by Rev Dedi Pardosi
When the Bible mentions ‘guilt’, it almost always refers to theological guilt, namely the guilt that arises as a result of violating God’s law. Some Bible scholars say the Bible never separates guilt from sin.
It is very important for Christians to know that the Bible does not emphasise guilty feelings – which are often subjective and may be unfounded – but rather addresses the guilt of sin. Therefore, Christians must be careful not to try to create guilty feelings as a tool to make it easier to change and motivate someone. Guilty feelings should only exist as a normal reaction to our awareness of the reality of sin. For this reason, Christians must be able to distinguish between ‘constructive sorrow’ and ‘worldly sorrow’.
Constructive sorrow or positive grief is a term used by theologian, psychologist and author S Bruce Narramore in his research article ‘Guilt: Christian Motivation or Neurotic Masochism’, which appeared in the Journal of Psychology and Theology in June 1974 and is based on 2 Corinthians 7:8–10. In this passage, the apostle Paul distinguishes between worldly sorrow, which is roughly equivalent to simply subjective guilt feelings and constructive sorrow, which is positive and results in a constructive change in attitude to life.
An example of these two contrasting emotional states could come from a driver who hits a person with his or her car. The driver could experience worldly sorrow, by which he or she may feel guilty, curse themselves and forever refuse to take the wheel and drive again. In this case, constructive sorrow may also lead to the driver feeling guilty but would also see him or her acknowledging their mistake, being willing to receive the appropriate punishment and, where possible, endeavouring to remedy the harm caused.
Indeed, the world often prefers worldly sorrow, because the world is bound with a lust for revenge so that people are only satisfied when guilty people receive a death sentence. But this reality should not be a reason for us to choose such a guilty way.
A great theme in the Bible is God’s forgiveness. The Lord Jesus came as God’s lamb to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29) so that humans might receive forgiveness and be reconciled to God (Acts 5:30,31; Colossians 1:14; Ephesians 1:7).
The Bible often emphasises that forgiveness from God is concerned with important matters such as repentance (1 John 1:9, Proverbs 28:13) and the forgiveness of our fellow human beings (Matthew 6:12 and 18:21). Without repentance, there is no forgiveness and without a willingness to forgive the faults of others, there is no forgiveness from God.
Indeed, faith is a gift (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 12:3) from the Holy Spirit, not a virtue of our own standing or works (John 3:3). Without the Holy Spirit’s renewal of our whole nature, we are not aware of our sin and the need for God’s forgiveness. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness of sins.
The proof of repentance is a life under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, which produces the fruits of kindness, generosity, patience and peace (Galatians 5:16,22), namely the main elements that mark the event of forgiveness. PH Monsma, in his article entitled ‘Forgiveness’ says: ‘A person who seeks forgiveness but doesn’t forgive others hardly knows what he/she is asking for and is not worthy of it.’
S Bruce Narramore provides a comparison chart between psychological guilt (worldly sorrow) and constructive sorrow, as follows:
- The centre of attention in the first instance is self; in the second it is God and our neighbour.
- Thoughts on the problem in the case of psychological guilt focus on the mistakes that have been made; while constructive sorrow focuses on the consequences of mistakes that have been made and corrective steps to be taken.
- The motivation behind the actions taken contrasts between freeing oneself from guilty feelings and encouraging others to grow, and doing God’s will (love).
- Attitudes towards yourself are angry, hateful, and frustrated versus being deeply concerned or contrite, and loving yourself so that try your best.
- The outcome or effect of worldly guilt can be temporary external change, withdrawal from responsibilities, failure repeating itself and self-hatred; while with constructive sorrow, the result can be ‘repentance and change based on an attitude of love and respect’.
By looking at the differences above, between psychological guilt and constructive sorrow, it is clear that what humans need is constructive sorrow and yet this is never perfect in a person’s struggle without God being present.
Indeed, humans can seek constructive sorrow, but without repenting and being reconciled to God, this is groundless and has no clear purpose, so it does not guarantee the resolution of the guilt problem.
As writer Johann Ludwig Konrad Allendorf says in the English translation of the hymn ‘Jesus ist kommen’, ‘Jesus has come! Now see bonds rent asunder! Fetters of death now dissolve, disappear, see him burst through with a voice as of thunder! He sets us free from our guilt and our fear, lifts us from shame to the place of his honour. Jesus has come! Hear the roll of God’s thunder!’
The Bible emphasises very clearly the futility of those who do good apart from the gift of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:20, 9:32, 11:6; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5).
Rev Dedi Pardosi is a pastor of Indonesia’s HKBP (Huria Kristen Batak Protestan) church and Director of the National Committee Lutheran World Federation Indonesia (KN-LWF). Previous to taking on this role early in 2022, he was working with the same body’s Luther Study Centre.
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