Why do you feel guilty?

 

Welcome back to my blog. I'm glad you're here. Today, we discuss an important issue among Christians: guilt. Christians often feel guilt for many reasons:

1. Many Christians focus on their sins and moral shortcomings. This heightened awareness can lead to feelings of guilt when they perceive they have done something wrong.
2. Christians strive to live according to the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. When they fall short of these standards, they may feel guilty as a natural response to their desire to be more Christ-like.
3. The Christian community and its teachings often stress the importance of acknowledging and repenting for sins. This cultural aspect can reinforce feelings of guilt when individuals believe they have not lived up to these expectations.

 

We have considered in prior blogs that the first step to improved biblically based wellbeing is acceptance by faith of Christ’s forgiveness for our misdeeds by his death and resurrection. Then we evaluated the importance of understanding that our salvation is secure!

 

So then, why do Christians feel guilty? This appears to be a common emotion in our society and almost certainly reduces wellbeing. The exact incidence of guilt is unknown in the general population or in the church, but anecdotally this author can attest that guilt is seen in almost all young people, even if they have grown up in the church and consider themselves Christians.

 

Recently Teleios surveyed a group of attendees of a conservative Bible teaching church to determine their levels of guilt and underlying reasons. In total 70% said they felt guilty. Look below at the results! Who knew? Table 1 shows potential reasons for guilt and additional effects for those expressing feeling of guilt. Learn more at https://teleiosresearch.com/the-influence-of-guilt-on-wellbeing/.

To summarize these findings, among 70% of churchgoers in a strong evangelical church who admit to guilt, it appears to occur at three basic different levels:

• Unbelieving Individuals – These respondents have not understood the complete saving grace provided by Christ’s death, accessed by faith alone.
• Spiritually Insecure Individual – These believers have failed to understand that they are secure in their salvation and cannot become unsaved.
• Disturbed Relationship with God – This group appears to be the most common. They understand they are saved and secure but still believe they must work to satisfy God for His acceptance on a day to day basis.

 

Teleios also performed a survey on the University of Georgia campus and found that approximately 70% of evangelical Christians felt guilty although fortunately the level of guilt was mild and did not appear to affect their overall wellbeing. Learn more at https://teleiosresearch.com/religious-social-influences-wellbeing-college-students/.

 

So, what is the cure for guilt?

 

The Bible makes no provision for guilt for a believer. Search the epistles and see if you can find it!

 

The Bible indicates that we have free access to Christ, our great high priest, to help us with every need at any time! We can approach God with courage, unimpeded and unafraid (Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 4:14-16).

 

The Bible tells us that Christ died once for all our wrongdoings. For anyone who does not believe they have been forgiven, there is no alternative provision for their sin (Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:12-18).

 

Therefore, the solution to misdeeds for the Christian is to not ask for forgiveness but to acknowledge God’s merciful forgiveness that has already been granted (Colossians 1:14; Ephesians 1:7), recognize His acceptance and our access (Hebrews 10:19-22) and to become obedient, moving forward and maturing in the faith (Galatians 3:1; Galatians 5:7; Romans 6:16-23; Hebrews 5:11-6:1).

 

What a healthy outlook! As a Christian we can know that we are forgiven, sure in our relationship with God through Christ, know we have a wonderful high priest to help us in our time of need, and when we commit a wrong, we are confident of our forgiveness. Guilt is not part of the biblical Christian life!

 

In summary, Christ’s forgiveness is meant to replace feelings of guilt. The core message of Christianity is that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross offers forgiveness for sins. This grace is a gift that believers can accept, which should alleviate guilt and lead to a sense of peace and freedom.

 

Thanks again for joining me. Please come again next time as we continue vital and interesting topics on the Christian life. 

 

William C. Stewart, MD

 

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