In the movie “Liar Liar”, Jim Carrey plays a lawyer who suddenly finds himself incapable of being dishonest.
It makes for many humorous situations.
Near the end of the movie Jim Carrey’s character wins a custody battle for his client. He finds a technicality in the law to sway the judge to rule in his client’s favor. The client is a shallow, bitter, self-centered woman who was using the children as leverage in the case.
Jim Carrey’s character realizes he won the case at the expense of what was best for the children. He witnesses the father of the children being heart broken. Carrey’s character approaches the judge and makes a confession about manipulating the system and explains that the children should be with their father.
The judge takes offense to the words and threatens to hold the lawyer in contempt, if he doesn’t stop his behavior. Then Jim Carrey says a line that I have always remembered, he yells at the judge “I hold myself in contempt.”
It’s a powerful scene because it displays a very deep reality.
Contempt means that a person or thing is worthless, or not deserving of respect. To be held in “contempt of court”, is to be found disobedient or disrespectful in a court of law. You can be removed or further punished in that circumstance.
It’s a good thing to face up to the consequences of our behavior when we’ve done wrong. But it’s even better to honestly and humbly face the spiritual condition that causes us to do wrong in the first place. It’s painful to admit that we’ve been overcome with selfish desires. It produces shame and guilt.
Our society tends to dismiss shame and guilt. We ignore it, distort it, drink it away, or medicate it. But it sticks with us and reveals itself through anger, hatefulness, or a variety of disorders.
Guilt can actually be a good thing, because it gives you the opportunity to make things right. It leads the way to forgiveness, understanding, and better choices in the future. Guilt can be a catalyst for deep and meaningful change in a person’s life.
When our selfish nature is surrendered to God, guilt loses its power, shame fades away, regret dissolves.
In the past, many religious people used guilt as a weapon to wield against others. We were never intended to live with ongoing guilt. In response to weaponized guilt, many people try to dismiss guilt altogether.
I understand that.
But every now and then, I find myself in contempt.
I realize I’ve done something wrong and I can’t just forget about it. I need to deal with it. I need to confess to God that I’ve failed, and it didn’t happen by accident, I willingly chose to do the wrong thing or act in a self-centered way.
God is faithful to forgive, He is willing to show mercy, and He is also able to deal with the condition that causes us all to fall short.
The Gospel is good news, but it’s a comprehensive message. Too often its presented as either a sin management plan, or a celestial nirvana causing everything in your life to be perfect.
The truth is, God loves us more than we can imagine.
That love forgives us completely, and that love can radically change our very nature.
Because that love forgives, cleanses, revives, liberates, corrects, renews, creates, directs, reconciles, transforms, and empowers us.
I encourage you to deal with any guilt or shame you sense in your heart, don’t ignore it, don’t try to earn your way out of it, don’t try to cover it up.
Give it to God, sincerely seek His love, and walk out of shame into grace, peace, and joy.
-Tom Wise
