The Sin of Self-Reproach

At times we can see self-reproach as a spiritual virtue. It appears to be in the category of agreeing with God that I am a sinner.” Which is a true statement. However, self-reproach is applied in such a way that “I am chief among sinners” becomes “God must hate me” rather than “God must love me.” This interpretation leads to all kinds of corrosive beliefs. A self-examined life becomes a search for some hidden or unconscious sin, rather than a celebration of the grace we find in Christ.  

More than words

 Love without Hypocrisy (Romans 12:9) is a trait of true love. If I am honest then I must confess that I have been the hypocrite. I have sinned and missed the mark when it comes to loving without hypocrisy.

Another way to say this is to be sincere in love. So often we make expressions of affection, but if we are honest, we come up short in actions of affection. We say that we care, we will help, we will pray, we will do such and such. However, either though neglect, forgetfulness, or lack of desire we are unable to complete the task. We see this warning in 2 Corinthians 8-9.

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 we see Paul praising the impoverished churches in Macedonia for their generosity in giving to others needs. They “begged” for the opportunity to participate in this gift. They did this by first giving themselves to God and then to the ministry of gifts by God’s will.

Paul goes on to challenge the Corinthians in to fulfill the pledge they made to give support to the needs of other Christians. He explains that he is not wanting them to be compelled by his asking, but rather out of love.

2 Corinthians 8:8 CSB

I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.

So when we make a promise to support others then we show the genuineness of love when we fulfill our vows. I think that none of us can make the claim to perfectly fulfill love in our relationships. However, we cannot use our imperfections to give up on loving well.

We also do well to recognize the law of sowing a reaping. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 we learn that the gifts that we give generously or sparingly reap the same. We also learn that God grace overflows and provides for our needs. So that out of our abundance we can “excel in every good work.” The purpose of our abundance then is not to serve ourselves, but rather to give and love well.

This brings me sorrow. I recognize that I can and must do better. How often I have missed the opportunity to love others out of the abundance of God’s graces. I am thankful for God’s “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). With God we have the forgiveness of sin. When we miss the mark God’s grace restores us that we might press on in good works. I am reminded:

Psalm 30:5 CSB

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.

Let us press on, seek forgiveness, and fulfill the vows of love and excel in good works of ministry.

May God Richly Bless You,

~BJ

Personal Responsiblity

13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. James 1:13-15 (HCSB)

Why are we as humans so adverse to personal responsibility? It would seem that we tend to blame everything under the sun for our moral shortcomings. Christians will do this to greater or lesser degree than any other non-believer. That leads me to believe that it is embedded in the human psyche.

Do Not Judge?

This is a follow up to my previous sermon, "The Time is Now."

Audio: Do Not Judge

Text:

"I did one work, and you are all amazed," Jesus answered. "Consider this: Moses has given you circumcision-not that it comes from Moses but from the fathers-and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses won't be broken, are you angry at Me because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath? Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment."
John 7:21-24 (HCSB)

Stop judging according to outward appearances rather judge according to Righteous judgment. After my last sermon I had some come to me to question the notion that teaching that God's word says that we are not to judge generally was evil. Today I would like to cover three areas. First I would like to clarify the idea that suggesting that God does not want us to judge is evil. Second I would like to pull from the Scriptures what unrighteous judgment looks like. Finally I would like to explore with you was righteous judgment looks like.

Teaching "Do not judge" is plainly evil in my estimation. First let me explain what I mean by evil. Something that is evil can be worthless in and of itself, a perversion of the original, degenerate, and/or destructive. Something that is evil can also be morally wrong, with intent to hurt others, violent, Atrociously wicked, and or/lewd. I think one could make the case for the latter list, but in this instance I am using evil in the sense of the first list. The teaching is worthless in and of itself, the teaching is a perversion from the original, the teaching is degenerate, and the teaching is destructive.

Do not judge is a worthless teaching because it self-contradictory. A person saying, "Do not Judge" is in fact judging. They contradict themselves if they mean by "do not judge" to be a moral imperative. Any teaching which contradicts itself is meaningless and worthless. It is like trying to drink water from a glass that has no bottom. I keep pouring water into the glass but when I raise it to my mouth there is nothing inside for me to drink.

Do not judge as a moral imperative is a perversion of the original. In my last sermon I explained that Jesus was not in fact teaching the moral imperative to not judge, but rather dealing with the issue of hypocrisy. I will cover hypocrisy more later in the sermon. The phrase "Do not Judge" occurs a handful of times in the Bible. Yet the command to judge accounts for more than 50 references in the Bible (based on a quick count) including more than 20 in the New Testament. If Do not judge is a moral imperative then why would God include the command to judge. Why would God appoint Judges in Israel's history, why would there be an entire book of the Bible dedicated to this period talking about those that judged righteously and those the judged unrighteous. The answer is that in the cases that the phrase "do not judge" appears, the command is conditional and not absolute. That is to say do not judge hypocritically, do not judge unbelievers, do not judge with condemnation, do not judge with unforgiveness, do not judge according to flesh, and so on. The imperative to not judge has more to do with the heart and motive of the person doing the judgment than for the act itself. To suggest otherwise is really a perversion from the original Word of God.

Do not judge as a moral imperative is a degenerate teaching of judging righteously. It focuses exclusively on the things to avoid in judging righteously and completely throws out the rest of the teachings. It has a form or godliness, but denies the moral imperatives of God to act righteously toward others. For example how can one defend the orphans and widows unless one has perceived and judged that there is one that is doing them harm? "Do not judge" is an abandonment of of our moral responsibilities to the world around us. "I cannot help, because I judge no one" is morally reprehensible to me.

