Guilt and Arrogance, A Fine Line

What is guilt? We all feel it in the pit of our stomachs at times, especially when we know we have done something wrong. The theologian Donald McKim tells us, “Theologically guilt is the condition in which we are estranged from God because of sin, which ruptures the divine-human relationship. It can also be accompanied by a sense of shame.” Thus in the Bible, guilt appears to have two primary assumptions for its existence. The first, human beings are responsible and accountable for their actions and thoughts. Secondly, guilt arises when our actions and thoughts constitute guilt, thus causing a break in our relationship with God and our neighbor. Guilt usually has personal consequences such as worry, anxiety, restlessness, shame, and discontent.

Often in the Old Testament guilt is portrayed as a heavy burden with the ability to crush a persons spirit, body and mind. It destroys a person from within. Guilt is also portrayed as a debt that must be paid.

But what about the guilt we experience in our lives today? We can’t go out and make animal sacrifices, as the ancient Hebrew people were required to do in order to atone for their sins. What allows us to overcome the burden of guilt? The answer is Jesus Christ.

Christ died for our sins. He has made atonement for our misguided ways and faults. He is the great and final sacrifice, often referred to in Scripture as the Lamb of God. Through Christ we are forgiven and reconciled to God despite our sinful nature. However, we have a role to play in forgiveness and the abolishment of guilt as well. It is important to not only forgive those who have harmed us, but to ask for forgiveness when we have hurt others. Once we have done this we are reconciled to God and hopefully our neighbor as well. We need to no longer feel guilt. If we still feel guilt after making the proper restitution, then we are acting arrogantly, saying we know better than God. Ongoing guilt implies that we are beyond God’s grace and God’s capacity to forgive. That is simply not true.

God has blessed each of us with a unique and lovely life. God loves and deeply values each of us. What we do with our lives is up to us, but we are all Children of God and we each have a right to be in this world. Living a life of constant guilt taints God’s gift of grace and in many ways is an act of pride on our part. Why is it pride? Because we are saying we are beyond God’s help. We are lifting ourselves up and our actions are selfish and self-centered.

Ongoing guilt causes grave wounds to the soul. We need not only learn to accept the forgiveness of others, but to forgive ourselves. “Day by day, we try to move a little toward God’s perfection. So we need not be consumed by self-pitying guilt.”