The Gospel Way Catechismنموونە

QUESTION 15: Why Do We Feel Guilt and Shame?

ANSWER

Guilt tells us we have violated God’s Word. Shame tells us to hide from God and from each other. Deliverance comes not through our power to resist guilt and shame but through God’s provision to remove their source—our sin.

For many today, feelings of guilt and shame are nothing more than a warped social construct, a product of oppressive religious systems seeking to control and manipulate individuals. The solution is to liberate ourselves from these feelings and embrace our true selves without judgment or condemnation, to pursue a path of self-acceptance and self-affirmation, detached from any moral standards or objective truth. Unfortunately, this solution is like treating a symptom rather than a disease. We can’t shake all our feelings of guilt and shame, no matter how hard we try.

The Bible explains the cause of guilt and shame and explains why we’re so often unable to rid ourselves of these feelings. When we lean into these feelings to see where they lead, we find them to be signposts pointing us toward the hope of forgiveness and healing. Guilt and shame persist because they are grounded in fact, not just feeling. They stem from our broken relationship with God. In the Garden of Eden, when the man and woman disobeyed God’s command, they experienced guilt and shame Genesis 3:10. They violated God’s Word and were guilty before him. Then they covered themselves and hid from God in shame.

In the Bible, guilt is the result of disobeying God’s moral law and failing to live up to his righteous standards. It underscores the reality that we have sinned against a holy and just God and deserve his righteous judgment. Guilt clues us into our need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Shame results from our awareness of our fallen state. It underscores our vulnerability, the defacing of the image of God in us. Shame points us to our need for restoration and healing, acknowledging that we need someone to restore the cracked image and renew us inside and out.

We all experience guilt and shame because we live in a fallen world marred by sin and brokenness (Romans 3:23). Sometimes we may experience false feelings of guilt and shame. This, too, is part of life in a fallen world, when our feelings get distorted, and we labor under lies. Christianity offers the solution for both true and false feelings of guilt and shame: a path to redemption through the sacrificial love of Jesus.

In a world that sees guilt and shame as burdens to avoid at all costs, Christianity teaches that a proper understanding of guilt and shame can catalyze personal growth and transformation. It can reveal our deep-seated need for acceptance, worth, and belonging. We are invited to embrace our identity as beloved children of God, finding healing and wholeness in the arms of our loving Creator (Isaiah 61:7, Psalm 32:5).

Guilt reveals our transgressions against God’s perfect standard, while shame compels us to conceal our brokenness (2 Corinthians 7:10). True freedom from guilt and shame is found in God’s provision to remove the source of our sin and restore us to a right relationship with him.

Reflection Questions

In what ways do guilt and shame show up in your life? Reflect on how these feelings affect your thoughts, emotions, and relationships. How might you bring these burdens before God for healing and forgiveness?

What are the ways people try to cope with feelings of guilt and shame? Consider whether these coping mechanisms are helpful or detrimental to finding true healing and restoration. How can you seek God’s grace and the support of a Christian community in dealing with guilt and shame?