[Pastor Ralph]

Q3. (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31) Introspection by a neurotic person can foster guilt and self-loathing. Where is the balance? How can we conduct self-examination and self-judgment so that it has a healthy rather than an unhealthy result in us?

[Jezemeg]

I don't believe that the modern practice os introspection or navel gazing is what is being referred to by Paul. In these modern times the focus of those who engage in introspection is more focussed on what one can do to improve oneself, God doesn't come into the equation, let alone any Scripture. The oft repeated maxim that one must 'clear one's mind' and chant a meaningless mantra also leaves one open to demonic attack.

I believe that if one fills one mind with God's Word and Scripture instead of 'emptying one's mind', that there is less danger of any introspection turning into the harmful practise of the neurotic who ultimately end up full of self-loathing. God offers us redemption and if we accept and hold onto this promise then there is no need for any self-examination to turn into self-destruction. This is the type of self-examination that is called for in the Bible, to recognise where we have fallen short of what God requires and to repent and be cleansed, rather than the unbeliever's way.

[Blessed Me]

Q3. (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31) Introspection by a neurotic person can foster guilt and self-loathing.
A believer should be one who has full understanding of the work Christ did on the cross. He should understand that our coming to eat at the Table has nothing to do with our works, our righteousness; but has everthing to do with "HIM". If we were to look at ourselves, our faults! we would never come to His Table. We must look at ourselves as God sees us, washed by the blood of the Lamb. It is by our "faith" in the Redeemer that we received the invitation to come and dine with Him, it has nothing to do with our merits - only "His."

To "examine oneself " why am I eating here at His Table? My "faith" tells me He has cleansed me and made me whole. It is because He has asked me to come and to come often. Why? because it is here I remember what He did for me. I remember who I am in Him. I made a covenant with Him, I want to follow after Him. At His Table I remember "I can do all things in Him."
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; proove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? --- This is sobering, examine! is Christ in me or do I have religion only? He wants a relationship, intimacy. He wants the world to see God's goodness in me. As the Holy Spirit brings to my memory - areas I am falling short in, and they are there! I can ask and receive His help, so I can be an overcomer. Satan is the accuser of the brethren, always remember the One who set us free, Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

How can we conduct self-examination and self-judgment so that it has a healthy rather than an unhealthy result in us?
By putting our focus on Christ. Remembering He is our source, looking for His blessings to fill our soul, so we can go forth and love our neighbor and our enemies, so we can pray for those who are despiteful.

[jabarke]

I believe that if we are in a close relationship with the Lord, that is being in the Word & spending regular time with Him, He will reveal to us the areas of our life we need to take a look at. Because we want to continue that close relationship with Him we then have no problem confessing that sin or turning that area of our life over to Him. If we focus on having this close walk with Him His Spirit will promt us when we need to self-examine & confess that sin.

[charisbarak]

Introspection/self examination is so necessary. Yes, if we stay in that introspection without desiring to make changes, or to confess wrong-doing it can have negative results.

But the introspection/self examination God wants us to do is healthy. We look to see what God reveals to us that should be changed or repented of & look toward confessing & repenting of it while we praise Him that He cares that much about us. We need to stay in His word & in prayer--constant communication with HIM!

[Helenmm]

I believe our eyes, our focus, our passionate love should always be upon Jesus. When we examine ourselves it is so that we might begin to reflect His glory. There is no self-hate in that, for He recreated us in His own image. So great is his devotion to us that He gave us his blood. He wants us to lift our eyes to Him, not to lower them to depression and degradation. There is healing when we lift our eyes to Him as they lifted their eyes to the suspended snake inthe desert and were healed of their illness. If we continually look to Him, we will see His beauty and become adjusted to it by His Holy Spirit. It's a love process more than anything. There is no place for self-loathing, as each person is created and re-created in the beautiful image of God, gifted, talented, with a purpose and a destiny to take hold of. Indeed the neurotic person has a need to learn to love himself, to see himself with God's eyes, to value himself as Jesus does - very highly, to be kind to himself, and to deal with those old lies about having no value. There is a discipline involved. He needs to turn his thought from himself outward to others, upward to Jesus, and when he thinks of himself to teach himself to see what Father sees, a beloved and precious, beautiful child with a hope, a future and a purposeful destiny. Under the annointing Jesus will, step by step, here a little, there a little, change the whole perspective of the person suffering , but such a person needs to hold fast to the Truth that Jesus gives us. S/He has been deeply hurt, but Jesus can turn mourning into dancing, sorrow into joy.

