Reacting to Guilt

People have different ways of dealing with their ugly past. Some believe that they must go and apologize to all those who were hurt by their past poor choices. Others think they must do something to ‘make it up to’ the ones they’ve hurt. Still others imagine that a life devoted to good works will somehow offset the dark deeds of their past.

These are good responses, but they are ultimately only reactions that may temporarily pacify one’s guilt. Yes, that is the focus...guilt!

The problem with guilt is that there is no ‘undo.’ A person simply cannot reverse life and undo the past. An apology is a kind and relevant gesture, yet it does not take away the wrong done. Serving someone you've hurt is a kind gesture, but it does not erase the hurt. A life of service is admirable, but the past remains.

I think we intuitively understand this, and it frustrates us.

Think about the apostle Paul...before he was an apostle, when he was known as Saul. He had great zeal for God, but it was misplaced; he was a persecutor of Christians. God capitalized on Saul’s zeal thorough a blinding confrontation. Saul was on a trip to the city of Damascus. He held papers from the Jewish leaders authorizing him to search out anyone “belonging to the Way” so he could imprison them.

A light from heaven flashed around Saul (blinding him), and a voice said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Saul inquired, “Who are You, Lord?” The voice came back, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”

In the course of three days Saul was allowed to think things over and he made a complete turnaround giving his allegiance to Jesus Christ. He regained his sight and from then on, he “proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’” (Read his conversion story in Acts 9.)

How did Saul/Paul deal with his past...the persecutions…his guilt!? Here are three things he did not do that would be endorsed by many today:

• He might have made some personal apologies, but he did not go on a crusade to apologize to everyone he had hurt.
• He did not try to ‘make it up to’ the church for all his persecutions.
• He did not devote himself to making ___X___ number of conversions.

Paul did not try to pacify his guilt. He turned to Jesus and received forgiveness...from God. Then, he simply devoted himself to God.

King David had it right in his beautiful confession and plea to God after having committed adultery and murder: “Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.”

David had taken advantage of Bathsheba by committing adultery with her. He had her husband killed to cover up their sin. He had shamed Israel. Paul had physically harmed Christians, had terrified the church of God, and undoubtedly persuaded some to avoid Christianity. And yet, both David and Paul first sinned against God. Bathsheba and her husband were not the standard of holiness. Christians are not the standard of righteousness. God is holy; He is righteous. All sin is first against God.

Paul summed up his quest after having become a Christian: “I want to know Christ.” His was not a quest to undo or repair the past, but to move forward. He knew, just as you and I know, there is no ‘undo.’

For that reason, our only response is to fall at the feet of Jesus and plead for mercy. Once we have received God’s forgiveness thorough the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, we then devote our lives to Christ: “I want to know Christ!”

Mark Stinnett

October 26, 2025

What Do I Do?

The movie was about a politician who was an underdog in an upcoming election. It focused on all the facets of running for office, and as you might guess, he won. Various camera angles captured the great celebration in a ballroom full of supporters. The movie ended with our politician-hero, with fear in his eyes, desperately pulling his campaign manager aside, “What do I do now?”

Sometimes people are fully engaged in an idea, but not quite sure what to do. It’s one thing to support, agree, pledge, and even immerse oneself in an idea. But the time comes to ‘do.’

John the Baptist was sent by God to preach. He wasn’t a city preacher but lived and preached in the wilderness areas of Judea. People came to John to hear him preach. Many embraced his teaching, some became disciples. Excitement was running high because of John’s message:

“Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand.”

Some who came to John were insincere. So, he confronted them saying, “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance….” (Luke 3:8) Those who were sincere asked, “What shall we do?” John instructed them to share their abundance with those in need.

The kingdom of God was not an idea but real. It was not some kind of idealistic philosophy; it was a kingdom with a real king and real citizens. The people understood that in God’s kingdom there was a certain way of life; it was God’s kingdom. So, theirs was a natural question: “What do we do?” They wanted to know how to prepare for the coming of God’s kingdom. There were expectations; there was expected behavior.

Even with John’s general instruction, some wanted to know more specifically about their circumstances. Two candidates for the kingdom of God asked John what they needed to do. To the tax collectors, he instructed that they sould collect only what they were supposed to collect. To the soldiers, he instructed that they should not take money by force, should not make false accusations, and should be content with their wages.

Jesus came after John the Baptist with the same message: “Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand.” He also taught people what they should do.

Here are some general instructions that apply to Jesus’ followers:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

You shall love your neighbor as your self.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

Can you apply these instructions to your circumstances? Look at each of these teachings and apply sincere thought to your life. Ask, “How does the Golden Rule apply to me in my home, at my workplace, and elsewhere?”

Did you know that there is specific instruction for husbands, for wives, for children, for church leaders, for preachers, and others.

God has not thrown together a rulebook. Rather, He has communicated His identity and character to mankind. He has communicated what he expects of the citizens of His kingdom. 

What is your attitude? 

God has not left us wondering what to do. 

