Todd led a prayer Sunday night. He said, among many other things was “Help us to forgive ourselves.” I think many of us are putting too much pressure on ourselves and not being able to forgive ourselves or others. Too many people are keeping score on us making us feel guilty for no apparent reason at all. Can one feel guilty for not doing anything wrong?
There is a difference between “Shame” and “Guilt” Being shamed is being made to feel guilty without actually feeling like one has done anything wrong. “Everyone is watching you, Jeff.” I’ve been told that before.
I’ve found an interesting site for those who have left the church. While much of the site is arguing schemantics, unfortunately I tend to indentify with some of what is mentioned on the site. Such as never being sure that one is saved. The old VBS song “Happy and You Know It” comes to mind. Are you saved and you know it? From some of the sermons that I’ve heard, you never would have thought that any of the audience members are saved. One has to constantly re-examine themselves to ask have they done anything or thought anything within the past week to know if they are good enough to be saved? I disagree with this doctrine. If we are earnestly trying to be as good as we can humanly be, then we should be able to say we’re saved. Period. There should be no guilt or shame presented in a worship service. Yet for some reason we are constantly told to get right with God or go straight to hell. Guilt is a reoccuring theme to worship, instead of praising God.
This isn’t “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” God is willing that none should perish. God wants everyone to be saved. We need more sermons on hope and less on pain and guilt.