Uncomfortable Truth

I remember a preacher story from years ago about a married couple that reserved a hotel room in a different state.  When they finally arrived after a long journey, they went inside and checked in.  The couple found their room, unpacked their belongings, and began to change into dinner clothes for an evening at the local restaurant downstairs.  

Little did they know, however, that the hotel room contained one of those three-way mirrors in the bathroom.  This allowed both of them a full, 360-degree view of their body.  After coming back out to the main lobby, the wife noticed a strange look on her husband's face.  "You experienced the mirrors, huh?" she commented.  He shook his head yes.  "Humbling isn't it?" she quipped.  

The point is that prior to getting the full effect of the mirror, both people had thought of themselves as just a little bit overweight.  Upon seeing the honest  reflection in that hotel bathroom, however, it was impossible to kid themselves anymore.  It was time to start a strict diet and get in shape!  

It is easy to go through life not paying attention to little sins here and there; they begin to add up over time.  In fact, we often develop blind spots to them I think.  It isn't until God convicts our spirit that we have the mirror epiphany.  When this happens, it is impossible to lie or rationalize our way out of it.  And it just so happens that this type of uncomfortable truth can be conveyed to us directly by other people that God puts in our path from time to time.  It forces us to realize  that it might be time to lose some spiritual weight.  

If we look at Jeremiah 1:4-7 it reads, "The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.' 'Alas, Sovereign Lord,' I said, 'I do not know how to speak; I am too young.' But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say, I am too young.  You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you."  

We are witness here to the call of Jeremiah the prophet to become a mouthpiece for God.  Notice that God tells him he must deliver the messages he is given - no embellishment - and there aren't to be any excuses.  What a daunting task this must have been.  Same way with Isaiah, Ezekiel, and the like.  Prophets of God (both ancient and modern) must often deliver uncomfortable news to the world.  Typically it isn't like the bank calling you and letting you know that you got approved for a loan, or receiving a love letter from your sweetheart.  No, this more than likely resembles difficult news.  For example, God informing a nation that they have fallen short somewhere … and that repentance is needed.  Or else.

So what are some of these uncomfortable truths that our culture doesn't like hearing today?  I believe we can focus on three of them, generally speaking.  There are others, but in an attempt to dissuade a political debate - I will focus on just these three.

First, you will note that the idea about Jesus having divine authority makes a lot of people quite angry.  The reason is because if he really represents what God wants from us, then moral duties and obligations will follow.  If Jesus was simply a really cool guy who walked around saying wise things, then choosing to ignore him whenever we felt like it wouldn't be that big of a deal.  If he is God come in the flesh, however, things can get complicated fast.  It invites the idea that everything he said was true, and a direct reflection of what God wants to say.  

Second, many people are agitated by the idea that the Bible is the very Word of God.  They are agitated because it sometimes says uncomfortable things.  It makes strong statements about same sex unions and the issue of abortion.  It makes demands on us to ask for forgiveness from God and other people.  It has the audacity to claim that without faith, it is impossible to please the Lord.  Scripture often flies into direct conflict with our human concept of a people-pleasing deity.  

Third, people are made uncomfortable by the notion of hell if we reject God.  It has become very popular to put forth the idea that your religion works for you, and my religion works for me.  No harm, no foul, and no consequences either way.  But no one wants to hear that there really is only one way to the Father, and that is through Jesus Christ.  This narrow and exclusive path to salvation seems daunting and unobtainable to a great many people.  Things get really uncomfortable when we begin talking about hell as the only refuge left for people who reject the Holy Spirit and disavow faith in Christ.  It's easier not to think or speak about this at all, and in fact, many people don't.  

People who preach and teach uncomfortable truth will eventually come under attack.  We are sometimes ridiculed or made fun of.  We are even occasionally brought before councils and governments and pressured to recant our stance on certain matters regarding the faith.  Such things were promised in the Scriptures, so we ought not be surprised when we see it happen in real time.  

I remember the story of Stephen in the book of Acts chapter 7.  After delivering an amazing recitation of the Gospel message in front of the Sanhedrin, the crowd was incited to such anger that they reached down and picked up large stones in order to murder him (this was an ancient form of physical punishment).  Stephen was delivering uncomfortable truth to a group of people who simply didn't want to hear it.  They wanted to live their own life, there own way; not to be troubled by some God who points out sin and holds people accountable.  

I will conclude with one final point about preaching and teaching.  If you are called by God to give an 'uncomfortable testimony' from time to time, then please do so with love and gentleness whenever possible.  Most of the time you will not be in the same type of situation that Stephen or Paul often found themselves in.  I believe it is our duty to deliver the Gospel message according to 1 Peter 3:15 and preach with gentleness and respect.  You are armed with the truth of the Bible, that much is certain.  But don't forget that you can choose to wield it as either a sword or a shield.  Please use it as a shield to protect people, rather than a weapon to pierce them.  Let the let the Holy Spirit do the rest of the convicting after that.  

We have enough angry, religious people in the world already.  Don't fall into that trap.  Spread the seeds of the Gospel, and then step back so God can water them.  

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