with any new information, except the understanding of Jesus despising shame, from the very beginning of the book.
She acknowledged how evangelicalism is largely responsible for a lot of the struggles with perfectionism and moralism that those of us raised in the Moral Majority heyday deal with.
There's hope throughout the book that God looks at us differently than we see ourselves and we can take encouragement from that.
Things I struggled with: from other reading, I've come to understand guilt as feeling "I did something bad" and shame as feeling "I am bad." With that working definition, most of this book speaks to guilt, not shame. The conflating of the two made it challenging and I had to sort out my own understanding as I read.
Lots of repetition. Reminding the reader of what you just said is a legitimate technique, but I ended up skimming large portions because I felt like I was reading the same scriptural references over and over.
I've read interpretations of the woman at the well that don't characterize her as an adulterer and I find that reading to be cliche and tired. Same with blaming Eve or making her the more responsible party.
I like the premise, but I didn't come away from reading with any new information, except the understanding of Jesus despising shame, from the very beginning of the book.
June 9, 2023
This book will be one I return to again and again to remind myself of certain truths. I want to share this book with all my Christian friends as well!
Jasmine L Holmes takes things I knew from reading scripture and makes them feel accessible and relateable.
While there are parts I couldn’t relate to (as I wasn’t raised in the Evangelical faith), I found other things she said that really and totally applied to my journey.
Her references to scripture were lovely as well as I was able to read them alongside her words.
Jasmine L Holmes takes things I knew from reading scripture and makes them feel accessible and relateable.
While there are parts I couldn’t relate to (as I wasn’t raised in the Evangelical faith), I found other things she said that really and totally applied to my journey.
Her references to scripture were lovely as well as I was able to read them alongside her words.
April 10, 2023
DNF - I’m not sure if it just wasn’t what I needed right now, or what but it felt surface level like I wasn’t connecting to any of it or learning about/experiencing Jesus. The author also uses the term “shame” as sort of a catch-all for shame/guilt/embarrassment/humiliation and I feel that these often feel similar but come from different places and have different effects on our hearts and souls. I imagine this book could be exactly right for someone, it just wasn’t it for me.
December 1, 2022
"How do we go from standing before a holy God in fig leaves to standing in the throne room completely justified, our shame totally covered with glory? Jesus is how." So writes Jasmine L. Holmes in Never Cast Out.
This book is a breath of fresh air. Which of us have not cringed with the feeling of shame hanging over our heads, whether shame due to our own misdeeds, or unjust shame that has been put on us by others? There's good news. Jasmine L. Holmes shares, through stories from her own experience and also from Scripture, that Jesus can take away our shame. Jesus provides a better covering than the fig leaves Adam and Eve tried to hide behind or the ways we try to hide ourselves. Jesus provides a better image than us trying to be cool and perfect on our own. And Jesus provides a better message—he has fully paid the price to wash away our sins, but he has also borne our shame.
Holmes reminds us that Jesus is the one who can take away our shame whether it is justified or unjustified, deserved or undeserved. We can go to Jesus, in prayer, without fear. He is ready to listen to us, help us, make us new, and take away our shame. (See Hebrews 4:6 and Hebrews 10:12-14.)
Never Cast Out is written in a conversational style that's like having coffee with a friend. Jasmine L. Holmes's book will inspire and encourage you. Easily 5 stars.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by B&H Books through NetGalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Originally reviewed at: https://www.powerwordsediting.com/nev...
This book is a breath of fresh air. Which of us have not cringed with the feeling of shame hanging over our heads, whether shame due to our own misdeeds, or unjust shame that has been put on us by others? There's good news. Jasmine L. Holmes shares, through stories from her own experience and also from Scripture, that Jesus can take away our shame. Jesus provides a better covering than the fig leaves Adam and Eve tried to hide behind or the ways we try to hide ourselves. Jesus provides a better image than us trying to be cool and perfect on our own. And Jesus provides a better message—he has fully paid the price to wash away our sins, but he has also borne our shame.
Holmes reminds us that Jesus is the one who can take away our shame whether it is justified or unjustified, deserved or undeserved. We can go to Jesus, in prayer, without fear. He is ready to listen to us, help us, make us new, and take away our shame. (See Hebrews 4:6 and Hebrews 10:12-14.)
Never Cast Out is written in a conversational style that's like having coffee with a friend. Jasmine L. Holmes's book will inspire and encourage you. Easily 5 stars.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by B&H Books through NetGalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Originally reviewed at: https://www.powerwordsediting.com/nev...
October 10, 2022
“The power of shame has been fully defeated, but not the presence of shame. Its ghost still haunts us. Which means we must remind ourselves that though the death of shame is already complete, we must, as we do with sin, war against it daily.”
In this deeply personal, tender, and encouraging book, Jasmine addresses the topic of shame—what it is, why we feel it, and how we respond to it in healthy and unhealthy ways. She examines the many sources of shame (sin, cultural expectations or societal pressures, Satan’s accusations, or our own perfectionism) and graciously applies the gospel to each. For such a universal experience, shame is something I’ve rarely heard addressed in Christian circles, so this is a much needed book that I think anyone would find helpful. I came away convicted and encouraged. This is easily one of a small handful of books I’ve read that I’ll feel the need to return to often, to be pointed back to the one who has covered our shame and will never cast us out.
