are you a guilt-tripper?
no one enjoys being sent on a guilt trip. it robs you of desire to be with a person and sends you down a road of dead-end anger, frustration, and conflict. sadly, the trip is very common practice in relationships.
you may quickly recognize it when others do this to you. how quickly would you recognize it, if you were the guilt-tripper? here are 9 ways to identify if you are a guilt-tripper.
- you make others measure up to a standard before accepting them
- you remind others of past mistakes
- you get angry at others who disrupt your world
- you reject others when they fail
- you refuse to associate with others who are not like you
- you try to prove others that others are wrong and that you are right
- you are critical of others’ choices
- you use guilt and shame in trying to motivate others
- you expect others to do everything the way you think they should do it
for many people the list describes something much deeper. they see this as how God relates to them. as a result they have little joy, peace, or desire to be “around” God.
this is far from the way that God relates. He has love, forgiveness, and grace that is far beyond any of these guilt-inducing tactics. Jesus Christ removed all condemnation, guilt, and shame when He died on the cross. we can know forgiveness, understanding, and grace that frees us from the guilt-trip. when that becomes a reality for us with God, then it radically changes how we relate to others. when we are truly free, then we pass that freedom on to others.
these points are part of a series we’re walking through at encounter. join us online or in person on sundays for more on the discussion.