Self-judgement is about where we can improve a little, grow some. It's not about condemnation. It's about what I can do to build a life, not tear it to shreds. We are building on a foundation that is sound, secure, firm and solid. We are building a strong house, a habitation for the Lord of lords. This is a very good habitation that we are building. It is about growth, not condemnation, for the TRUTH is that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

[charity]

I believe the key word is balance and balance is found in truth and truth is Jesus Himself. Excessive guilt and self-hatred is indicative of erroneous thinking. Thus, it is helpful to always start at what you know to be true. God is Holy, man is sinful. God requires blood to be shed for the forgiveness of sin (Heb.9:22). Man, because of sin, could never surrender himself entirely to God, much less shed enough of his blood to satisfy this requirement. But, because God so loved the world, He sent His Son to become a man who could surrender Himself completely and make perfect forever those who are being made holy.(Jn. 3:16; Heb. 10:14). By faith, I must begin at this point and declare that I am a sinner in need of Jesus’ sacrifice, in need of His blood, in need of forgiveness. I must accept the fact that Jesus has made perfect for this forgiveness forever. I can do nothing in and of myself to gain or even to add to this forgiveness; thus brow-beating myself is of no value. I must also realize I am being made holy regardless if I feel like I am. This “being made holy” is ongoing in my life by the Eternal Holy Spirit for it is His job to glorify the Lamb (Jn. 16:14) and to bear witness of the blood of the Lamb (1 Jn. 5:7-8).

I like how Andrew Murray “balances” our faith with these words: “This weakness of faith arises in honest hearts from imperfect notions concerning the power of the blood. If I regard the blood not as something that lies inactive and must be aroused to activity by my faith, but as an almighty, eternal power that is always active, then my faith becomes for the first time a true faith. Then I shall understand that my weakness cannot interfere with the power of the blood. I have simply to honor the blood by exalted ideas of its power to overcome every hindrance. The blood will manifest its power in me because the eternal Spirit of God always works with it and in it.” Therefore, for me to magnify my shortcomings over the power of the blood is to rob Christ of His glory and to live in unbelief; it is my choice to do so or not.

At this point, in choosing a healthy response, I am able to honestly say that I have weaknesses, but the blood of Christ is sufficient to cover those weaknesses. A healthy confession then is one declaring that the blood cleanses the stain of sin from my Old Life and by faith I accept the sanctification through the blood for my New Life. The power of the blood supersedes my struggles against all the spiritual forces of evil (Eph.6:12). I can echo the apostle Paul and “will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Cor. 12:9). In truth, I am able to yield myself to the penetrating searching of my heart by the Holy Spirit and upon repentance, I then may experience the joy of my salvation

[PCHRIS]

Q3. (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31) Introspection by a neurotic person can foster guilt and self-loathing. Where is the balance? How can we conduct self-examination and self-judgment so that it has a healthy rather than an unhealthy result in us?

Our whole focus is on Christ. In Romans it tells us we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God.
Maybe we can foster guilt and self loathing, God will and can use us in our brokeness to fulfil His glory. God is the one who picked us up out of the miry clay.

By being in total obedience to God; prayer, studying the Word, praise, fellowshipping with like minded Christians. This will healthily point out our shortcomings and then we come to the Lord with repentance and confession and He will use us and shape us.

[JustJeff]

Mankind is out of balance or else we would all live in perfect harmony. I submit therefore that we live in a neurotic world and those without the Lord fully in their lives are out of order. When out of balance we cannot possibly look honestly at ourselves, preferring instead to find fault with others. On the other hand, neurosis can breed low self esteem and have the effect of causing contempt for those that we perceive as better off or more gifted than ourselves. This leads to depression.
The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite spirit. In other words we must be humble and led by His Holy Spirit in order to look at ourselves as He sees us, honestly and as we really are. When we examine ourselves in this manner we realize that He reveals our faults to us in a constructive manner, to our benefit so that we can grow in Him and toward Him. The result in all of this is shalom, harmony, balance.

[haar]

Exanining our selves and looking back should be a positive thing to do if the motive is right. Further more, where/ when the Holy Spirit is the one convicting and leading us to examine our selves towards confession and repentance, then He will enable us to go through the process positively withoyt self-loathing.

From the above, it follows that we can conduct self examination and self-judgment to get a healthy result only when we surrender to the Lord and ask Him to lead us through the process. We also have to do so realising that we want to please our Lord. When we know that the benefits of such an excercise include peace with God and health that follow forgiveness of our sin (after confession and repentance), then we should be able achieve healthy and not unhealthy result.