Do not judge as a moral imperative is destructive. When church which is the body of individuals coming together under the headship and authority of Christ lose their ability to stand strong in times of moral chaos both the world and the body of Christ suffers. I think of:

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It's no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.
Matthew 5:13 (HCSB)

We are salt 1) To arrest the decay of an immoral society, and 2) That we can bring goodness and light to a lost world. "Do not judge" is about as bland as one can get. It only requires one thing, to do nothing. There is no saltiness in such a teaching and so it is no longer good but to be trampled on by men. Perhaps that is why there is no reverence from society regarding the things of God; We have lost our saltiness. With the moral calling removed then decay and hopelessness set in without the possibility of redemption. "Do not judge" conceals sin by saying nothing about it.

The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
Proverbs 28:13 (HCSB)

I wonder how one would possibly come to a knowledge of sin without another first proclaiming what sin was. Yet the "do not judge" teaching prohibits such proclamations. They are after all passing judgment about the morality of others' behaviors.

Let me be clear, a gentle kind person with great sincerity could possibly bring forth the teaching of "do not judge." They could be very pious in every way. They could possibly even be a gentle and loving soul toward others. However, if they hold to the teaching "do not judge" they will destroy themselves and those that listen to them. In the end my assessment of such a scenario is that the teaching is evil.

With that being said, I do not believe nor does the Bible teach that all judgment is good. In fact the Bible has much to say about unrighteous judgment and we would be wise to learn what God's word says about this type of judgment. Let's take a look at that next.

Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones? Do you judge people fairly? No, you practice injustice in your hearts; with your hands you weigh out violence in the land. The wicked go astray from the womb; liars err from birth.
Psalms 58:1-3 (HCSB)

"Do you really speak righteously?" That is among of the most important questions you can ask in this life. Our words really do matter and how we use our words reveals our heart:

A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
Luke 6:45 (HCSB)

When we judge it has to be in a righteous manner. It must be in accordance to God's righteousness and not with our thoughts of what is right. God is the standard and we set ourselves to play God in others' lives when we ignore this fact.

The first way that we can fall into unrighteous judgment I have already covered, but it bears repeating. God hates hypocrisy.

Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel. A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within. When he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
Proverbs 26:23-26 (HCSB)

Do not drag me away with the wicked, with the evildoers, who speak in friendly ways with their neighbors while malice is in their hearts. Repay them according to what they have done- according to the evil of their deeds. Repay them according to the work of their hands; give them back what they deserve. Because they do not consider what the Lord has done or the work of His hands, He will tear them down and not rebuild them.
Psalms 28:3-5 (HCSB)

Jesus reserved his harshest words for those that dealt with others hypocritically.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every impurity. In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23:27-28 (HCSB)

And later in the passage he says:

Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell?
Matthew 23:33 (HCSB)

When we judge hypocritically we become the object of God's displeasure. Paul in speaking to the Romans and to us says:

Therefore, any one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. Do you really think-anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same-that you will escape God's judgment?
Romans 2:1-3 (HCSB)

Some might say then it is better not to judge then to fall under the severity of God's judgment. I say no. It a lukewarm response from a lukewarm Christian that says, "I do not judge, because to judge is hypocritical." and then does nothing. The first part to avoid hypocrisy is true enough, but the second part to do nothing is completely against God. Sometimes we see the sins in others, but what we really see when it is spiritually discerned is the sins in ourselves. Our response to sin in our own lives ought to be repentance. We need to deal with sin in our lives that we would be effective in ministry for God. Without repentance we are disqualifying ourselves from the Lord's work. I do not suspect that God will say, "well done, you really did nothing to Glorify Me, but at least you avoided hypocrisy."

The second class of unrighteous judgments is with partiality. The most common way to show partiality is with money. In it's most gross form unrighteous judgment occurs when a person takes a bribe to pervert justice. However, it can also occur when we give personal preference based on social class or some other outward measure of a person. We can be guilty of judging with harsher judgment those that are unlike us without really examining the facts and discerning righteously. God shows no partiality and desires that we do the same. When partiality comes into play it distorts our judgment and perverts justice.

A third class of unrighteous judgment is according to outward appearances. Jesus said:

Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.
John 7:24 (HCSB)

He was responding to the Pharisees for criticizing Jesus for "working" on the Sabbath. His work was healing a person. We can become so consumed in our judgment that we allow our judgment to blind us to the good that is going on. In this case Jesus is saying is it more imperative that we follow the letter of the Law or that we follow the spirit of the Law in order that we might do good. This is not an excusing of sin, but at times we have many things at play and judging for the higher good sometimes means that we need to look beyond the appearance of things.

The forth class of judgment would be judging according to the flesh. Jesus said:

Ye according to the flesh do judge; I do not judge any one, and even if I do judge my judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me;
John 8:15-16 (YLT)

When we judge according to our own flesh or according to human standards and leave God out then we judge unrighteously. This type of judgment is looking at a situation or person through the lens of human judgment. We can fall into this trap when we allow our personal preferences, or our personal ideas of the right or wrong way to do things to become the standard for our judgment. Yet Paul clearly explains:

For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
Romans 7:18 (HCSB)

and

For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God's law, for it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:7-8 (HCSB)

When we judge according to the flesh it is my understanding, in light of Romans 7 and 8 that we cannot please God and are hostile to God. We must keep our flesh in check if we are to judge righteously.

