G-U-I-L-T
Satan doesn’t mind our feeling guilty so long as we don’t bring our guilt to the throne of mercy. The devil doesn’t mind—in fact, he delights in—our self-flagellation as a substitute for repentance and forgiveness. Guilt, as self-flagellation, often brings depression, whereas repentance and confession bring forgiveness and joy.
Legalism offers relief from guilt by focusing on outward acts—even God-ordained acts—and promises salvation to the person performing them. Legalism gets caught up in precise rituals, hair-splitting standards, groupthink, and majoring in minors. For some—the more self-righteous or self-complacent—legalism brings self-assurance but seldom joy.
For some, legalism spawns doubt, discouragement, and depression. They are too honest, knowledgeable, and self-critical to find any assurance in their law-keeping. They fall short of the glory of God, and they know it. They then turn back to self-flagellation as penance to find some relief from their condition.
Guilt is God’s goad for pricking the conscience of the impenitent, not a stake to be driven through the heart of the broken and contrite. Paul writes, “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). One translation reads, “cheer up those who are discouraged” (GW).
