Guilt is a tool which, when used by God and true friends in the faith, can be helpful in correcting us when we’re wrong. When used by others, it can be a weapon to keep us questioning our faith or salvation.

“Mom Guilt” was recently brought to my attention. It is a thing that parents have to think about. I say parents because in our day and age, a Dad can get as caught up in the “shoulds” of parenting as easily as a Mom.

One Christian counselor who has written on the subject points out that we must learn to discern between true and false feelings of guilt. True guilt is a response to sin. Because our God is whom He promises to be, this guilt can be eliminated by confession and repentance.

False feelings of guilt come over people who use the standards of other people rather than God’s law to judge what they are doing.  . So, they may “feel” guilty because they compare themselves to someone who reads more or takes their children to more activities or vacations than do they.

This “guilt” rarely gets examined for what it truly is. If it is not sin, it does not require guilt. If it is a false guilt, we need to search our hearts to see why we are allowing others to be our standard for what we “ought” to be doing.

But let’s talk about what we ought to be doing about real guilt. There does seem to be some misunderstanding about true guilt and forgiveness among some Christians.  The following is a post taken from an abortion group on a social media site.

“Just wanted to send all my love and comfort. I too am Christian and am struggling with my decision (my ultrasound appointment is next Thursday) but I just keep reminding myself that all can be forgiven and God knows our hearts.”

Her “decision,” if it isn’t obvious, is to have an abortion, to murder the inconvenient, innocent baby in her womb. She seems to think that, even though she knows it is sinful, God will forgive her because He knows her heart. Well, He does: there is murder in her heart. This woman believes God will forgive her for knowingly committing the sin of murder.

God does forgive sin and that can include the sin of abortion if there is true repentance, turning away from the sin. She has that opportunity now!  But, in Numbers 15:30-31, God is clear that this does not apply when the sin is a known evil and is done intentionally, presuming on the grace of God:

“’But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.’ ” (Numbers 15:30-31)

This woman’s guilt will be upon her if she goes through with infanticide.

This was a Facebook post in a place this woman assumed was a “safe space” for her to speak her mind. It is difficult to discern if she is really a Christian; is she simply a church attender, or one who has the Holy Spirit in her. We can’t see if she is married or single. We have no idea who, or if anyone, is advising her.

The heartbreak here is that she is not aware of, or has her own interpretation of, Numbers 15:30-31.  God hates sin — any sin, all sin. He is clear that when we commit it knowingly, the consequences are serious. He is also clear that when we confess it, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Do we believe this applies if we confess it as sin, then commit the sin, and then ask forgiveness for the sin?  No, we presume it applies to deliberate sin.

Why can she be so flippant about being forgiven when she may (she makes it sound like she has not committed to do it yet) be walking into it knowing it is sin?

Does the next generation in your sphere of influence know God’s Law enough that they can discern true guilt and false guilt?

Our culture is full of topics to discuss that we wish could wait until kids are adults. Sadly, for many, that will be too late. Are we willing to talk about what the scriptures say about sin,  abortion, pre-marital sex, pornography, and many other disasters that we face in this world today?  Will we teach the next generation what God’s law says about them?