| I have heard the two types of guilt described as being "real" and
"imagined". Real guilt is the result of doing wrong. Imagined guilt
is the result of thinking you have done wrong, when in actuality you
have not. (A good example of imagined guilt is where a child may think
he/she is responsible for their parents' divorce.)
Imagined guilt is remedied by recognizing it for what it is: imagined.
To come to this may require some measure of spiritual counsel (I am not
an advocate of psychology) to understand where such feelings originate.
Real guilt must be remedied first by confession, and then by any other
necessary steps of repentance and restoration (if another has been
wronged, etc.)
For both types of guilt, the answer lies in Christ. If the guilt
exists only in our thoughts (imagined), we are called to be "Casting
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against
the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ;" (2 Cor. 10:5) For real guilt, "If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
A good conscience is important. Without it, we will lack boldness and
assurance. A scan through the New Testament's use of "conscience" can
be quite interresting.
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 9:14)
"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of
a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:" (1 Tim. 1:5)
Mark L.
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| Well said, Mark L.
----
Within Christian communities, guilt is sometimes misused as a
bludgeon. In the local church, where the whole body should be
involve in different ministries, we see perhaps 20% of the local
church doing 90% of the ministries.
Now, sometimes we'll sometimes get the person who has been called
into service [legitimately, by the Lord] to Nursing Home Ministries
(for example). A few things then happen: it becomes the most
important ministry of the church (which, if it is this person's
calling, it should be *to this person*). Because it is so
important, they want everyone to share the burden and ask others
to join in their ministry.
Now, several possibilities present themselves: (a) this is a person
who DOES need to get involved in this ministry, (b) this is a
person who is being used to perform another ministry (c) this is a
person who is not involved in ministry but the Nursing Home is not
the ministry.
Persons (a) and (c) need to get involved in ministry. Persons (b)
and (c) should NOT get involved in Nursing Home ministries.
Person (a) should feel guilty for saying "no". Person (b) should
NOT feel guilty for saying "no." Person (c) should NOT feel
guilty for saying "no" but should feel guilty if there is a
ministry in which they know they should be involved.
Again, we look for the balance, because the 20% of the church that
does 90% of the work are the people who are often asked to do more
and feel guilty for saying "no." (Inappropriate guilt.) On the
other side of the pendulum swing, some people don't feel guilty
about saying "no" (persons (a) and (c)). This is inappropriate
satisfaction with self ("I've learned to say 'no' without guilt
even to things I should be saying 'yes' to." -- desensitized)
The balance: each Christian is called to a personal relationship
with God. In other words, we need to be intimate with God. When
this is first and foremost ("seek ye first the kingdom of God..."
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." "Love the Lord your
God with all your heart, soul, and strength."), then we will know
where He wants us to be, and it is more likely than not that
everyone's ministry will be in *different* areas. All are
important; all are in obedience to the Lord. And remember, the
best that we can do is "filthy rags" - God makes it grow; don't
give yourself that much credit.
Mark M.
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