A fifth type of unrighteous judgment is judging according to ascetic practices, foolish debates, or according to doubtful things. Paul says:

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
Romans 14:1 (NKJV)

Oh how often we are led into great disturbances over doubtful things. Sad really it seems that as I survey the landscape of Christianity including my own life I find that we pay far more attention to doubtful things than to the things of God. When we judge a brother on doubtful things then we judge unrighteously. We also become a stumbling block to our brother or sister in Christ. Our judgment becomes their downfall. This type of judgment is unrighteous then on two counts, first that we are placing importance on doubtful things and two that we cause our brother or sister to stumble. In Romans 14 Paul lists food, drink, and day that is observed to the Lord as doubtful things. To this we can add to the list: particular religious observances, ascetic practices, severe treatment of the body, foolish debates, arguing over words, genealogies, jealous quarrels. These are promoted by a false sense of humility and righteousness, but have no power in and of themselves to curb our sinful nature according to Paul's letter to the Colossians 2.

I wonder though if there could possibly be other doubtful things that we pass judgment on and become a stumbling block to others. I actually have many things that come to mind as I reflect on this. I do not want to share them keeping with Paul's admonishment to not enter into disputes over these things I believe it is better in this case to keep my opinion to myself. One way I believe that we can determine if a thing is doubtful is whether or not the Bible specifically addresses a topic or there is a principle that is taught in the Bible that can be brought to bear on that situation. The specific topics and principles of the Bible cannot be doubtful and must be upheld. All other things are doubtful and it probably best that we do not dispute over these things. Not that we cannot appreciate or even enjoy doubtful things, but to argue with a brother or sister over it is destructive.

The final class of unrighteous judgment that I would like to cover is speaking evil of others. This evil speaking is a type of judgment that is condemning and against the other person. This type of judgment has very little if any grace and it not really with the intent of restoring a brother or sister. It is raw running a person down condemnation. This is evil speaking. It is often slanderous and derogatory. Speaking evil can also be about someone and not to someone. However, speaking evil of someone behind their back is not any better than speaking evil to their face. In one way it is worse, because you add the sin of gossip to the sin of unrighteous judgment.

So what then? With all these types of unrighteous judgment it would seem that it is better not to judge. However doing nothing in the face of great evil does not seem to be an admirable quality. So how is it that we can judge righteously? Righteous judgment is accomplished by upholding God's Righteousness, in fairness, with wisdom, with forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation as motives, and moved by the Holy Spirit.

The action of our judgment will change based on who we are dealing with as well. Whether we are witnessing to unbelievers, dealing with hostile unbelievers, confronting false teachers, addressing self-proclaimed believers that continue in gross immorality, or a brother or sister that has recently fallen into sin. To address all the nuances that each of these situations would bring up would take quite a bit of time and possibly several sermons, but for the sake of time let me just briefly go over what generally constitutes Righteous Judgment.

We must first and foremost hold up God's righteousness. Injustice under God's law is a threat to justice everywhere. We have to recognize that God's justice is higher than our justice, God's law is higher than our law, God's righteousness is higher than our righteousness. In the end God is higher than any feeble attempt on our part to accomplish anything of worth. That is why we need to judge righteously according to the righteousness of God. The standard for this righteousness is the very word of God. Before we start casting stones though we must understand the complete record of God both New and Old Testaments and how God is calling his church to manifest His righteousness which is quite different than the way that He appointed Israel to manifest His righteousness. This will require regular study of the Bible.

We must examining our own self first. If we judge without a serious self-examination then we will become like the hypocrites that God despises. But if we have an attitude of,

Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won't be tempted.
Galatians 6:1 (HCSB)

Then we will judge righteously.

We must be fair and impartial. The moment we become partial and do not defend the defenseless and make our judgment conform to our personal preferences we pervert justice and our judgment is not true.

We must be wise. The beginning of wisdom is the respect and honor and fear of the Lord. Judgment is not to be rushed into as fools are known to do. But rather is to be graciously weighed out and contemplated. Not that we stand in indecision. We have whole body's of believers and denominations that in the effort to weigh things out put off making a judgment on issues that are plainly addressed in God's word as if were not clear. Indecision is not wise.

In judgment forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, and health of the Body of Christ (Church) must be central to our motivation. These can be summed up in that we are to love others. At times love requires judgment. In fact not judging can be one of the most unloving acts one can do. Simply stated if I am unwilling to let you know you are about to fall into a pit for fear of do not judge and let you fall into it then I have not loved you. Love in this case requires sound judgment. On the other hand if condemnation is our way then we put ourselves in God's role of judge, become self-righteous, and God's grace is not in us. We should always speak in a since desire to see reconciliation. Even when we have to move to discipline.

And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don't associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. Yet don't treat him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 (HCSB)

Finally, but certainly not least our judgment must be moved by the Holy Spirit.

Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God's Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. For who has known the Lord's mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:10-16 (HCSB)

In the end to judge moved by the Holy Spirit is to have the mind of Christ.

There is much more that I desire to share with you, but I fear that if I continue you would not hear what I have to say. This has been a longer sermon so let me just sum up a few points before we move to a time of invitation and commitment.

First "Do not judge" as a moral imperative is evil because it is self-contradictory, perverts the original meaning in God's word, it abandons our moral responsibility to the world, and becomes destructive to the world around us as well as the church.

Second, we judge unrighteously when we judge with hypocrisy, with partiality, according to appearances, according to the flesh, in deputes over doubtful things, or to speak evil to or about others.

Finally if we want to judge righteously then we must judge, according to God's righteousness, examining our own self first, with fairness and impartiality, with wisdom, motivated by redemption and love, and moved by the Holy spirit.

