"Guilt functions in the
Spiritual realm like pain in the material realm. Pain tells us there is a
physical problem that must be dealt with or the body will suffer harm.
Guilt is a spiritual pain in the soul that tells us something is evil
and needs to be confronted and cleansed."
"The Vanishing Conscience" by John MacArthur
These words by MacArthur are sound and true. We've all felt that nudge to our conscience; sometimes it's like a light brushing by and other times we're quite knocked over -but our conscience takes notice and oftentimes "interprets" that interaction as guilt. Now, guilty feelings don't *always* indicate that one is guilty of something; but as MacArthur said, it is a sign that *something* in one's spirit is not right -guilt is always a prodding to pray and "examine yourself"{see 2Cor13:5}. But this is not the thesis of my blog; my thesis is about "self-defense" -it's about the "natural" defense mechanism worked into our fallen nature by sin and preyed upon by Satan to keep one enslaved.
The first, and perhaps most prominent, defense mechanism is anger. All to often, most people do not even recognize this defense mechanism because Satan has cleverly disguised it as "indignation" over perceived judgment. Not that one's judgment of another is always justified, but if you find yourself pricked and agitated when someone approaches you with God's word concerning certain of your behavior; then let that agitation serve as a red flag that *something* needs examining. Jesus was accused of having a demon{more than once}... His responses were never in anger or agitation. He responded with the fruit of the Spirit of self-control and on this one specific occasion that I recall; Jesus reasoned with His accusers and concluded with this admonition: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment{John7:20-24}." As a matter of fact, the one being "judged" often rejects the reproof through accusing the one "judging" as being self-righteous/judgmental. An irony which we see in Scripture is that, more often than not, the people{i.e. often the Pharisees} who became indignant over being judged by God's word were revealed to be the ones whom were self-righteous; believing themselves to be beyond reproach. Unless we submit to the Holy Spirit when we stand accused; we, like the Pharisees, may remain enslaved to the same self-righteousness anytime someone confronts us about a sin.
On the other end of the spectrum, some respond to guilt with depression. Depression is a monster... I kid you not. Depression opens doors to fits of melancholy, bouts of sadness, euphoria at times, and acts of rage, etc... Those at the receiving end of a fit can often feel victimized; but the true sufferer is the one battling the the depression. Trust me, they do not want to feel the way they feel and they deeply regret the things they do -even if they never communicate remorse. It's a vicious cycle... every time they do something bad, the guilt builds upon guilt making them feel powerless; and to admit that guilt -to apologize- would make them feel even more weak and powerless; defeated. They ultimately feel trapped inside a box that is closing... closing... and they are screaming from within begging for deliverance. I'm not *excusing* the behavior; just somewhat *explaining* it. The irony is that someone suffering depression *must* actually bask in their weakness and face the responsibility of their actions by acknowledging every legitimate guilt. Paul teaches that it is in coming to terms with one's weaknesses that one ultimately experiences the power of God within himself/herself more abundantly{cf. 2Cor12:7-10}. It is through confessing our guilt [to God(1John1:9) and to those whom have been wronged by one's action(Matt5:23-24)] that God cleanses *every* wrong from the slate. The power of depression is in Satan's ability to make one view weakness and guilt as defeat; Paul's words in 2Cor12:7-10 teach us all that it is through accepting our weakness that God's strength within us is perfected -for we are MORE than conquerors through Christ{Rom8:37}. John teaches us that it is only through confessing that we can be made clean{1John1:9}; and thus, one must welcome weakness and acknowledge and confess guilt in order to throw off the bondage that Satan tries to keep one under by enslaving him/her to guilt. Remember, guilt is not a punishment intended to torment. It is God's mechanism for moving one whom is drifting [or has drifted] too far from him back into communion with Him and then God will remove that guilt which is confessed.
In conclusion, all guilt is intended by God to be for one purpose -that purpose is to move one back into communion with Him. God intends for guilt to produce godly sorrow which moves one to repent resulting in salvation and leaves no residue of regret; Satan attempts to use the gift of guilt as an opportunity to enslave others through self-righteousness and feelings of defeat.
