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Consequences of our New Approach to Societal Psyche
There are negative consequences attached to our new approach to the societal psyche. These consequences may be unintended, but are an effect nonetheless. Our intentions of a kinder and gentler approach to personal interactions and relationships have sought to remove shame and guilt completely. Therefore, any words, conduct, judgment, or action that cause another to experience sensations of shame or guilt are at best frowned upon, and at worst subject to legal prosecution. I get it- no one likes to feel guilty or be ashamed. These are neither pleasant nor enjoyable emotions. But, shame and guilt are not necessarily as damaging as some think, and can even be beneficial.
Consider two related questions. 1) What is the conscience? And, 2) how does it function? The conscience functions as a moral brake to stop us from careening out of control into wrong activities, or to at least slow us down and give us time to consider whether or not participation in a particular action is appropriate, and what the implications thereof might be. But the conscience also functions in the other direction as a moral accelerator to get us out of “Park/Neutral” and moving in the right direction. Thus, our conscience both stops or slows and starts or accelerates us when needed- if, of course, it is properly trained and functioning correctly, cf. Hebrews 5:14.
But with regard to the function of the conscience, guilt and shame are often the impetus for the moral brake to be applied. When we violate what is understood to be right and good behavior, feelings of guilt and shame are not only appropriate, but also the necessary stimulus for the conscience to apply the brakes and cause us to avoid or stop the activity. Unfortunately, we sometimes depend on others to supply these stimuli. If our own conscience has either not been properly trained, or has not yet matured to the point of discerning “good and evil” (cf. Hebrews 5:12-13), it becomes necessary for others to point out our mistakes.
Note 2Corinthians 7:8-9 in these regards, “For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it,- for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while- I know rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.” The “letter” that made the Corinthians sorrowful was 1Corinthians- which was filled with corrections in both doctrine and activity. For the collective conscience of the Corinthians to properly function as a “moral brake,” they had to first understand how wrong they were in the understanding and application of God’s word. They had to “see” their sin, which means it had to be identified or point out to them, in this case by someone else for they certainly had not discerned it on their own. Then, this knowledge of sin produced feelings of sorrow, guilt, and shame precisely because the conscience was working exactly as it should! Notice what happened as a result, “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, had produced in you, what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves innocent in the matter,” 2Corinthians 7:10-11. Paul, in clearly pointing their errors, had given them cause to be ashamed of their guilt, sorrowful for their sin, and desirous of restored fellowship with God. Their conscience worked perfectly precisely because it was given the proper incentive!
However, our modern approach to the collective societal psyche says that we shouldn’t say or do things to make anyone feel guilty or ashamed. I agree- if such is being done regarding things that are beyond the choice and control of the individual(s) involved. But when choice and control has led to attitudes and actions that violate God’s law, then we must recognize that guilt and shame are precisely the impetus that is needed for the conscience to function properly!
In society as well as in pulpits- and there is a definite correlation between the two, our “enlightened understanding” has led us to seek to eliminate guilt and shame, and thereby remove the stigma of sin. But the conscience needs these stimuli to function correctly as a “moral brake” just as much as it needs encouragement and praise to properly act as a “moral accelerator!” Paul specifically stated that his rebukes to the Corinthians were meant to shame them, cf. 1Corinthians 6:5ff. He did so to point out that “some have no knowledge of God,” and thus through his shameful educating, they should “Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning,” 1Corinthians 15:34. If we refuse to point out the lack of knowledge of God, His word, and sin because we don’t want to make others feel guilty or ashamed, then we remove the impetus for the conscience to apply the “moral brake”… and shame on us for so doing!
- Consequences_for_the_Conscience.pdf (73.00 kB)
