Guilt trips, true and false guilt.

Last day I used the example of God's forgiveness as something that we need to hear, to really hear. We all stand in need of forgiveness, for no one is perfect (though we might not all admit it). Nobody likes to have a guilt trip laid on them, at least I don't. But there is a difference between true and false guilt. An over active conscience is a bad thing, but our consciences are there for a reason, and we will not be moving towards wholeness if we deal inappropriately (or not deal at all) with our God given consciences. Perhaps not surprisingly the Bible has something to say about this.

There is much that can be said about true and false guilt, but let's start with true guilt. We are talking here about moral guilt which has both legal (from God's point of view) and sensory aspects. To put this another way, how God feels about what we have (or have not) done, and how I feel about what I have done. Some things are clearer than others. God tells us “Do not commit adultery”. If we commit adultery we are guilty before God, and one way or another, we will have to give an account of it. In today's society what I am about to say cannot be taken as given, but at least on the first occasion, most of us would feel guilty afterward, if we committed adultery. Actually King David did not immediately feel guilt after he had committed adultery, he had to be confronted and shown that it was wrong. Animal rights activist might relate to how he was shown, but most of us cannot not fully relate to the parable that Nathan used to show David his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-15). We need to remember that David was a shepherd and “good shepherds loves their sheep” (see John 10:11).

So there is such a thing as true guilt. After he was confronted with it, David tells in Psalm 51 that “my sin is ever before me”. There are times when (unless our consciences are seared with a red hot iron 1 Timothy 4:2) we will find it hard to get away from our guilt. David is saying that when he came to the full realization of what he had done, it kept going round and round and round in his heart and his mind. Today's post is addressed to those who are either there, or have been there.

True guilt comes both from what we have done, and from what we have not done. After a tragedy, a death in the family for example, we are often full of “what if's”. And lets face it, who can truthfully say that we have always done everything that could or should have been done. We neglect each other through our obsessive business, or from our excessive self centeredness. Some would criticize me for even saying what I just said. They might angrily accuses me “Are you trying to make him (her) feel worse?” But you see the cure for true guilt (as opposed to false guilt - later) is to be forgiven, it is not to pretend that what is wrong is not wrong. David in the Psalm we are looking at (it would be a good idea to read it - Psalm 51) says to God “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight ...” (Psalm 51:4). Though we certainly sin against each other, the greatest offense is ultimately against God, and so only God ultimately can fully forgive us. When others might not be willing to forgive, God's forgiveness is enough. But we do need to repent. Does it sound painful?

In true repentance, there will certainly be periods of sorrow (godly sorrow), but when we push through (as opposed to pushing it down and trying to ignore it), then it will in the end bring true joy. David knew this, and the prayer in Psalm 51:8 quoted the other day is worth repeating. He cried out to God “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.” We do need to stay with it, but when we do, we will find that it is well worth it. It brings a different kind of freedom. More to come.