[masika]

The Corinthians were called tyo examine and test themselves to see if they were Christians .Just as we get physical checkups , Paul urges us to to give ourselves Spiritual checkups . We should look for a growing awareness of Christ presence and power in our life. Then we will know if we are true Christians or merely impostors . If we are not actively seeking to grow closer to God , we are drawing farther away from Him..
After self examination and seen if there is any sin in us , we have to confess to God , and our confession should be a true one that invloves commitment, not to continue in sin . we would'nt be qenuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned to commit them again and just wanted temporary forgiveness - We should also Pray for strength to defeat temptation the next time we fac it.,

[Lisa Rupert]

Q3. (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31) Introspection by a neurotic person can foster guilt and self-loathing. Where is the balance? How can we conduct self-examination and self-judgment so that it has a healthy rather than an unhealthy result in us?
The balance from guilt and self-loathing can be found in the word. The word is the way, it is the truth, it is the light. We can balance this with constant feeding, nourishing our souls with the word. We can cleanse our souls by repentence of our sins. We can work on sinning no more. We can continue in constant prayer that we can overcome this sin. We can walk in faith and belief that we can overcome this sin. We are indeed sinners and we all fall short of the glory of God. But if you love him you will at least try to become what Jesus has shown you that you can achieve it is not beyond reach. Because Jesus came and he showed us the way.

[pickledilly]

My first thought here is of John 3:17. In ushering in the age of grace, Jesus didn't come to condemn the world, but to save it (us!). When He returned to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live within believers. John 16:8,13-14 tells us that the Spirit does the work of conviction, guides us into truth, and glorifies Jesus Christ. Not one word there about condemning people using guilt or self-loathing. Those things are the devil's tools of reproach that do not illuminate truth or glorify the Savior. The balance is in discerning what is the convicting work of the Spirit and what is the condemning work of satan.

Healthy self-examination can only come through the Spirit, who sees all things as they really are. I think the first step for healthy self-judgment is humility and submission. Ask the Spirit to expose anything in your heart that needs to be judged - and remember that He always first approaches His children in tender love to convict, not condemn. You simply can't rely on yourself to be accurate in your evaluation (from Heb.10:22: even our consciences need purification). Remember from 1 John 1:9 that God is faithful to forgive and cleanse you when you confess your sin. Remember from John 8:32,36 that it is facing the truth that sets us free from condemnation; and when Jesus frees you from something, you are truly free! Remember from Psalm 103:12 that God removes forgiven sin from you as far as the east is from west (they never end and never meet!).

I believe much of my own difficulty in maintaining healthy self-judgment comes in actually receiving the forgiveness and cleansing. I think of the plea in Mark 9:24, "I believe, but Lord help my unbelief!" We often believe things intellectually, but not with our whole hearts in a way that transforms the way we think, speak, and behave. If I believe in all that the Word says about conviction and repentance and forgiveness, then I must think and act accordingly. I should learn from my sins, but cannot dwell in the poison of hating myself or drowning in guilt or beating up myself with remorse (which is different from regret). I must consciously receive the freedom from those things that comes with God's forgiveness and cleansing; then I must live like a free person! I must realize that it's not about me, it's about who God is and what He has done for me through Christ. Anything less is to insultingly imply that God is a liar or that He isn't enough to cover my need. That will certainly create an unhealthy outcome.

So many good answers, but I especially appreciated Jezemeg and Helenmm responses on this.

[carroll]

Q3. (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31) Introspection by a neurotic person can foster guilt and self-loathing. Where is the balance? How can we conduct self-examination and self-judgment so that it has a healthy rather than an unhealthy result in us?

The balance lies in seeking to understand the mind of God regarding the issue at hand. We are here speaking of the attitude that professed believers should bring to the Lord’s Supper as both partakers of the sacrament, and in terms of the relationship they have with fellow believers. Introspection need not lead to negative results, but rather, a realization that all is not well between the believer and God. This introspection should then lead through bible study, prayer and confession, and fellowship and discussion with others who are in tune with God, to find the path for redemption from that which causes separation from God.

This approach, if sincere can lead to nothing but a healthy result as it brings the believer back into communion with God; not seeking after self-satisfaction, but seeking to please God by being obedient to his will. The benefits of this will be two-fold, for the believer will himself be granted peace, satisfaction and contentment in the knowledge that he is in communion with God.