Dear friends we live in a time that the world will label us intolerant and judgmental. To escape this label our natural tendency will be to either not judge or to judge unrighteous. We must on the other hand chose to stay the narrow course of Righteousness.

Let me close with this

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom: Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 (HCSB)

And now let Paul's Charge to Timothy become our charge that we might fulfill the ministry that God has set out before us. Now is not the time to shy away. Let's pray!

Cain Became Furious

In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also presented an offering -some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let’s go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Genesis 4:3-8 (HCSB)

The first violent sin was the result of unresolved anger.  Perhaps that is why Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, "Fool!" will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, "You moron!" will be subject to hellfire.
Matthew 5:21-22 (HCSB)

or why John said:

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
1 John 3:15 (HCSB)

That unresolved anger can lead to violence whether verbal, emotional, psychological, or physical there can be no question.  That is why this is such an important issue to address. 

There are two way to interpret what God says to Cain.  Traditionally God gives us a admonition.  He warns that unresolved feelings of anger and feeling down give sin a foothold in your life.  I imagine a predatory animal just waiting to pounce.  It seems that sin is a opportunist taking advantage of our emotional state to do it's dirty work.  In this case the goal is to do what is right, rule over sin, or it will rule over you. 

The second way is looking that the interpretation from Hebrew to English more literally.  The word interpreted sin in this verse is "chatta-ah" in Hebrew.  This word can either be interpreted sin or sin offering.  If we go toward the latter then it would seem that God was giving Cain instruction on what to do with his sin.  Consider this translation:

And Jehovah saith unto Cain, "Why hast thou displeasure? and why hath thy countenance fallen? Is there not, if thou dost well, acceptance? and if thou dost not well, at the opening a sin-offering is crouching, and unto thee its desire, and thou rulest over it."
Genesis 4:6-7 (YLT)

In this case he says if you have done well then there is acceptance.  We know that God did not accept his sacrifice so then God goes on to say there is a sin offering at the opening (door) waiting for him to rule over it.  If this is the interpretation then I believe the whole interaction makes sense.  Cain offers a first fruits or grain offering offering to the Lord from the produce of the ground (See Lev 2:14).  Abel did this as well, however he (either in place of or in addition to) brings an animal sacrifice.  It is clear later in the Old Testament and then fulfilled in the New Testament that there is no remission of sin without a sin offering. 

For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that He might sanctify the people by His own blood.
Hebrews 13:11-12 (HCSB)

So Abel's offering was not accepted because it was substantively better but rather it was a more complete (excellent) sacrifice offered in faith that God would remove sin (i.e., be approved as righteous before God; see Heb 11:4).  What is more if we follow this interpretation God provided Cain a second chance by putting a sin offering (at the door) which Cain subsequently rejected and went out and murdered his brother.  How often do we do the same when it comes to being angry.  We do not go out a literally kill someone, but we do reject the grace that God provides us and move into the greater consequences of greater sin brought about by passionate anger. 

Regardless of which interpretation you would follow there is action that is needed when it comes to dealing with anger.  Perhaps in this case we could take it to have double meaning (which does occasionally happen in the Bible) since they do not contradict each other.  First we must guard against sinful anger by doing what is right in the first place with a spirit of sacrifice (Rom 12:1-2).  Second, if we are angry we must be on guard to not sin (Eph 4:26).  If we do not guard ourselves then we will likely fall into sinful response in our anger.  Finally, if we do sin there is a provision of God's grace waiting at the door (Rev 3:19-20).  We must receive this provision of grace and allow Christ to overcome our anger at the moment it comes to us. 

Three principles:

• Protective: Do what is right.
• Awareness: Be on guard against sinful anger
• Restorative: Repent of anger and trust in God's grace through Jesus

May God Richly Bless You

Doubt (Standing in Two Places)

There are times that we stand in two places.  We have the faith to believe in God and his promises.  On the other hand we are uncertain that He is really concerned with us at all.  "Where is God?"  Doubt is the standing in two places at the same time.  One foot on the Rock of Jesus Christ and one foot on the shifting sand of human understanding.  This is a disconcerting place to be.  You by placing your feet in both places make yourself vulnerable to spiritual attack, discontent, anxieties, and ever growing skepticism about God.  I have had a chance to talk with people who are in this state and I can assure you that they are not happy people.  I admit I may have a limited interaction in this matter, but I would go on to say that those that are content with this double mindedness have sunk themselves into blissful unawareness (which could be even more dangerous in my estimation).  I must also confess that doubts have been in my own heart so I know that I am not immune to this standing in two places. 

When you stand in two places then you tend to sink toward doubt.  Consider standing on the edge of a sinkhole.  one foot on the ground that is in in place and one foot on the part that is sinking.  If you continue to stand in this position it will not be long before you fall into the hole and are swallowed up.  In the same way doubt (standing in two places) will swallow up our faith if we do not change our position. 

It is also interesting that this doubt tends to dissipate with worship of God.  The opposite is also true, when we enter into a time of lack of worship our doubts arise.  I believe that worship keeps our spirit in tune with God's Spirit and allows His power to flow into our lives. 

Have mercy on those who doubt;
Jude 1:22 (HCSB)
The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:7 (HCSB)

I have been guilt of letting my frustration get the best of me when dealing with someone that doubts.  It is good to have zeal for the Lord, but if that zeal is against a person standing in two places you are more likely to push them into the hole than to put them back from their doubt.   Compassion on the other hand is what is called for.

