One of the ultimate sins in our society is to live in denial. We are called to be honest with ourselves about almost everything: our anger, our grief, our …. Come to think of it, this honesty that we are called to is usually about our feelings and tends to be self-centered.
However, one real issue about ourselves that contemporary society calls us to deny is our sin. The message conveyed is that guilt is always bad, without ever considering whether we are guilty.
We find parents, even evangelical parents, maintaining this attitude regarding their children. If the school attempts to discipline their child, they believe that it is their God-given responsibility to rise up in righteous indignation and defend their child before the accuser. Gone the days of, “If you get in trouble in school, don’t let me find out about it or you will get it twice as bad when you get home.”
Of course, there is good reason to assert our innocence and that of our children. The prevailing existential philosophy gives us the right to do our own thing. Therefore, by definition it is impossible to do wrong.
Likewise, the prevailing Rogerian psychology asserts that others should accept us unconditionally. Therefore, if they accuse us, they are the ones failing in their roles as significant other.
Likewise, the prevailing Rogerian psychology also asserts that we should accept ourselves unconditionally—maintain non-performance-based self-esteem. Therefore, the only real wrong we can commit is feeling guilty.
Likewise, evangelical theology asserts that God accepts us unconditionally, removing any basis for guilt. And if anyone dare judge us, it is evident that they are the sinners. Not us.
Consequently, our society has freed us from guilt without dealing with our sin. The contemporary beatitude might pronounce: “Blessed are the self-righteous.”
Jesus, by way of contrast, taught, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Mourning in Scripture frequently refers to mourning over our sin. For example, James 4:8-10 exhorts: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Likewise, in the Beatitude Jesus was calling us to mourn over our sins.
The comfort that Jesus promises as a results from such mourning is found in forgiveness of sin. Recall Jesus’ story in Luke 18:9ff of the Pharisee and tax-collector praying, one self-righteous and the other broken over his sin. Jesus concluded regarding the penitent tax-collector: “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other.”
The best therapy for our society, including the evangelical community, would be to weep over our sin and experience the comfort of God’s forgiveness. This, and not denial, is the biblical approach to dealing with guilt. And doing so might start an evangelical reformation.