Have you ever felt condemned? This video of an excerpt by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church is just over five minutes long and well worth listening to if you’ve ever felt condemned by something someone said or did. There is a distinct difference between conviction from the Holy Spirit and condemnation from Satan.
In addition, while I don’t agree with everything Pastor Peter Haas teaches, in his sermon Pharisectomy Part 2 – Joy Driven Christianity, he said this:
“The Bible teaches that guilt, shame and condemnation are inferior substitutes for grace. They are an inferior form of motivation, but they are a form of motivation, make no mistake. That’s why so many preachers turn to them. That’s why so many Christians turn to shame. They get an instant response when you shame someone. The only problem is it kills joy, and it’s not sustainable. And joy is the very power that God gives us to overcome sin. Again– the joy of the Lord is your strength…. We use guilt, obligation and shame to motivate ourselves and others into being a better person, and not only does it steal our joy, it steals God’s glory.”
If you are feeling heavily burdened because of something someone said, or if you have been made to feel like God cannot use you because of something you did, please watch this video.
Rene Yoshi
Sweet Rains 
June 23rd, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Excellent interpretation and very helpful; I wish it was shown at the Southern and Freewill Baptist conferances.
Isa.1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient,
God offers us to come and discuss our sins with Him so he can show us the error of our ways – no where does He call us you filthy sinner or ungrateful child – He knows our debt is paid and our sin covered by His grace. 🙂
June 23rd, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Thank you, Randell. I’m glad it was helpful. 🙂
June 23rd, 2013 at 8:33 pm
Oh WOW, this is GOOD! I love what Pastor Maas said–had to stop and comment, will now go look at the video…YES, this is all great, good points throughout. Thanks for sharing with us–God bless you BIG.
June 23rd, 2013 at 10:12 pm
Thank you! I’m glad it blessed you!
June 23rd, 2013 at 11:33 pm
It’s comforting to understand the differences between conviction and condemnation. How often others condemn me, and why? Truly, though imperfection assails me, it’s my style to never hurt others deliberately. Might their attitude be to make them feel better about themselves, and at my expense? Being condemned is confusing and heartbreaking, but the joy of the Lord is our strength. How excellent He is!
June 24th, 2013 at 9:23 am
Yes, Vicki, while their conscious attitude may not be to make themselves feel better by condemning others, pride is the root cause. As Peter Haas in the above quote said, oftentimes, too, condemnation is used as a way to motivate people to do things, even good things, but it’s the wrong form of motivation, because rather than encouraging change, it causes people to feel like they can’t.
June 24th, 2013 at 12:32 pm
Thank you for reminding me, Rene. Pride IS the root cause. It is exactly what I see, over and over and over, as my attempts for reconciliation are so rudely rebuffed. Now my prayers will change for this person. ❤
June 24th, 2013 at 11:30 am
thanks, Rene. I enjoyed the video. A former pastor of ours once described how to tell the difference between conviction and condemnation. He said that when God convicts us of sin, it pricks but He always points it out like He is pointing to it outside of us, showing that He still loves us, just not the sin. However, when the devil condemns, he does so by pointing to us and inward, showing that he is trying to tear at us from within. A subtle difference but I have always liked this explanation.
June 24th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Hello Heavenly,
I love how your pastor explained the difference between conviction and condemnation. It doesn’t seem like a subtle difference to me though… it feels like a major difference! Quite major, for conviction makes us aware, and with a sensitive conscience, repentant, while condemnation can destroy us. Thank you for sharing the message by your pastor.
June 24th, 2013 at 12:56 pm
You are welcome. Our God loves us and never uses conviction as a personal attack against us as does our enemy. Blessings
June 24th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Thank you, Sue, for sharing the illustration given by your pastor. It reminds me of a quote by A. Gene Veal, “The continual grubbing on the inside to see whether we are what we ought to be generates a self-centered, morbid type of Christianity, not the robust, simple life of the child of God.”
June 24th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Nice. Easy trap to fall into!
June 24th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
What a descriptive quote! Certainly the result of “continual grubbing” would indeed generate occupation with self! I love Sweet Rains, Rene. There’s so much wisdom to be gained here. Thank you for the time you give so faithfully to share your own wisdom. Our spirits are refreshed and enhanced with every new topic!
June 24th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
Aww, thank you, Cousin! Any wisdom I have gained has been through reading God’s Word and having to apply it to life experiences. Many times those experiences involved learning from my own mistakes as well as the mistakes of others. I’m so glad you’re being blessed! ((hugs))
June 25th, 2013 at 1:15 am
How much do I love you … ? This •*¨*.¸.•*¨*.¸¸.•*¨`*• •*¨*.¸.•*¨*.¸¸.•*¨`*• •*¨*.¸.•*¨*.¸¸.•*¨`*• •*¨*.¸.•*¨*.¸¸.•*¨`*• •*¨*.¸.•*¨*.¸¸.•*¨`*• much. Thank you. Joy!
June 25th, 2013 at 10:06 am
Aww, thank you, Sandra! Much love to you too!! ♥
November 9th, 2014 at 10:09 pm
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