Someone once said: "A Guilty Christian is an Oxymoron."
I like that. I agree too. Probably every Christian would agree. So why do we not believe it? Or at least, live as if we believe it?
Guilt is a nasty feeling and a very misunderstood one. It began as soon as Adam and Eve sinned, they felt separated from God, bringing for the first time the feeling of guilt and shame. Many Christians believe that if they feel very guilty after a sermon, God was speaking to them. Just because they felt guilty. So what happens the following week when they don't feel guilty? Who was God speaking to? Why not happiness, if I feel happy after a service God was speaking to me, or sadness, or anger. Why feeling guilty means God's voice? Because the word guilty gets confused with Godly sorrow or conviction.
God does not send guilty messages to us. Our feeling guilty is our own problem. The difference between Godly sorrow and guilt is that the latter is perceived from the self. Godly sorrow is perceived from the "others" point of view. When God or somebody "makes" me feel guilty, I am only seeing how I feel regardless of the other person. I want to feel good again. When I feel Godly sorrow, my attention goes to "how I make others feel." "Others" focused instead of "self" focused. Guilt takes us back to the Law. Godly sorrow brings repentance.
Thank you Jesus because you paid our debt once and for all!
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3 comments:
"God does not send guilty messages to us." What a powerful statement. Thank you.
Interesting. I was in a study the other day where a friend was completely guilt ridden and convinced that if she "does enough" that God will surely show her favor. She firmly believes in "karma" and if she does good then good will be showered onto her. I could tell she spends a lot of time in guilt, trying so hard.
Yet.... though guilt is not "christian".... how many churches employ that tactic? To get us to volunteer? To get us to give more? To get us to care more?
I don't think this is ideal; as it leads only to short term change.
Anyways, it's interesting.
It sounds like your friend was very conditionally loved, and she continues to see God that way. But see, that guilt is her own feeling; God never "made" her feel that way.
As for churches sending guilty messages, I believe it is up to us to only participate in what we can truly give out of love, not guilt or resentment. Otherwise we are not "doing" for God's glory but to release a guilty conscience. Very different reasons.
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