Become New with John Ortberg 13. Forgiving Yourself
Aug 25, 2021
A reflection on secret guilt and why self-blame often blocks joy. A literary take on Crime and Punishment reveals the struggle between rationalizing sin and daring to be honest. Stories of relentless love and unexpected grace show how vulnerability can soften hardened hearts. Practical steps toward confession, prayer, and community are offered as a path to receiving forgiveness.
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Private Guilt Haunts Identity More Than Pain
- Guilt that festers is often private and persistent rather than caused by external events.
- John Ortberg emphasizes it's not pain from events but the question Who have I become that haunts people.
Raskolnikov's Excuses And The Weight Of Hidden Guilt
- Dostoyevsky's Raskolnikov murders a pawnbroker and cannot carry the guilt despite rationalizations.
- Ortberg recounts Raskolnikov's excuses and his eventual turn toward confession and punishment in Siberia.
Excuses Block Forgiveness
- Excusing or rationalizing prevents receiving forgiveness and healing.
- Ortberg stresses daring to be guilty and looking honestly at what you've done instead of justifying actions.
