I Have Sinned #163

One of the hardest things for people to do is to admit they have been wrong. This is true for government leaders down to ministers of the gospel. Pride gets in the way.

And so, what do we do if someone does come to us and say, "I have sinned"? First, we may be embarrassed and bow out without saying anything. Then too we may put off the confessor. "Don't pay any attention to those feelings of guilt," we'll say, "They're not that important. Just because some people think sex outside of marriage is wrong doesn't make it wrong." Another approach is to encourage the confessor to handle the problem on his or her own by saying, "So you've sinned. Big deal! Just straighten up. Learn from your mistake. Get on with your life." Sounds like good advice! But guilt feelings are real. They are not easily overcome. In fact, leading psychiatrists have begun to encourage us to deal with guilt rather than ignore it.

Our reactions are based on a belief that the Bible's definitions of sin are outmoded. But we should not ignore the God who created us. You see, just as physical pain is a warning signal regarding physical problems, feelings of guilt signal spiritual problems. They tell us that there is a problem between us and the God who created us. God knows this. That's why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into this world. He is able to cleanse us on the inside and remove those feelings of guilt by granting us forgiveness. Being forgiven is much better than trying to ignore, live down, or live with the burden of guilt.

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Contributed by Dennis J. Prutow, email: djprutow@juno.com Voice message and free tapes: 1-800-777-0389 [USA] Or order your free tapes online. Today's cassette is #163.