Consider if someone was drowning in the pool.  You would not take this as an opportunity to explain to them why they need to be cautious around the water, learn to swim, or that they should be wearing a life jacket.  The immediate need is to rescue them. 

save others by snatching them from the fire.
Jude 1:23 (HCSB)

Doubt languishes in silence.  It robs the soul and destroys the gladness, the full life that God desires for us.  It is a wasting away in silence. I read an article about pastors "loosing the faith^*."  It was sad to me that in each of these cases they were isolated and the first person they shared this with was researchers who explain religion in terms of evolutionary survival.  It is sad that none of these men had a brother or sister to turn to.  It seems they were too afraid of the implications of sharing doubt.  They were pastors after all.  Hogwash.  Would God put in His word to be merciful on those that doubt if we were not to admit our own struggles.  Superstar Christianity is a complete farce.  It is time for us to lay bare that which has been kept secret.  Bring it to the light.  Perhaps if these pastors had done this they would have found God's mercy working through the lives of other believers.  Leading to greater understanding of God's place and plan for their lives.

 

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Father I ask that you be with these men.  That you would lead them through this dark valley of their lives.  Help them to see the power You have manifested in their lives up to this time.  Help them to hope for the blessing that you have before them.  Open their eyes that they may see that no man is an island.  God lead them to a fellowship that would be merciful and snatch them back from the fire.  Lord renew, restore, reconnect your salvation with them.  Lord help us to take heed.  We go there with them if we stand in two places.  Help us to recognize when we stand in this manner.  Help us to get back onto solid footing.  Bring others into our lives that we can lean on.  People willing to pull us back.  Lord rescue your people from doubt.  In Jesus Name.  AMEN

 

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* "For Clergy, Losing Faith Can be an Occupational Hazard"  Solange De Santis, Religion News Service, June 22, 2010, Retrieved June 27, 2010 http://www.crosswalk.com/pastors/11633654/

Remorse without Repentance

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There are times when we are filled with regret.  However that regret does not lead to any sort of life change. 

For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (HCSB)

This is worldly remorse.  I have posted on this before here.  However I thought it would be good to draw a contrast between feeling sorry about something and true repentance. 

Unmerited Self-Reproach

There is a type of regret that comes when you have not done anything wrong.  Perhaps it is dealing with a consequence of someone else's sin.  Perhaps it is dealing with negative consequences of making the right choice.  That's right we can regret making the right choice if we let regret come in to our hearts.  At other times we are quick to assume that we have done something worthy of apology.  Perpetually saying "I am sorry."  This type of regret is pointless. 

The only thing it does is make us feel badly and there is nothing to repent of other than turning from the inward self-focus to a outward God-focus.  It seems that we become so self absorbed that we begin to take credit for everything good or bad, but especially bad.  That is somewhat arrogant if you think about it.  How could all things be my fault? 

Some other things that might be going on:  God could be showing you something (like how to trust Him), there might be a person that needs to experience God's love and God has place you in their path to show them that love, you may be experiencing persecution for doing the right thing, maybe your opinion needs to be heard and is wisdom that God has given you.  What ever the case may be unmerited self-reproach is not repentance it is worldly sorrow and it kills the spirit. 

Guilt of Being Caught

We have a great capacity to sear our conscience to dull the conviction that something is wrong until we get caught.  For the Christian in addition we grieve the Holy Spirit until He leaves us to experience full consequence of sin.   What ever the case may be we continue in this sin until we are caught.  At that moment we have a choice.  Do we put our effort into damage control and minimizing the effects of getting caught or do we seek genuine repentance. 

The guilt of being caught is not repentance.  Repentance requires a true change of heart, a change of direction, a change is purpose.  What is difficult is that guilt of being caught and true repentance can look very much the same.  In both there is cessation of the offending behavior.  In the case of guilt of being caught the cessation is more like a pause than a change.  This pause can continue for a long time, sometimes indefinitely.  Both can be accompanied by expressions of remorse.  Both can be accompanied by renewed religious devotion. 

The difference?   Well there are a few.  The guilt of being caught is self-centered.  Repentance is God/Spirit centered.  The guild of being caught is more interested in removing consequences of sin, where as repentance is more interested in removing the guilt of sin (through a right relationship with God).  Guilt of being caught is motivated by the desire to escape pain.  Repentance is motivated by the desire to experience God's peace.  It seems that arrogance is the root of the lack of repentance in this matter as well.  It is a attitude of "I can fix this." This I can fix this attitude leads a person to arrogantly undo and restore what cannot possibly be repaid. 

In the end it is an empty pursuit not leading to lasting change.  Often the end of guilt from getting caught leads to blame of others, resentment and bitterness, or avoidance that festers in the soul like a infection under the skin.  What is needed is humble repentance from the arrogant attitude that "I can fix this!" and from the original offence to trust in God and His forgiveness. 

Melancholic Guilt

There are times that people experience genuine remorse, but never get around to repentance.  Their guilt is overwhelming and they cannot remove it.   They become intensely aware of their own shortcomings becoming anxious, distressed, and depressed.  They discover that no amount of undoing will ever make things right.  Don't get me wrong; you can make amends to restore a relationship or pay restitution for damages, but you can never come up with a payment big enough to undo the guilt of sin. 

Melancholic guilt is a deep intimacy with the hopelessness of the guilt of un repentant sin.  Sometimes people live lives of desperation in this place because they are not aware that there is another option.  Other times they know about the peace of God, but believe the deception that either they have to undo the guilt then come to God, or that the guilt they bear is to great for God to forgive.  Still other times Melancholic Guilt occurs when a person realizes that repentance does not remove the consequences of sin.  The biggest problem with melancholic guilt is that it never leads to a changed life and it robs you of the peace that God offers through His Son Jesus Christ. 