I was provided with an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.
In this deeply personal, tender, and encouraging book, Jasmine addresses the topic of shame—what it is, why we feel it, and how we respond to it in healthy and unhealthy ways. She examines the many sources of shame (sin, cultural expectations or societal pressures, Satan’s accusations, or our own perfectionism) and graciously applies the gospel to each. For such a universal experience, shame is something I’ve rarely heard addressed in Christian circles, so this is a much needed book that I think anyone would find helpful. I came away convicted and encouraged. This is easily one of a small handful of books I’ve read that I’ll feel the need to return to often, to be pointed back to the one who has covered our shame and will never cast us out.
I was provided with an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.
April 13, 2023
This book was my introduction to Jasmine Holmes and I found it to be a thought provoking read. While prior to reading this book, I wouldn’t have labeled many of my feelings and actions as being rooted in “shame,” I recognized myself all too well in these pages. Holmes integrated biblical references well and I found her description of the difference between guilt and shame very helpful - especially her extensive focus on the concept that we can feel shame without actually having sinned.
I did feel like I could have used more specific examples and practical application. Some of the concepts still seemed a little nebulous or like all of the nuances weren’t fully explored. Overall, a good read on a topic where our culture speaks loudly (but definitely not biblically), but isn’t talked about nearly enough in the context of the church.
I did feel like I could have used more specific examples and practical application. Some of the concepts still seemed a little nebulous or like all of the nuances weren’t fully explored. Overall, a good read on a topic where our culture speaks loudly (but definitely not biblically), but isn’t talked about nearly enough in the context of the church.
May 30, 2023
3.5 Stars
An authentic and honest dive into the burden of shame often placed on girls growing up under the bright lights of conservative evangelicalism. While the book wasn't targeted toward me, it was very easy to connect with the personal accounts of the author Jasmine Holmes. I imagine that the target audience of evangelical women will find in this book a familiar friend, giving words to feelings and hurts they have carried with them through life.
The best parts of this book are the first-hand accounts. They breathe. They sing. They haunt. I found myself reading through the more "Sunday School" lesson part longing for more of the person where Homes was at her best.
I would highly recommend this to women who grew up in church longing to be perfect, hoping to please others. But it would be worth the time of anyone interested in the topic.
An authentic and honest dive into the burden of shame often placed on girls growing up under the bright lights of conservative evangelicalism. While the book wasn't targeted toward me, it was very easy to connect with the personal accounts of the author Jasmine Holmes. I imagine that the target audience of evangelical women will find in this book a familiar friend, giving words to feelings and hurts they have carried with them through life.
The best parts of this book are the first-hand accounts. They breathe. They sing. They haunt. I found myself reading through the more "Sunday School" lesson part longing for more of the person where Homes was at her best.
I would highly recommend this to women who grew up in church longing to be perfect, hoping to please others. But it would be worth the time of anyone interested in the topic.
January 31, 2024
This is definitely a book for Christians, as it orients the concept of shame around the ethos of the gospel. It could particularly be helpful if you struggle with having grown up in the 90s purity culture and experienced shame as a "tool" for purity. Holmes articulates gospel truths, guilt vs. shame, and the exploration of shame in the authors own life. I appreciate the stories she told of her own life. Though at times the book does feel repetitive due to the nature of a singular topic, I believe it was to drive home one point with many illustrations. Thank you NetGalley and B&H for the advanced copy to review.
November 5, 2024
I remember a song in the 90s with a line "Unity is the cry of the church" and that's what this book made me think of the whole time. It's a powerful tool for unity in the church and particularly in the hearts of her people when we remove the painful presence of shame that has for too long characterized her teachings and followers.
The writing is without fault and easily readable. This was a very well done book. I especially recommend the audio version of the book, although I wish it had been read by the author.
The writing is without fault and easily readable. This was a very well done book. I especially recommend the audio version of the book, although I wish it had been read by the author.
October 9, 2022
A thoughtful and insightful book on shame and it’s effects on people, specifically women, in this book. The author uses her theological understandings and her personal experiences to present an explanation of shame, where it may come from, how different people handle it and some of its affects on people. I appreciated hearing her personal experience with shame in her life and how she no longer feels burdened by it.
August 28, 2023
"Never Cast Out" thoughtfully rejects the misleading ideas of shaking off, working off, or passing off shame. Instead, Jasmine Holmes beautifully underscores Jesus as our coverer of shame, our remover of shame, and our compassionate refuge for times when shame lingers due to sin or falling short of human standards. The book encourages us to turn to Him whenever shame creeps in, offering a fresh perspective grounded in the gospel. Trust me, this read is like a refreshing breeze for your soul.
November 23, 2024
I picked up this book to help me dust off a series of messages I gave a few years ago on the topic of shame. I was hoping this work would help me augment my application to speak directly to the women present. I glad to find out that this work is written expressly toward women. And even better, her theology of shame is better than some of the more academic works I've read. Bravo!
I wish her editor had helped her cut 75% of the "friend" interjections.
I wish her editor had helped her cut 75% of the "friend" interjections.
March 7, 2025
First, I appreciated how Jasmine acknowledged that she wasn’t approaching the subject of shame from a multi-cultural lens. Second, the third part of the book was my favorite- I flew through how she broke down types of shame and its sources, but kept circling back to the ultimate source of freedom and security.
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