--> 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. -2Corinthians 7:10
"The Vanishing Conscience" by John MacArthur
These words by MacArthur are sound and true. We've all felt that nudge to our conscience; sometimes it's like a light brushing by and other times we're quite knocked over -but our conscience takes notice and oftentimes "interprets" that interaction as guilt. Now, guilty feelings don't *always* indicate that one is guilty of something; but as MacArthur said, it is a sign that *something* in one's spirit is not right -guilt is always a prodding to pray and "examine yourself"{see 2Cor13:5}. But this is not the thesis of my blog; my thesis is about "self-defense" -it's about the "natural" defense mechanism worked into our fallen nature by sin and preyed upon by Satan to keep one enslaved.
The first, and perhaps most prominent, defense mechanism is anger. All to often, most people do not even recognize this defense mechanism because Satan has cleverly disguised it as "indignation" over perceived judgment. Not that one's judgment of another is always justified, but if you find yourself pricked and agitated when someone approaches you with God's word concerning certain of your behavior; then let that agitation serve as a red flag that *something* needs examining. Jesus was accused of having a demon{more than once}... His responses were never in anger or agitation. He responded with the fruit of the Spirit of self-control and on this one specific occasion that I recall; Jesus reasoned with His accusers and concluded with this admonition: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment{John7:20-24}." As a matter of fact, the one being "judged" often rejects the reproof through accusing the one "judging" as being self-righteous/judgmental. An irony which we see in Scripture is that, more often than not, the people{i.e. often the Pharisees} who became indignant over being judged by God's word were revealed to be the ones whom were self-righteous; believing themselves to be beyond reproach. Unless we submit to the Holy Spirit when we stand accused; we, like the Pharisees, may remain enslaved to the same self-righteousness anytime someone confronts us about a sin.
On the other end of the spectrum, some respond to guilt with depression. Depression is a monster... I kid you not. Depression opens doors to fits of melancholy, bouts of sadness, euphoria at times, and acts of rage, etc... Those at the receiving end of a fit can often feel victimized; but the true sufferer is the one battling the the depression. Trust me, they do not want to feel the way they feel and they deeply regret the things they do -even if they never communicate remorse. It's a vicious cycle... every time they do something bad, the guilt builds upon guilt making them feel powerless; and to admit that guilt -to apologize- would make them feel even more weak and powerless; defeated. They ultimately feel trapped inside a box that is closing... closing... and they are screaming from within begging for deliverance. I'm not *excusing* the behavior; just somewhat *explaining* it. The irony is that someone suffering depression *must* actually bask in their weakness and face the responsibility of their actions by acknowledging every legitimate guilt. Paul teaches that it is in coming to terms with one's weaknesses that one ultimately experiences the power of God within himself/herself more abundantly{cf. 2Cor12:7-10}. It is through confessing our guilt [to God(1John1:9) and to those whom have been wronged by one's action(Matt5:23-24)] that God cleanses *every* wrong from the slate. The power of depression is in Satan's ability to make one view weakness and guilt as defeat; Paul's words in 2Cor12:7-10 teach us all that it is through accepting our weakness that God's strength within us is perfected -for we are MORE than conquerors through Christ{Rom8:37}. John teaches us that it is only through confessing that we can be made clean{1John1:9}; and thus, one must welcome weakness and acknowledge and confess guilt in order to throw off the bondage that Satan tries to keep one under by enslaving him/her to guilt. Remember, guilt is not a punishment intended to torment. It is God's mechanism for moving one whom is drifting [or has drifted] too far from him back into communion with Him and then God will remove that guilt which is confessed.
In conclusion, all guilt is intended by God to be for one purpose -that purpose is to move one back into communion with Him. God intends for guilt to produce godly sorrow which moves one to repent resulting in salvation and leaves no residue of regret; Satan attempts to use the gift of guilt as an opportunity to enslave others through self-righteousness and feelings of defeat.
--> 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. -2Corinthians 7:10