To repent of Melancholic Guilt one much without reservation confess the sin that has brought the guilt into your life.   Then trust in God to work through your circumstances for better or for worse, but always for your good (Romans 8:28).  To fall back into melancholic guilt after you have turned to God for forgiveness is really a sign that you do not trust God to work through your circumstances.  If there are ongoing consequences to your sin embrace them and then turn them over to God.  This ongoing turning to (repentance) God will allow His peace to flow into your life. 

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 (HCSB)
If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (HCSB)

Have a Blessed Day

Repent, Remove, Refresh

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I have heard it said that nobody wants to hear about repentance.  I even seemed believe that a bit myself.  This morning I am not to sure that is true.  Perhaps it is not the word so much as the way that the word is handled.  Repentance is a beautiful, marvelous, and glorious thing.  Lets consider some verses

Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.
Acts 3:19-20 (HCSB)

"So that you sins may be wiped out."   If there was a reason that people do not like to hear about repentance it is probably because it goes hand in hand with the other word "sin."  Again I think this is in part due to the way the word "sin" is handling.  The word sin seems to have been relegated to the most gross offences and immorality.  But the word is really simply missing the mark.  Remember that harsh word you spoke toward your spouse?  Sin.  Remember that coworker you gossiped about with your friends?  Sin.  Remember that time you got away with it by letting the other person believe something that was not true?  Sin.  Recall the time when you questioned everything including God?  Sin.  Remember the time that it was on your heart to do some nice act of kindness and you simply ignored it or forgot?  Sin.  I could go on, but I think you get the point.  Simply put sin is any time that we fail to meet the standard.  You simply do not measure up.  Something is missing.  What is interesting about the concept of sin is that I do not even have to include God in the discussion to create an awareness of sin.  Each of us is keenly aware of our own shortcomings long before we reach the place of turning to God. 

Note it is that you sins may be wiped out!  Not overcome, not worked through, not coped with, not reframed, not embraced, but wiped out.  Think of it wiped out.  Think of other things that could be wiped out.  Usually it is a horrible thing to have something wiped out.  For example a hard drive that is wiped out means that the data is irretrievable (gone).  If your house is wiped out, then it is destroyed and cannot be repaired.  Now jump back to sin.  What if your every mistake, short coming, slip up, doubt, could be wiped out.  It seems to me that would be a very good thing.  Some people are prone to say I wish I could go back and redo that.  I have something even better, "wiped out." 

As if that was not good enough then we add to this seasons of refreshing.  It is a strange thing that a person would trade the putrid waste water of sin to indulge some momentary gratification of the flesh over the refreshing that comes from the Lord.  Yet we have all been there.  I do not know what sin you have indulged.  Nor do I have the taste of the pleasures these sins may have brought.  I do know that all this world has to offer cannot compare to the overwhelming glory and refreshing that God has in store for us.  Indulgence or refreshing that is the choice that is set before us.  That is the route that we choose.  I for one am tired of indulgence are you ready for refreshing? 

When we turn Jesus is there waiting for us.  His very presence in our lives is what we are choosing when we turn.  He has been appointed our Messiah.  A deliverer in whom we can trust.  This is no fantasy flight.  It is no trick of the imagination or some chimera of the mind.  This is the very spiritual food that keeps you out of hell!  I have seen it in my own life and in the lives of others whom God has given me the grace to fellowship with.  God has a deliverance, that deliverance is a person, that person is the very Son of God, the Son of God is Jesus Christ.   

I think this through and I cannot but wonder why I or anyone else would not choose the fruits of repentance over the fruits of sin.  Sin give us heart ache, broken relationships, fear, anxiety, food that tastes good for a moment but turn our guts to wretch, and leaves us with no hope and no deliverance.  Repentance on the other hand gives us a clean slate, a new start, no condemnation, freedom, refreshing of the the Lord, and a savior that will carry us into the way everlasting, and fill us with love and hope.  To me the choice is obvious.  Will you Join me?

God Bless You

Meditation: Repentance

I do not have a specific verse for this mornings meditation.  I have more of what God has shown me through His word, though observation of others, and through personal experience. 

Repentance is not...

Wanting to change	thinking about change
hoping for change	feeling bad about something
guilt	remorse
sadness	changing behavior
trying harder	praying more
reading the Bible more	going forward in church
saying "I'm sorry"	promising to do better

To be sure all these things may be involved in repentance, but in and of themselves they are not repentance. 

Psalm 51:4

In order for repentance to occur one must be first aware that repentance is needed.  There is change that is most definitely needed in the life of a person.  Others may see the need for change, but until the person themselves is aware they cannot repent.  What is more often we push this awareness away from our conscious mind.  The recognition that a change is needed is too painful and so we push that awareness away.  We can also deny that a change is needed in the face of insurmountable evidence to the contrary.  It is amazing to me the level of denial that a human mind can come up with when all else points him/her in a different direction.  This denial keeps a person away from repentance.  Whether through ignorance, avoidance, or denial a lack of awareness that one needs to repent will keep one from repenting.  Awareness that a change is needed is not the same as repentance.  It is simply the first step in making a change.

How does one become aware that a change is needed?

  It is clear to me that God's word and his Holy Spirit are needed to make one aware of sin. 

Paul explains it this way,  "...sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure (Romans 7:13)."  God's word helps us to recognize when we have missed the mark.  Sin is just that "missing the mark."  We are imperfect and have many flaws leading us to miss the mark.  If a person says they do not sin then they are ignorant (1 Corinthians 15:34) or they are lying (1 John 1:8).   God's word removes ignorance and forces out of self deception.  When sin is in a person's life often a devotion to God's word is the first casualty. 

