Stuff Jesus Never Said by Ellis Paul

Author:Ellis, Paul [Ellis, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KingsPress
Published: 2017-02-20T16:00:00+00:00

Receive some guilt

JESUS IS FOR YOU

In small amounts guilt is not a bad thing. Guilt signals a hurt that needs to be mended. “Oh no, I forgot your birthday.” “I feel bad because I lost my temper.” But in a world that worships performance, guilt has gotten out of control.

We feel guilty for things we did do and things we didn’t. We feel guilty when we’re early and when we’re late. We feel guilty when we fail and when we do well. (I could’ve done better.) No matter what we do, guilt never goes away. Like an alarm that won’t switch off, guilt is the soundtrack to our lives.

In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders tried to motivate people with guilt. In the name of a God they did not know, they burdened people with rules they couldn’t keep, then punished them when they failed to perform. “You’re a miserable sinner. You’re letting God down.”

Guilt may be the lingua franca of rule-based religion, but it wasn’t a language that Jesus spoke. In countless encounters with those judged “sinners” not once did he condemn, criticize, or point the finger of blame. He never sent anyone on a guilt trip.

On one occasion the religious leaders brought out a woman who had broken the rules. Her guilt was undeniable, unquestionable, irrefutable. Surely Jesus would have no choice but to agree with their guilty verdict. But he didn’t. He said, “I don’t condemn you.”

In this world there is no shortage of critics and stone-throwers. But Jesus sings a different tune. He speaks words of grace and forgiveness that heal and empower us to live well. Hear him.

“Everyone has sinned … but by the free gift of God’s grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23–24 (GNB)

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