Feeling Guilty? Chances are good that you are, at least about one thing.
Many of us feel guilty. Especially Christians.
Sometimes we should feel guilty. For example, if you treat someone wrongly or take advantage of a person, you should feel guilty about it.
But there are many things we feel guilty for, based on society its pressures.
This is especially true when we feel guilty for not doing something, something that our peers tell us we need to be doing.
In the Christian culture, people are often made to feel guilty if they are not doing a certain ministry, if they are not
contributing financially to a certain project, if they are not at church every Sunday, if they have any ideas, thoughts, or opinions that do not match the status-quot.
contributing financially to a certain project, if they are not at church every Sunday, if they have any ideas, thoughts, or opinions that do not match the status-quot.
Well, I am here to say: "Stop Feeling Guilty When
You Don't Have To!!!"
God desires and expects our obedience. He also convicts us of the ways in which we need to serve him.
When we are to participate in a specific ministry, God will convict us of our need to do so.
When we need to contribute to a project, God will convict us to do so.
We do need to be at church when we can be, but if we miss once-in-awhile, for various reasons, it is OKAY.
I like to go to church because I believe that the Bible teaches that it is important for Christians to worship God with other believers. It is good for the soul. (Believers are to meet together - Acts 2:42-47).
But that does not mean that we need to be made to feel guilty when we cannot be there, and it does not mean we
need to be there every time the doors are open. We also need time to be at home, to relax, and recuperate.
need to be there every time the doors are open. We also need time to be at home, to relax, and recuperate.
We need to read the Bible, but we do not need to feel guilty if we do not read for 2 hours a day, or as
much as so and so.
much as so and so.
We need to pray, but we do not need to feel guilty if our spiritual gift is not to be a prayer warrior.
When God convicts us that we need to pray more, or read our Bible's more, we should do it, in obedience to
God.
God.
But we do not need to base our spiritual health on what others are doing, or what they expect of us.
We please God, not other people.
And when we believe we are pleasing God, because we are following the convictions he has placed on our
hearts, we have no reason to feel guilty.
hearts, we have no reason to feel guilty.
Of course, if we are not following those convictions...
Thoughts?
"When we are to participate in a specific ministry, God will convict us of our need to do so. When we need to contribute to a project, God will convict us to do so."
ReplyDeleteYes, but... At least in my life, God seems to use people quite a lot to move me to serve and contribute. He uses people to bring a message of conviction, to bring me to awareness of my guilt. So yes, the Holy Spirit does the convicting. But he often uses people.
Of course I realize your point is that as Christians we should be guilting people into things or letting others guilt us, and we shouldn't try to be the Holy Spirit. But we are his Message, his hands and feet.
Anyway, I completely agree with your premise. When I read, "God will convict you..." it comes across to me--for whatever reasons--as a hint of our American tendency toward "just me and God" privitized faith (though I know that isn't how you meant it).
All that said, thanks for this post. It's needed!
*should NOT be guilting...
ReplyDeletesheesh.
Thanks Renae. I agree with you completely. I am not into the whole "just me and God" thing.
ReplyDelete