The Holy Spirit plays a role in making one aware of sin (John 16:8-9).  The Holy Spirit convicts regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment.  Without the calling of the Holy Spirit our natural inclinations would be to go astray (Galatians 5:16-18).    In fact no one is drawn to the Father (God) except by the work of the Holy Spirit (John 6:63-65) and the Spirit does this at the bidding of the Father.

At this point the person is at a crisis of faith.  He/She either believes the Word of God and the conviction of the Holy Spirit or she/he denies the need of repentance.  It is a sorry thing when a person refuses to repent.  The immediate consequence is a removal of the peace that God desires to give.  The long term consequence is the removal of God's blessing and protection.  The eternal consequence for the unbeliever is separation from God.

All this to say that recognition of the need for change is a prerequisite to repentance. 

Change of Will

Once a person has this recognition they have to take the next step which is a change of will.  To repent you have desire the change.  Being aware that a change is needed is well and good, but if you do not desire to change then your repentance will be short lived.  There has to be a change of desire that occurs in the innermost part of your being.  This desire is a restoration of hungering and thirsting for righteousness. 

For consider how much diligence this very thing-this grieving as God wills-has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure in this matter.
2 Corinthians 7:11 (HCSB)

Desire to clear, indignation, fear, deep longing, zeal, and justice.  Those are powerful words.  Meditate on them.  Let them sink into your soul.  Let them spark spiritual life into your mind, body, and action.  These things grant inward repentance.  Transformation that is inside out. 

Change in Direction

Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:22 (HCSB)

Repentance is a change in direction.  It is a change from worthless things to God (Acts 14:15).  It is a change from self-centeredness to God (Proverbs 18:1).  It is a change from "I got to have it" attitude to God (James 3:16).  Repentance is a change from a passive attitude about sin to a recognition of sin as God sees it (James 4:8-10).  Repentance is seeking God's Glory over the glory of men (John 5:44).  In short repentance is an about face from all the selfish desire and attractions of this worlds to a forward facing devotion to God and his kingdom (Matthew 6:33).

Change in Fruit

Repentance is a change in actions.  The actions in and of themselves hold no real power to repentance.  They are merely evidence of the change that has already occurred on the inside.  Often people will seek to do great works as a way to undo or compensate for the wrong that they have done.  This type of change is not repentance, but rather is works based religion.  The fruit of repentance is cultivating those things in your life that lead to genuine spiritual growth. 

In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.
Matthew 7:17-18 (HCSB)

What is this fruit?  Here is a good list:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (HCSB)

A person growing in these with consistency demonstrates the Spirit of God working in him/her.  A change of fruit demonstrates the change of heart.  That is repentance.  

Have a blessed day!

When Friends Fall

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Then He said to them, "My soul is swallowed up in sorrow-to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with Me." Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, "So, couldn't you stay awake with Me one hour?"
Matthew 26:38-40 (HCSB)

There were three disciples that were extremely close with our savior.  Jesus had invited them along a very intimate moments in his ministry.  There was the time that Jesus raised the daughter of Jarius (Leader of the Synagogue in Capernaum).  That time Peter, James, John, and the parents were the only ones that Jesus allowed into to witness (Mark 5:22-23; 35-43).  Another time He took these same three disciples to the top of high mountain to pray.  While they were there they witness the transfiguration of Christ (Luke 9:28-36). 

On the eve of His crucifixion after the last meal with his disciples Jesus led them to the Garden of Gethsemane.  He asked his disciples to sit and wait for Him as he prayed.  However he invited these three Peter, James, and John to go a little further with Him.  He expressed his great distress "My soul is swallowed up in sorrow -to the point of death."  Then He asks them to do something, "Remain here and stay awake with me." 

These three who Jesus had shared some of the most intimate moments of His earthly life with were there with Him in the moment of greatest agony.  It seems like a simple request, "stay awake with me."

There are moments that we would like our friends to stay awake with us.  Those moments of great distress when it is all we can do to offer up a prayer.  And we might even reach out to them and say stay with me. 

What did they do?  They fell asleep.

Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, "So, couldn't you stay awake with Me one hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.'
Matthew 26:40-41 (HCSB)

So a second time Jesus asks them again to stay awake.  He also tells them to pray so that temptation would not overtake them.  He explains that they have a weak flesh.  And of course they did what he said right?  No, they fell asleep.

And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.
Matthew 26:43 (HCSB)

There will be times in your life when those that are closest to you are asleep in your deepest hour of need.  They may not be physically asleep, but perhaps they will be spiritually or emotionally asleep.  The point is they will not be there for you.  Those that are closest may not be there when you need them.  What is more it is even possible that our friends could deny us in our deepest need (Matthew 26:34-35 and Matthew 26:74-75). 

At this moment we have a choice.  Do respond in kind?  Do we put up walls to keep from getting hurt?  Do we push them away? WWJD?

John 21:15-19 records Jesus' restoration of Peter after His resurrection.  Jesus forgave Peter his shortcomings and restored him for the greater purpose and ultimately our greater good.  Restoring a friend that has not been there for you or even denied you is a very difficult thing.  But it is what Jesus has modeled for us.  Some might object by saying, "But Jesus is God and I am not that forgiving."  Consider these verses:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone's eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21 (HCSB)

or even:

Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won't be tempted.
Galatians 6:1 (HCSB)

or even:

For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don't forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.
Matthew 6:14-15 (HCSB)

It is clear to me that even when we are hurt by others that God desires for us to forgive and restore.  I know that is not easy.  But if a person repentant like Peter (and unlike Judas), then we are to restore such a person.  In doing this we honor God and we gain a friend. 

