April 25, 2007
Not Guilty
In my leadership class (secular) we listened to presentations from local and state law enforcement. At one point the discussion turned toward the subject of the polygraph. Considering the sensitivity of the machine, a quick witted member said, “Those of us with Catholic backgrounds are guilty no matter what.” She does have a point. Self-imposed guilt and allowing others to send us on guilt trips are often side effects of trying to live a Christian life. We really want to do what is pleasing to God. I think the antidote for the unwarranted guilt would be to know Scripture. The more we mature in the Word, the easier it is to distinguish between a conscience pricked by the Spirit and one that is being needled by man.
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Gail;
-----You described my spiritual life perfectly. When I was very young I began the analysis of which guilt trips in my life were sponsored by the Word, and which were brought to me by "loving" brethren. As a result of some 35 years of this approach, I clearly recognize my "misfit" in the church as it is currently tailored.
----Fortunately, I was also aware of another principle for most of my spiritual lifetime. Although it is important to know whether your gulit comes from the Lord or a brother, in all situations possible it is important to humor your brother whenever that does less damage than telling him the truth as you know it and proceeding your own way. I Cor 8:11, "So, this weak brethren, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge." Countless times I have nodded my head, "uh-huh, okay," to a brother's upbraiding while fully knowing my innocence and that I would proceed my own way as soon as my "more knowledgable" brother is gone. Sometimes I feel guilty about doing behind the back, but he is not my Lord and his understanding does not have to be my understanding while he is not present. It does only while he is present and refuses to acknowledge any other understanding.
-----As you and I both know, my disobedience to this principle in dealing with the partisanship of the leaders at your church is what resulted in my being booted out the door of that church. But I felt that those leaders should have been responsible in this principle as well, and therefor should not have been exercising the favoritism they were exercising. In that they saw themselves as having been given a lofty and mighty position, I figured from them more should be expected. So I presented the simply stated principles of the Word in relation to favoritism and sincerity of love. I still have to deal carefully with my feelings over that affair.
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