Christians feel guilty, seemingly almost routinely. Guilt practically is accepted as a part of the Christian life. Should we feel guilty and if so, why? If not, how do we stop?
How common is it?
Teleios surveys have shown that approximately 70% of evangelical Christians feel some level of guilt. Fortunately, it appears typically mild.
Why do Christians feel guilty?
Teleios has examined this question among church attendees in an evangelical church on three levels (full report):
· A person is not a believer (5%) – This was a very small percent, but recognizes that there are people within the church community who really do not understand salvation by grace; and the Holy Spirit is probably convicting them (John 16:8-11). In this case, the guilt is appropriate and perhaps will lead to their salvation.
· Fear of loss of salvation (28%) – These Christians knew they were saved by grace but feared they could lose their salvation, perhaps by sin or disobedience. However, the scriptures indicate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is sufficient to cover all sins, past, present, and future. For a Christian, saved by grace alone, all sins are forgiven (Ephesians 1:4-5,13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23-26; Romans 6:2-9; Hebrews 6:1-8).
· Fear of God’s displeasure (41%) – The greatest percent knew they were saved and secure yet somehow felt some sin, or lack of good works, would cause God to reject them, producing their guilt. This idea is also unbiblical in that we have direct access to God through the ripped veil based on Christ’s sacrifice (Hebrews 10:19-22).
What are the triggers for guilt?
What causes guilt in a true believer? We do not know precisely, but here are some suggestions:
· Lack of knowledge of God’s word – This is key! If we don’t know God’s word then we are left defenseless in determining if we hear or read something that suggests we are sinning. So not knowing, the nagging doubt if we are wrong, leads to guilt.
· Not meeting others’ expectations – Family, friends and churches may have expectations for us, that even may be dressed up in Christian jargon, that can produce guilt if we do not meet them. This issue relates directly to the first point in that if you do not know the Bible then you cannot determine if their expectations are correct.
· Self-expectations – Again, this is related to the first point that we may place burdens on ourselves which we fail to meet but may not be biblical.
· Wrong corrective response to sin – Even if we know that we are in sin, we may not respond to that sin in a biblical way. Our response may be based on social Christian tradition or expectations, such as priestly or work-based absolution, re-dedication or re-baptism, self-abasement or pleading for forgiveness from God. These efforts may reduce immediate guilt but are not biblical and would not solve most likely a long-term guilt problem (please see just below, and the last blog, over handling sin).
· Continued sin - Obviously if we are in a sin and choose willingly to continue it, this may result in feeling guilty
What is the appropriate biblical attitude regarding guilt?
· Realize guilt is not required – For a true believer who is saved by grace alone the answer is simple: ‘Don’t.’ Why is this? Let’s take it to the source, the Bible.
- The Bible does not teach guilt for the believer. The New Testament epistles, the part of the biblical text that provides Christians with guidance, does not teach believers to feel guilty for acts of sin or any other reason.
- Christians are forgiven by Christ’s gracious sacrifice, received by faith; His offering was fully sufficient to cover all our sins. It is given to us as a free gift. Guilt is not part of the package (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23-26).
· God wants our obedience – This is the New Testament response to sin, to obey and mature into the worthy servant that God wants us to be. In this way we can accomplish good things, such as spreading the gospel and serving others, without being self-focused, tied up in knots over insecurity of salvation, questioning our relationship with God, and burdened by our guilt (Romans 6:12; 6:16; 12:1; Hebrews 5:11-6:3).
What is the solution for guilt?
· Make sure you are a believer – Assure that you recognize your glorious salvation is based completely on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross by faith alone and not mixed with works. Further, as time passes from when you first believed, you will see evidence of biblically based changes in your life (2 Peter 1:10). Please see our chapter on salvation for further detail. There is nothing that you can do to help God save or keep you. He does it all!
· Realize you are secure – God provides protections, both legal and morphologic, by declaring us righteous, adopted, sealed by the Spirit until Christ’s coming, and changed irreversibly into a new person. (Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23-26; Romans 6:2-9; Hebrews 6:1-8).
· Realize you are forgiven – Certainly, in our relationship with God it makes sense to recognize our day-to-day sin with regret. However, we must realize with God that those sins graciously are forgiven already by Christ’s sacrifice (Romans 3:24-25: Ephesians 1:7).
· Access – We have bold access to God! Our only limitation is ourselves by sin that would keep us from approaching God or hindering our prayers (Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 10:19-22).
· Realize the truth about guilt – The Bible does not tell believers to feel guilty but to obey and have joy and peace. Therefore, get up, obey the word, life by faith, live guilt free! A good motto for the Christian life: ‘Live by facts (i.e., the Bible) and not emotions!’ Believe scripture, and do not rely on emotions that you or others place on yourself. God is great and gives us such wonderful biblical wisdom to enrich our lives.
We have a gracious God who has provided for us forgiveness through Jesus Christ death and resurrection and access through faith. We should not be burdened by guilt but to obey and strive to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16).
Thanks for joining me, please return next week.
William C. Stewart, MD
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