[s8nfighter]

The point Paul is trying to make here is not about self-guilt, because we all have been found guilty, rather it is about our relationship with one another. The LORD's birth, life, death, and even the LORD's supper is about forgiveness of sin resulting a right relationship with our Father and one another. It is about rightness not righteousness.
What was happening in the early church is the same as today, bitterness, envy, judgement, and unforgiveness which lead to divisions in the body. I have often wondered; if there is only one message, one God, and one way why are there so many chuches half full?
Jesus said, Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Give forgiveness and it will be given to you. Give judgement and it too will be given to you. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. (Yes, Matt. 7 amd Luke 6 is about forgiveness of sin and not finances)
Paul is pointing out the fact that you should not come to the LORD's table seeking something for the flesh and you cannot come to the LORD's table expecting forgiveness while holding on to judgement.

How can we conduct self-examination and self-judgment so that it has a healthy rather than an unhealthy result in us? I don't know, but Jesus said here is a good place to start. SO IN EVERYTHING, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

[steve.c]

Pastor Ralph, on Jun 23 2006, 10:30 AM, said:

Q3. (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31) Introspection by a neurotic person can foster guilt and self-loathing. Where is the balance? How can we conduct self-examination and self-judgment so that it has a healthy rather than an unhealthy result in us?

Self-examination is not an end in itself; it is part of a process to be justified before the Lord. I think the motivation for self-examination is a guard against it fostering guilt and self-loathing. It is an essential preparatory step in receiving the Lord's Supper in proper condition. The Christian message after all is that we are all important in God's sight. His love is undiminished regardless of our views about ourselves. In examining our conduct we should always place it in the context that we do it so that we remove barriers between ourselves and Jesus.

[godsanointed523]

well when we self examine ourself,we should reflect on what God wants for us cause He died so that we can have the life that God wants for us.God loves us unconditionally and no matter what we do he is ready to forgive us.When we conduct a self examination and a self-judgement then in reality we are reflecting God and where we are that we should be at some point in our llives.Us looking for God and obeying Him is what God has always wanted,when Jesus was living he had always told his disciples to love God above all things and to love others the way that we love Him.Christ died,lives,and resurrected for us and that we can be Chist like in all that we do so when we do something wrong then we should be disciplined(self) in a healthy way by prayer and seeking the Word of God.

[linda bass]

We need to examine ourselves for any sin in our lives, then confess them to God.
I don't believe it is necessary to give an itemized, detailed account of each and every sin we commit.
One can confess sexual sin for example without going into details as to how that sin was committed-looking at ***** magazines, renting an X-rated film from the video store, accessing pornograhic sites on the web,etc.
In David's Psalm of repentence, he confesses that he has sinned against God. Nowhere in the psalm does he mention the specific sins of adultary and murder.
My church has communion usually the first sunday of the month. The night before I usually do some self-examination, then spend some time in confessing those sins the Holy Spirit brings to the forefront of my mind. I then end my confession time by praying, "I confess any additional sins of thought, word, and deed;of omission and comission."
I then have the confidence that my sins have been forgiven by God. I can then partake of communion in a worthy manner, reflecting on Christ's sacriface on the cross.

[sahala p.s.]

Pastor Ralph, on Jun 23 2006, 04:30 PM, said:

Q3. (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31) Introspection by a neurotic person can foster guilt and self-loathing. Where is the balance? How can we conduct self-examination and self-judgment so that it has a healthy rather than an unhealthy result in us?

We conduct self-examination and self-judgment in order to know if we are doing what God want us to do or not, and if not we should take correction to comply with what God want us to do. We conduct those for our good, in order that we do not get judgment from God. If we have done wrong or have sinned, we should immediately confess our sins to God. We know from 1 John 1: 9 that if we do that God will forgive us and take our sins away.

[Don W]

We need to let the Holy Spirit do the examination in us and He will convict us of the things we’re doing wrong or sinful as well as to give us the power of God to change and make right these things in our lives. Otherwise, if we depend upon ourselves (which we often do—but I don’t think that it’s exactly as what a “neurotic person” would do in us) for this self-examination as well as self-judgment, then we do foster guilt and even self-loathing within us because that’s not the way God wants us to do this. To depend upon ourselves for this instead of upon God the Holy Spirit is kind of as various religions of the world (i.e., Buddhism, New Age religions, etc.) who do these self-examinations (by their selves and not by God), but Christians are to depend upon the Word of God through the conviction of the Holy Spirit for ourselves to be examined and to change us to become the new people in Christ Jesus He wants us to be.