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Maybe you have noticed? It seems to be the habit of certain perhaps well meaning, but misguided Christians that in order to make sure a person is saved, it is required to make that person feel guilty, sin stained and just about hopeless
Is this the condition of a person who is forgiven, knows they are forgiven and have joy in Christ? Or, are we dealing with a personality that derives its importance from seeming to help but in reality, puts others down in order to feel good?
Well, we won't get into the psychology of that or personality 'types'...even though we see different types in scripture, instead let's take a look at some of the harmful ways Christians tend to examine themselves or condemn others
and before I do that, let me clarify that I believe a person who declares themself to be a Christian should not continue in sin but we are all at different places and God does not lump us all together but deals with us as individuals, so it is a disservice to deal with people at a level that insures the listener that the problem is with the person and not the personS
Motivation by guilt and shame rather than grace
now there's a good one and how long does that 'conversion' last? this works by pounding the pulpit, staring at folks with narrowed eyes and engaging in a voice that does not need a sound system. Instead of teaching people their position in Christ, works are emphasized...you are not doing enough/praying enough/witnessing enough etc...well, you know, that is all hard to do if you do not even understand HOW to do it, WHY to do it (other than the guilt trip) or even WHEN
so having begun your walk by faith, are you now going to work to earn it?
understanding that the 'good works' we are to do are actually an extension of our life in Christ, is the beginning of the ability to do them
if you are being made to feel guilty because some person is proclaiming sin is the problem, remember that Christ died for your sins and coincidentally theirs as well. Remember that God is the one who determines the gifts and dispenses them by His Spirit..
a good number of people around these forums are saying, Godly sorrow results in action that causes a good and beneficial result...worldly sorrow causes condemnation and is not of God and they are speaking the truth
If you feel guilty and scared, this is not God motivating you. If you understand your position IN Christ, you know that God has not left you and He is not scaring you
Be aware that works of the flesh can and do masquerade as truth...when God calls a person to perform a task, that person has been chosen for that task...we draw people to Christ by lifting Christ up...that, is the method chosen by God
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." John 12:32
No one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44
Salvation is not a work of man and condemnation is not a work of God!
Is this the condition of a person who is forgiven, knows they are forgiven and have joy in Christ? Or, are we dealing with a personality that derives its importance from seeming to help but in reality, puts others down in order to feel good?
Well, we won't get into the psychology of that or personality 'types'...even though we see different types in scripture, instead let's take a look at some of the harmful ways Christians tend to examine themselves or condemn others
and before I do that, let me clarify that I believe a person who declares themself to be a Christian should not continue in sin but we are all at different places and God does not lump us all together but deals with us as individuals, so it is a disservice to deal with people at a level that insures the listener that the problem is with the person and not the personS
Motivation by guilt and shame rather than grace
now there's a good one and how long does that 'conversion' last? this works by pounding the pulpit, staring at folks with narrowed eyes and engaging in a voice that does not need a sound system. Instead of teaching people their position in Christ, works are emphasized...you are not doing enough/praying enough/witnessing enough etc...well, you know, that is all hard to do if you do not even understand HOW to do it, WHY to do it (other than the guilt trip) or even WHEN
so having begun your walk by faith, are you now going to work to earn it?
understanding that the 'good works' we are to do are actually an extension of our life in Christ, is the beginning of the ability to do them
if you are being made to feel guilty because some person is proclaiming sin is the problem, remember that Christ died for your sins and coincidentally theirs as well. Remember that God is the one who determines the gifts and dispenses them by His Spirit..
a good number of people around these forums are saying, Godly sorrow results in action that causes a good and beneficial result...worldly sorrow causes condemnation and is not of God and they are speaking the truth
If you feel guilty and scared, this is not God motivating you. If you understand your position IN Christ, you know that God has not left you and He is not scaring you
Be aware that works of the flesh can and do masquerade as truth...when God calls a person to perform a task, that person has been chosen for that task...we draw people to Christ by lifting Christ up...that, is the method chosen by God
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." John 12:32
No one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44
Salvation is not a work of man and condemnation is not a work of God!
