Recently, as I pondered an old truth in a new way, God struck me with a new perspective. It was simply this: deep beneath our anxiety, we often promote a self-judgmental mindset that is always based on a lie. It can only harm us.
The truth is that from a theological point of view we can only and always condemn ourselves. We may try to judge others, but in doing so we are only judging ourselves.
But condemnation is a ruse.
In Christ, condemnation has long since been overcome. God does not judge us. Nor are we to judge others. So why do we go down the unbiblical path of condemning ourselves?
And yet we do it. We judge ourselves and scapegoat irreconcilable matters. We take on too much responsibility because others are not doing their part, and such 'dissolution' costs us anxiety because we condemn ourselves. We go to the cloister of the victims, to be shut up in unbearable silence indefinitely.
Until we see that we are living an anti-relational lie. Self-condemnation only destroys relationships.
Biblically, we cannot condemn ourselves before anyone else. The purpose of the gospel extends far beyond the inward intrusiveness of self-condemnation, for the gospel is outward-oriented, ever-convicting lives of purpose beyond condemnation.
We are disobeying God when we suffer ourselves to the point of condemning ourselves. It's such an unfair paradox. We feel that our guilt is justified in God's holy eyes, when God seeks otherwise.
God cannot give us the peace we pray for in our anxiety if what feeds our anxiety is self-condemnation.
If we are subject to anxiety, we should quickly and thoroughly specify whether or not we are self-critical of ourselves. Many Christians are actively involved in this. They don't understand that God's kindness leads us to repent - and then we will feel no more guilt or condemnation. We are to feel forgiven because we know we are. God never condemns us because of Christ.
We have been reborn into freedom through Christ to flourish in His Kingdom that renews us.
We cannot live freely when we are plagued by guilt filled with self-condemnation.
The Lord implores us to continue in the resurrection freedom for which He died for us.
It is wrong to throw stones at sinners, but sins are to be thrown with them.
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