So, listen!

Mark Stinnett

October 19, 2025

Flee Immorality!

More than one preacher has misspoken and said the word immorality when he meant to say immortality. The result: raised eyebrows, embarrassment, and undoubtedly, a few chuckles. Look at the difference between the two words and look at the title. The following is about the ugly sin of immorality.

Most Christians have been trained to think and react negatively toward immorality. It is immoral, that is, not moral. However, it has not always been considered a sin.

The Greek term translated immorality was not a negative word. It originally referred to a prostitute, usually a woman purchased as a slave. Over time, it was applied more generally to any sexual behavior outside of marriage. (Adultery had its own specific word because of civil/legal concerns.)

Attitudes differed in antiquity at different places and at different times. Even when immoral practices were frowned upon, allowances were made. It was believed by some that sexual appetites were no different than food appetites and should be satisfied. Among the Persians daughters might be given over in service to gods and goddesses as temple prostitutes. This was considered a noble gesture.

Only in the Bible do we find consistent prohibitions against sexual activity outside of marriage, i.e., immorality. If you were to present biblical teachings to non-Christian young adults of our day, they might respond with a puzzled look and wonder, “Why?” Many have adopted the attitudes of antiquity.

Using the human body as an illustration, the Apostle Paul wrote to saints reminding them that “your bodies are members of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 6:14) Physically speaking, your hands, nose, legs, tongue, liver, etc. are all members of your body. They are all attached. That is the imagery Paul used to tell us that ‘we’ are attached to Jesus Christ as members of His body.

In the next verse Paul asked, “Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute?” It is quite an outlandish question. It is to ask if one’s body should be dismembered! But it is in reference to the body of Christ! Even more shocking is Paul’s suggestion that the member that is removed be joined to a prostitute (i.e., immoral person). And why?

Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” (vv. 16-17)

God created humans in such a way that sexual intimacy creates a literal bond. That is a good thing for a married couple, but disastrous outside of marriage. For that reason, Paul continued (v. 18):

Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

If you steal from a store, you hurt the store owner. If you lie to your friend, you hurt your friend. If you beat someone up, you harm that person. However, if you unite yourself to another person through sexual intimacy (and you are not married to that person), you harm yourself. And why?

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (v. 19)

Sexual immorality makes your body (temple) unfit for the Holy Spirit. It is a desecration of something that has been made holy and is devoted to God.

Sexual sin destroys one’s relationship with God, not because a rule has been broken, but because it severs one’s union with Christ and makes a unifying bond with someone else. That’s why Paul’s used the strongest language he could in his warning against sexual immorality: 

Flee immorality. 

RUN!!


Mark Stinnett

October 12, 2025

When Truth Does Not Help

When writing to the saints at Rome, the Apostle Paul addressed a point of contention in the church. Truth was declared, but truth was not the issue. In reading chapter 14 of the book of Romans we see Christians, presumably of a Jewish background, who were concerned about some of the food that they ate. They believed there were food restrictions. However, others, presumed to be Gentiles, non-Jews, did not have the same restrictions. One group judged the other. One group looked down on the other.

Paul, writing by inspiration, solved the problem, but not in the way you might expect. He wrote that “nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” (v. 14)

Did you see it? Did you see the truth? “Nothing is unclean in itself.”

That is truth. From that we can establish doctrinal correctness. Paul might have reflected on the words of Jesus: “Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated.?” A parenthetical statement follows from the inspired writer, Mark, “(Thus He declared all foods clean.)” (Mark 7:18-19)

So...we have the truth. All food is clean. We all have the liberty to eat anything we wish to eat, no restrictions. We should teach those who think there are food restrictions that there are no food restrictions. Right?

Going back to Romans 14, read the latter part of verse 14 again: “...but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” So, what are we to do with that? Paul continues...

For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.” (v. 15)

It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. (v. 21)

What is all this about?

First, this is not about food restrictions or food liberties. Yet, when dealing with that 1st century issue, Paul provided timeless instruction. Second, recognize that it is not truth that is the problem. Truth exists. Truth is vital. But truth did not help because of wrong attitudes toward fellow saints.

Paul clarified in 1 Corinthians 8…

Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. (v. 1)

If food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble. (v. 13)

Paul recognized that truth existed, but that truth needed to be handled properly. One’s knowledge of truth can be used pridefully. It can be used in a mocking way that shows disregard. A person can know truth and yet, with an improper attitude, cause division. It is in the case of a wrong attitude or mishandling God's word that truth does not really help.

There are some truths that are absolute. Paul declares that there is one God and one Lord and one Spirit and one body (church) in Ephesians 4. These are truths that cannot be compromised. We need discernment when it comes to truth. The food issue and some issues of our day are about the conscience and are not absolute truths that cannot be compromised.

When you stand before God in judgment, who do you want to be; the one who boasts in the knowledge of truth, knowledge of Christian liberties, doctrinal correctness, or the one who builds up fellow saints through love?

Mark Stinnett

October 5, 2025