Blessings to you all.

The Blessedness of Guilt

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I am sure glad that God created the capacity for us to feel guilt. Yes you heard me right.  Guilt is a wonderful gift of God.  I believe all of our emotions are a gift from God.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made.  However, just like other emotions, guilt because of sin can lead to increased suffering if not properly handled.  I preached a sermon on this subject a while back on The Usefulness of Sorrow which lays out the basis of my thinking on the benefit of sorrow.  Though the issue of guilt is not directly addressed in this sermon I believe that guilt can be a type of sorrow that is addressed in the passage from 2 Corinthians 7:5-16.  I want to focus specifically on the feeling of guilt. 

Three types of guilt that are soul killers (2 Cor 7:10). 

The first type of guilt that kills the spirit is the guilt of unmerited self-reproach.  In this type of guilt literally everything becomes his/her fault in her/his mind.  A person becomes sorry for everything.  He is sorry for having an opinion.  She is sorry for something over which she had no hand in nor has the ability to control or change.  He is sorry over breathing air.  She is sorry for being an inconvenience.  Everything becomes a opportunity for self reproach and makes the person feel defeated and deflated.  This type of sorrow is very easy to identify.  People that struggle with this type of sorrow almost always start (or end) their sentences on serious matters with the words, "I am sorry..."  Being overly apologetic is a good sign that you suffer from the guilt of self-reproach. 

The second type of guilt is the guilt of being caught.  There are some people who feel this intensely.  Often this type of guilt starts off with projecting blame on to someone or something else.  It then moves on to avoiding the subject all together.  It is pushed away from awareness.  In some respects all forms of guilt touch on this type in some manner.  But for those that struggle with this type of guilt they never move forward.  The are forever feeling badly about being found out.  Many times the guilty behaviors lead them deeper into the thing they were caught doing or a superficial change that is later revealed to not be genuine.  If the truth be told these people would not have considered changing their misdeeds if they were never caught.  Before we start throwing stones we should realize that we all have the capacity to be this way. 

The third type of guilt is one of melancholic guilt.  In this guilt a person feels a deep sense of remorse.  They recount over and over their misdeeds.  "How have I wronged you let me recount the ways."  They cry (with or without actual tears) and carry on for a long time.   This guilt is one of feeling a deep personal loss of self-respect.  It becomes a form of perpetual self-punishment with no relief.  The person believes she deserves to feel this way and so she is going to wallow in her self-pity. 

The problem with these forms of guilt is that none lead to relief or lasting change.  They are soul killers.  They drag a person ever deeper into spiritual death.   They are as destructive if not more than the event/act that triggered the feeling in the first place.  Many times it leads a person to avoid whatever or whomever makes them feel guilty with out a change of heart.  It leads a person to think, "If I can avoid this situation then I never have to deal with or be aware of my guilt."  This avoidance then perpetuates the root issue that is leading to the guilty state.  So what can we do about it?

Godly Guilt

Paul was rejoicing that his words of confrontation led to a feeling of grief dare I say guilt (2 Cor 7:9).  He felt this way because the confrontation led them to feel guilty and then led them to repentance.  Godly guilt is one that brings about change.  Not the superficial change that is seen in the guilt of getting caught, but a true desire to make things right (2 Cor 7:11).  Repentance is a change in heart that leads to a change in action.  This is the true usefulness of guilt.  It leads a person down a road that will reap a harvest of righteousness when God's Grace is applied to the situation. 

Godly Guilt Applied

May I suggest the follow practical application of this:

1. When ever you feel that familiar feeling of guilt stop and ask these questions:  1) Is this a situation that I should indeed feel guilty about?  Do I have culpability? -Or- am I engaging in unmerited self-reproach?  2) OK I have been caught so do I truly feel remorse or is it just unpleasant that I have been caught? 3) I feel sorrow, but am I willing to turn this around?  Notice that the way out of the worldly guilt starts with acknowledging that you have guilty feelings and then proceeds to look at the issue at hand rather than avoid it.  By asking these questions you evaluate if this is unmerited self-reproach, guilt of being caught, or melancholic guilt. 
2. The next step then is to turn this guilt into action.  First let it sink down into your soul.  Yes I said let it sink down which is similar to Melancholic guilt, but with one distinction let it produce a desire to change the state of affairs.  Guilt that changes the heart is a precious gift of God.  Repentance starts in the heart.  Let the guilt grow to produce a desire to clear yourselves,  indignation, fear, deep longing, zeal, and desire for just living (2 Cor 7:11)! 
3. Next offer up a prayer to God and ask with the deepest sincerity, "God what would you have me change?"  Reflect on the matter and see what God reveals to you. 
4. Then Identify the first step that you need to take to change and do it.  Don't stay stuck in worldly guilt allow Godly guilt to move you to repentance of heart leading to a change in direction.  Do not let one moment of guilt escape you so as to produce inaction and thereby worldly sorrow and spirit death.  In every way seek to commend yourselves to be pure in the matter (2 Cor 7:11).  By doing this you will move into the blessing of guilt. 

If you are able to turn it around (with God's help and guidance) then you will be able to experience the true change and genuine relief from suffering that guilt produces.  In doing this you will be able to produce diligence, comfort, joy, refreshing, removal of embarrassment, affection, obedience, and confidence in your life and the lives of others around you (2 Cor 7:12-16).