The Paradox of the Christian Sorrow

Key Scriptures:  2 Corinthians 7:8-13

We can easily criticize secular society, governments, schools, denominations, and liberal churches for rejecting God-given authority. Yet we must also ask whether they truly embrace the authority of Scripture when it confronts their own sins. It is easy to affirm that the Bible is authoritative and inerrant in theory, but much harder to receive it as a living sword that exposes personal transgressions.

God’s truth is impartial. Christians are not held to a lower moral standard because they are under grace; rather, they possess greater knowledge and responsibility due to God’s revelation that has been graciously bestowed upon us. Nevertheless, people commonly want corrections only on their own terms. Faithful pastors who preach clearly about sin and repentance are therefore often described as controlling, harsh, or unloving. Historical ministers such as John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards have frequently been remembered chiefly for their severity, even though their rebukes arose from a serious concern and love for their people.

True love does not merely offer comforting compliments. A pastor, parent, or Christian friend who refuses to warn others about destructive sin is not acting lovingly. God demonstrates His love for His children partly by revealing their sins and showing them where they must change.

Today’s passage shows Paul’s reaction after he wrote a very harsh letter to the church of Corinth. His earlier letter had caused them sorrow, and he temporarily regretted the pain it produced. However, Paul did not regret correcting them because their sorrow led to repentance. He did not delight in causing pain, just as a loving parent does not enjoy disciplining a child. Correction is painful both for the person receiving it and for the person administering it, but it may still be necessary for the sinner’s good. It is not in the pain of discipline we delight in. It’s the fruit it bears.

Sorrow, guilt, and shame are therefore God’s holy and gracious design as it says in verse 9,

you were made sorrowful according to the will of God

Modern society often seeks to eliminate these feelings, and churches have become the leading figures to brush any sense of sorrow, guilt, and shame in their churches. Yet Scripture does not hide sins. Paul publicly addressed sexual immorality, hypocrisy, abandonment of the faith, and other failures within the church. The ministry of the Word must remain faithful even when political, social, or personal pressures make such preaching uncomfortable. It is a God given duty that we must carry out.

The example of Hugh Latimer preaching before Henry VIII illustrates this courage. Although warned that his sermon had offended the king, Latimer preached the same message even more forcefully. He reminded himself that although the king possessed earthly power, God had commissioned him to deliver the divine message faithfully. This demonstrates that ministers must fear God above influential people and must not alter the truth to avoid offense.

However, not every kind of sorrow is spiritually beneficial. Paul distinguishes between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Worldly sorrow focuses primarily on embarrassment, damaged reputation, wounded pride, uncomfortable consequences, or the loss of personal happiness. A person experiencing worldly sorrow may hide the sin, ignore it, distract himself through entertainment or busyness, or redirect attention toward the faults of others. Such sorrow does not result in true repentance and therefore “produces death.”

Godly sorrow, by contrast, arises from recognizing that sin dishonors God, grieves the Holy Spirit, harms others, and reveals the sinful desires and idols of the heart. The repentant person does not merely dislike the consequences of sin but comes to hate the sin itself. He recognizes his spiritual sickness and his need for Christ.

This deep sorrow sounds paradoxical to joy. I preached last week about how the joy in Christ should drive our daily lives. While it may sound paradoxical, it is in complete harmony. Godly sorrow leads to godly joy. Christ came not for those who imagine themselves righteous and healthy, but for sinners who recognize that they are spiritually blind, sick, and in need of healing. Just as painful medical treatment may be welcomed because it brings healing, the painful exposure of sin can be welcomed because Christ is the great and chief physician.

Psalm 51 expresses this paradox when David asks God to let the bones He has broken rejoice. God breaks the sinner’s pride and self-reliance so that He may restore and rebuild him. Repentance is therefore not only an experience of grief. It also contains comfort and joy because the sinner discovers forgiveness, healing, and renewed fellowship with God.

Paul describes several fruits produced by the Corinthians’ godly sorrow:

Vindication: They sought to clear themselves, not by making excuses, but by demonstrating through changed conduct that they no longer approved of the wrongdoing.
Indignation: They became angry at the sin, the dishonor it brought upon Christ, and their own previous complacency.
Fear: They took God’s warnings and judgment seriously.
Longing: They desired reconciliation with Paul and with those affected by their actions.
Zeal: Their former indifference was replaced by an intense desire to live righteously.
Avenging of wrong: They took concrete steps to correct wrongdoing and exercise proper church discipline.

The fruits show that repentance is more than feeling sorry. It is both an inward and outward work of the Holy Spirit that produces hatred of sin, turning from sin, reconciliation, and appropriate action. Biblical repentance involves both confession and forsaking sin. Christians must become doers of the Word rather than merely hearers.

This is the important purpose of pastoral ministry. Ministers are not called merely to say what people enjoy hearing. Like Paul, Brandon and I must sometimes produce sorrow by faithfully confronting sin. Yet the ultimate goal is not sorrow itself. The goal is repentance, spiritual growth, restoration, and salvation. When Christians receive correction, acknowledge their faults, and display the fruits of repentance, this is our greatest comfort and joy.

Yes, the Christian life sounds so paradoxical. Christian sorrow becomes comfort; spiritual poverty becomes riches; hunger for righteousness brings satisfaction; dying with Christ leads to life. The broken heart becomes the healed heart, the contrite spirit becomes the rejoicing spirit, and the repenting soul becomes victorious.

Therefore, we should not automatically flee from the sorrow produced by biblical correction. We should examine whether we do receive the sorrow that the Holy Spirit gives us. We should examine whether the sorrow is merely worldly regret or whether it is godly sorrow that brings them to Christ. Though correction may be bitter at first, its bitterness becomes sweet when believers recognize its spiritual benefit. In Christ, sorrow over sin leads not to despair, but to repentance, forgiveness, holiness, comfort, and lasting joy.