Posted on 03/26/2013 6:56:09 AM PDT by NYer
Thank you for taking time for that.
So if not for your love of God you would not feel guilt for anything you do?
Not a good source!
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. (I Timothy 4:1,2)
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (Titus 1:5)
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)
......”So I take it that any feelings of guilt that you have are entirely based on your fear of what God thinks?”
My response to that is:
.....”My relationship with God is NOT based on fear of Him, it's based on His love for me and I for Him....and this would also include any guilt feelings I might have.”
You then responded:
.....”So if not for your love of God you would not feel guilt for anything you do?”
To which I will say:
We all have a conscious...as Stuart expressed and I agree...But I will also add, that regardless if one believes in God or not, we are created/designed with this gift of conscious from God..... Therefore, a sense of guilt is ‘operational’ in us all....(keeping in mind we can also suppress our conscious, even to the point where it's no longer functional and there is no sense of guilt left apart from God restoring it.)
I would have to say though, that because of the relationship possible with God... one actually becomes more sensitive to our conscious as that relationship develops.......similar to other relationships developed.... ....We learn more about the person, become more intimately related, understand better, as well as sensitive to them........
....and because God is knowable, and desires we know Him, the more He draws us to Himself the more we become sensitive to Him...Thus when one senses 'guilt' in that relationship it's not only much more apparent, but one desires to keep the relationship free of it as we communicate with God about it.
Just as we are sensitive when other close relationships have a 'kink' in them...or for that matter 'a great gulf'...so too with God.... We know, or at the very least question it's standing ,and find no contentment until the matter is settled. ...so again my relationship with God is not based on fear...but 'entirely' based on His love for me ...far more I would add, then mine for Him....For His love for me is perfect....and therefore there is no fear in perfect love. And that love is available to ALL who seek to know Him up close and personal.
Ok I very rarely get offende.
Good enough for, but obviously not for you.
“well if you feel guilty, and as you said you don’t think God has concern about our sin, then why would you feel guilty at all, and what do you do about that guilt?”
That was your question to Stuart. It is pretty obvious from the thread that he thinks differently about God than you, but that doesn’t mean he can not feel guilty for his mistakes due to his conscience. The implication of your question was that one cannot feel guilt unless they have the same belief in God as you, but maybe that was not intended . Only he could tell you what he does about guilt, but I am pretty sure he has a way of dealing with it.
I agree that we are all gifted from God with a conscience and many suppress it, but there are other ways of restoring it than depending on God. I understand that is your belief and I fully support you right to believe it, but keep in mind that others have different beliefs and can make just as moral decisions based on what they believe.
I do not deal with guilt at all, consciously at least, because by the time one feels guilty about something, it’s in the past and there’s nothing that can be done about it.
When I do something that makes me feel guilty, it’s just dealt with automatically/subconsciously...if it’s of any significance, then I just probably won’t do it again.
...the determination of the level of significance is fluid though. That’s just something I had built into me when God gave me life. I don’t worry about future moral decisions because it’s all in God’s hands and the path He has set for me.
Maybe instead of fluid, I should say...it’s relative!!!
You said...”When I do something that makes me feel guilty, it’s just dealt with automatically/subconsciously”....
How so?.... That could mean almost anything...including denial of the offense....if that’s what you mean by being fluid.
Sounds like you simply move ahead and let the chips fall where they may.
Pretty much. Like I said, by the time there is guilt, it’s in the past.
.....”by the time there is guilt, it’s in the past”....
No warning before hand you might be going the wrong direction?...Just saying this because you did say we have a conscious which you lean on for direction. I would imagine then you’d know beforehand...
So what you’re saying is, if you go forward with something that’s wrong THEN you feel guilty after..but you let it slide because it’s past, unless it’s significant to you...and if so you simply try not to do it again.
How about if it affects other people?..which wrong stuff we do always affects others in one way or another.
Of course thats mot what im saying, thats what you are wanting to hear.
There has to be a desire to do something which would result in guilt...this is extremely rare in my case.
Does everything you do require a conscious effort? Don’t you have any intuitive capabilities?
I don’t do things to/with people, that would result in guilt.
Ok
Succinct. Nicely done.
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