PUNISHING YOURSELF FOR YOUR OWN SINS? (A Communion Meditation)

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:7-9).

I was randomly searching for a communion meditation thought when I found a blurb from an old issue of Psychology Today.  The question was asked, "Does guilt cause people to punish themselves?"  There definitely is a correlation between the emotion of guilt and cutting/self mutilation, binge eating, self-sabotage and even suicide.

Brock Bastian, a psychologist at the university of Queensland, used this test to research the question, Does guilt cause people to punish themselves?  Dr. Bastian asked people if they had done something bad that made them feel guilty.  He asked them to write about it.  He asked each participant, if they felt guilty or not, to put their arm in ice water as long as they could stand it.  Then they could pull their arm out. 

This little test revealed that: 1) Those who felt guilty kept their arms in the ice water longer; 2) These same people rated the experience more painful, and 3) This experience of punishing one's self reduced the guilty person's perception of guilt.

What does this mean for communion?  There is no self-punishment that can pay for our sins.  Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us.  All the Lord requires is that sinful behavior be recognized and confessed, and it is forgiven; guilt is taken away.  Do not think that because one has suffered because of his sinful behavior he is less guilty.

The Lord's Table is the family table for Christians to gather around, confessing their sins.  They know that their guilt is taken away because of the ultimate gift of God in the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Our Father's Love,
Tom

*The book of I John was written to Christians; non Christians were not the primary audience.