Guilt

	Guilt.  It's something we all experience from time to time.  And it's something we would all just as soon do without.  But what causes guilt?  What does guilt cause?  Is guilt necessarily bad?	
	There is no doubt that guilt can lead to serious problems.  S. Bruce Narramore went so far as to say in an article published in the "Journal of Psychology and Theology" that guilt is involved in some way in all psychological problems.
	Dr. Gary Collins divides the subject into two major groups: objective and subjective guilt.
	The objective category includes our being guilty regardless of any remorse we may or may not feel.  One branch of this involves legal guilt.  If we violate any law, we are guilty.  In spite of what many people seem to believe, this is true whether or not we are caught.  Those who speed through a school zone when there is no patrol car in sight are just as guilty as those who are pulled over and fined.
	A second segment deals with social rules.  There are individuals who behave rudely or gossip or act in other ways which violate social standards.
	Objective guilt may also have to do with personal standards.  Each of us has guidelines that he or she tries to follow.  The Bible agrees that we should be careful to not go against the standards we have set for ourselves.
	"But he who doubts is condemned if he eats," Paul states in Romans 14:23 at the conclusion of a discussion about christian liberties, "because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin."
    	"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin," James 4:17 stresses.
	A final type of objective guilt involves theological beliefs.  We are guilty when we violate God's laws.  This is true whether or not we are aware of the sin, and whether or not we think we have been caught during this lifetime.
 	In Romans 1:18-32 we read about people who are guilty of sin, even though they do not recognize it.  This passage is a little lengthy, but please listen carefully and notice how well the statements apply to our society today.
	"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness," the passage says, "because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 
	"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 
	"For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 
	"Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 
	"Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. 
	"For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 
	"For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 
and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 
	"And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; {they are} gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." 
	Many people today may feel that they can simply decide that there is no such thing as right and wrong, no such thing as sin.  This may help them with their guilt, but it doesn't make their feelings true.
	"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23 reminds us. 
	"For the wages of sin is death," Romans 6:23 adds, "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 
	Subjective guilt is the second major division of the subject.  Through subjective guilt, we have an uncomfortable feeling whether or not we have actually violated any legal, social, personal or biblical rule.  Subjective guilt may involve fear of punishment, fear of loss of self-esteem, or feelings of loneliness, rejection or isolation.  Of course, many of the emotional problems associated with guilt stem from subjective rather than objective guilt..

	According to Dr. Collins, causes of guilt may include past learning and unrealistic personal expectations, inferiority and social pressure, and faulty conscience development.
	Sometimes standards have been set which are unrealistic.  When these standards are not met, the person feels unnecessary guilt. Perhaps a child grows up in a family where the parents are never satisfied.  That youngster is constantly blamed, condemned and criticized to the point where he or she is made to feel like a failure.  The child continues to carry throughout life a set of standards which are impossible to attain.
	As humans we need to face the fact that not one of us is perfect. We all make mistakes.  We all fail.
	"If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us," 1 John 1:10 points out. 
	"Not that I have already obtained {it}, or have already become perfect," Paul acknowledges in Philippians 3:12-14, "but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 
	"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of {it} yet; but one thing {I do}: forgetting what {lies} behind and reaching forward to what {lies} ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." 
	Inferiority and social pressure also lead to unhealthy guilt feelings.  As was stated before, it is often difficult to distinguish a cause from an effect.  Does a feeling of inferiority cause guilt or is it the other way around?  Again, each feeds on the other to create a downward spiral.
	The third possible cause of guilt is faulty conscience development.  Contrary to popular belief, we cannot always let our conscience be our guide.  As we learn from the Bible, a conscience is only as good as its training.  Perhaps this is why Jesus places so much importance on the effect we might have on the formation of the consciences of others.
	"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble," The Lord states in Matthew 18:6, "it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea." 
	A conscience can be improperly trained, seared, weakened, strengthened and altered.
	"But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak," Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 8:10-13.
	"For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 
	"And thus, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 
	"Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, that I might not cause my brother to stumble." 
	"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith," Paul fortells in 1 Timothy 4:1-3, "paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, {men} who forbid marriage {and advocate} abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth." 
	"For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?" Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 8:11-12 as he discusses christian liberty. 
	"And thus, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ." 
	"But if anyone should say to you, 'This is meat sacrificed to idols,' do not eat {it,} for the sake of the one who informed {you,} and for conscience' sake," Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:28-29 in a continuation of the same discussion.
	"I mean not your own conscience, but the other {man's}; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience?" 
	Still another source of guilt feelings is the Holy Spirit Himself.
	"If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us," we have already seen from 1 John 1:10.  But there is a difference between this guilt and the things we have been  discussing.  This difference can best be demonstrated by continuing our examination of the effects of guilt along with the solution to the problem. 
	A feeling of guilt may result in defensive reactions, including withdrawal, anger, denial or even excessive apologizing.
	Guilt may also lead to reactions of self condemnation.  This may involve the feeling that a person does not deserve to be treated well.  He or she may be unable to relax, to accept compliments or to say "no" to the demands of others.  Consequences may include depression and suicide.
	Sooner or later other members of society will tire of associating with a guilt-ridden person and isolation will set in.
	Physical reactions may begin with tension.  The eventual result may be psychological, emotional or physical breakdown.
	There is, however, another possible conclusion to the story.  And this is where the Bible enters in.  This last possibility, which is often rejected by secular counselors, is the only one which offers a real solution.  Regardless of the source of guilt, the person may repent and seek forgiveness.		
	We have seen from 1 John 1:10 that we are liars if we do not admit that we sin.  But we must back up one verse to get the rest of the picture.
	"If we confess our sins," verse nine promises, "He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 
	The first step in dealing with guilt is to recognize it and admit it.  Paul explains in Romans 7:7 that the purpose of the Law of Moses was to cause people to see and recognize their sins.
	"What shall we say then?" this verse asks.  "Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, 'You shall not covet.'" 
	Once we recognize our condition, we must seek forgiveness.  We have examined on many other occassions what, according to the Bible, we must do in order to be forgiven.  We must hear the Gospel.  We must believe.  We must repent.  We must confess Jesus as Christ and Lord. And we must be immersed with Christ in baptism before we can benefit from His saving blood.  After this, all we have to do is repent and confess our sins in order to be forgiven.  God does not want us to feel guilt, even though we are guilty.  Jesus has already paid the penalty. 
	"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," we read in Romans 8:33-34. 
	"Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us."
	The difference between what the world gives and what God offers can best be seen by reading 2 Corinthians 7:10.
    	"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God," this verse promises, "produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death."
	There are two kinds of guilt.  One carries us on a downward spiral.  The other causes us to open our eyes and lifts us upward. The worldly sorrow gives us death.  God offers us the truth which will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."