Freedom from Guilt Is Ours for the Taking!

There are certain ways to treat yourself and others when dealing with the sticky issue of "guilt." These are outlined in a complicated text called the Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling.They're good guidelines well worth your consideration.

1. It is entirely inappropriate for you to either consider yourself either flat out unforgivable (to practice "unmitigated self-condemnation" to use the DPCC's term) or peacock proud of your own morality.
2. God in Christ has stated once and for all strongly that we have worth and are forgiven (repeat that line over and over until it starts to sink into your heart ... intellectual understanding just won't cut it here).
3. When we accept for ourselves that we live in the context of God's love for us (powerful and unwavering love) we are freed from fear of alienation from God. To live within that love, we need to confess guilt, change our lives to avoid sin, and make up for whatever wrong we have done (you still have things you have to do).
4. Living in the fellowship (community) of other believers (you can be one too, trust me, ... and you are invited into the community, you really are) helps to shape our values and inform our judgments and conscience, allowing us to grow responsibly in love toward God, others, and ourselves (very, very important). 
5. Forgiven believers have a big job to do and that is forgiving others, restoring relationships that have been broken, and doing our parts to help maintain and grow our communities of faith. After all, those communities are supposed to be busy living out and proclaiming the good news message of God's forgiving love and need every forgiven believers help in doing so. Far too many are agonizing under guilt they could be freed from. 
6. Recognize that guilt is complicated and life is muddled by the "structures of evil" to use a DPCC term I enjoy. Check out what the therapists and behavioral scientists have to say. Christians should use these professionals' insights and seek their skills when possible and appropriate to heal human brokenness. 
7. Help the hurting whenever you can, who suffer from guilt (if it's "neurotic guilt" recommend specialists trained in helping them). Help them to take for themselves, assimilate into themselves, and share with others God's love, forgiveness, and acceptance, moving toward personal and communal wholeness. 

In 1 John we are given encouragement. We are reminded who is on our side: 

^{1 John 1:6-2:5:} If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.  

Free yourself and others today.