You're Just Not Good Enough

Perry Mason

These are the famous, prosecutorial words that so many of us are familiar with: You're just not good enough.

Or, some variation.

We hear them in the deep, inner-recesses of our hearts every time we have willingly, knowingly, and intentionally engaged in some sinful behavior, big or small.

Or, we hear them every time our broken memories recall some former instance of our rebellion against God.

They're debilitating at times, aren't they?

Turning to Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling, in a chapter by co-authors Bob Kellemen and Dwayne Bond, we're reminded that one of the tactics used by Satan against Christians is "accusing us to ourselves" (200).

Kellemen and Bond want to show us that, in the guilt and shame department, Satan is not productive in slandering us before God, but, "he's more successful with his attempts to convince us that we are contemptible."

Why is this an important issue for Christ-followers to get right? Because, as Kellemen and Bond point out, “Shame separates; sorrow connects.”

Shame and guilt, as weapons of the Enemy, are used to mitigate against the truth that, for those of us who are in Christ, there is no longer any condemnation. This is no call to licentious living, but it’s the essence of the Good News. The accusations of the Enemy concerning our alleged guilt and shame are over-stated.

On the other hand, the Bible teaches us that “godly sorrow” over sin leads us to repentance. In this case, when we experience feelings of sadness or remorse over some sin issue, the Spirit uses these emotions to remind us of God’s holiness, and of the assurance we have of God’s forgiveness because of the shed blood of Christ on the cross.

Kellemen and Bond included a wonderful quote from Martin Luther:

The Deceiver can magnify a little sin for the purpose of causing one to worry, torture, and kill oneself with it. That is why a Christian should learn not to let anyone easily create an evil conscience in him. Rather, let him say, “Let this error and this failing pass away with my other imperfections and sins, which I must include in the article of faith: I believe in the forgiveness of sins, and the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses.”

And, forgive us our trespasses, He will.

In one sense, Satan is right. None of us are "good enough."

But, what he can't seem to get right, is that in Christ, we don't have to be.

In Him, through Him, and by Him, we already are.

Reflection Questions:

1. How have feelings of guilt and shame invaded your life? 
2. How have you addressed these feelings biblically?
3. If you continue to struggle with guilt and shame, feel free to contact me by phone or email. I'd be happy to speak with you about the grace and peace that's yours in Christ.

 Scripture: Zech. 3:1; 2 Cor. 7:10; Rom. 6:1; Rom. 8:1; 1 John 1:9

Repentance: It's More Than Saying Sorry

Repentance is a common topic of discussion in counseling, and frequently a stumbling block for those who seek redemption and restoration.

In the movie “Just Friends,” a comedy that was released a number of years ago, the star female character sings a song she wrote where the chorus is, “Forgiveness—it’s more than sayin’ sorry.”

Aside from the ditsy personality of the character, the song was funny because of the obvious blunder she’d made in understanding the nature of forgiveness. Less comical, is the reality that within the church, we’ve misunderstood the nature of repentance, and this misunderstanding often has disastrous consequences.

We might consider singing our own song: Repentance—it’s more than sayin’ sorry.

In Judges 10:6-18, we find the nation of Israel once again caught up in the cycle of idolatry. Despite all that the Lord had done in and through them, they turned away from God to serve and worship the false gods of local nations. In response, God raises up neighboring people groups to fight with and oppress Israel.

Israel then begs God to forgive them, and to deliver them from the hand of their oppressors. The Israelites confess their great sin, and the Bible records that they even put away their false gods and served the Lord. But, apparently, God was unmoved by their confession and supposed acts of repentance.

Was the nation of Israel truly repentant, an essential element of biblical faith and restoration, or were they merely lamenting the fruit of their disobedience? The record seems to doubt their sincerity.

This is a biblical example of the places in which we are tempted to avoid repentance. In order to evidence true repentance, a genuine admission and acknowledgement of sin in total is required.

For the human heart, puffed up with pride, and self-serving motivations, this can be a repulsive experience.

Recognizing without caveat that our sin is always against God (Psalm 51:4), frequently against our neighbor, and always leading to some level of relational fracture, the essence of biblical repentance calls us to “turn away from” the originating sin, and back to the righteousness of God.

This is the Spirit-empowered birthplace of biblical redemption and restoration, made possible by the cross of Christ. This is where peace between God and man, and a man and his neighbor are found. Without it, the roots of the dilemma will only grow deeper, and hope for healing will continue to fade.

Fortunately for us sinners, the foundation of repentance isn’t found within us, but in God. The grace of God makes repentance possible for us, whereas unregenerate hearts would never choose the true and lasting path of peace in Christ (Genesis 6:5).

Cornelius Plantinga wrote in his book, “Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin”, that, “Human sin is stubborn, but not as stubborn as the grace of God and not half so persistent, not half so ready to suffer to win its way.”

These great truths provide us with hope in the midst of our struggle with sin, and its resulting effects.

They make clear for us that repentance is about much more than saying “sorry.”

In repentance, God gets the glory, and we get the joy.