Of Guilt & Pulpits
#Seems to me that guilt is basically a legal term.
It interests me that back in the garden (of Eden) the dynamic duo had a sense of shame (and guilt) in response to eating the forbidden fruit. God came walking through the garden and initiated a conversation. Now He knew what had happened, even though He asked them to explain. God was not holding back from His side of the relationship, but they did!
Adam and Eve attempted to repair their acceptability by hiding their nakedness.
Jesus' death was dealing with the guilt (legal term) but also the shame, this gets lost. The brokenness of the relationship with God is as much our shame as it is our guilt.
So, to use guilt/shame as a motivation are we working against the work of Jesus on the cross?
Experientially we all know this to be true. And I know there is freedom when you realise the shame has gone.
The problem for organised religion is that taking away shame or guilt (not only related to what has been done, but also about all the things we should do, often program related) is that there are less levers to organise/control/motivate the congregation.
Should people relax into the love of a Father who is working with them; who simply desires them to respond to His work in the world today – they won’t get excited about whatever mission/vision the organisation is pursuing ahead of any relationship with their Father in heaven.
When guilt is lost, the desire of humans for approval is banished from the soul (therefore guilt is no longer a motivator); the pulpit must become a microphone of freedom and not failure - love not law, for if not it will be no more.
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33)
Today's Soul Snippet:
"People don't remember what you did for them, but they do remember how you made them feel." ~ Michael Cartwright
# The introduction to this SoulSnack series is found at A Word of Explanation & read on with Of Guilt & Relationship 101
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