The Word of God purges us from our corruption and the polluting influenece of sin in our lives. The Word is God's truth, and it pulls no punches when confronting our sins, and what God requires and desires of us, according to God's moral and spiritual standards.
Throughout Paul's writings he tell us to, "Preach/teach/speak the Word! Be careful in season (when its proper/or feels good), and out of season(when it isn't proper/when it doesn't feel good) to: Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (teaching). For the time will come when they (people) will not endure(hear) sound doctrine, but rather, according to the lusts of their own fleshy desires, because they have itching hears (like to hear only good things), will seek for themselves teachers who will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fab;es (myths/lies/legends)."
So why is it that Christians who preach or teach the Word of God, afraid and/or don't like to apply the same Biblical Tough Love principles when confronting other christains about the truth of God's Word when we see them in sin, as we are instructed to do by Paul, and as Jesus Christ did?
I can understand why people don't like hearing the truth about themselves, because truth hurts. But Why... whether they like hearing it(in season) or not(out of season), why sugar-coat the truth, and not speak it as it is written?...
The answer is simple, but it is also something we don't want to hear, fear. Pure and simple fear. No one speaks the word with boldness anymore, many have grown ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Not me, I am going to tell people the truth, and I am going to ell them about the Gospel. If they don't like it, they can leave. I will not back off, I am commanded by God to spread the Gospel, and bring truth wherever I go.
Let me tell you something about fear. I came back to God in prison. I was in a prison gang, and renounced them right away. They accepted it, but didn't like it. There I was, in a gang controlled pison, with no earthly protection. Do you know what I did......I preached the Gospel. I told them about God, I held their hands, and prayed for their families, all of them, even rivals to the gang I used to belong to. I had no fear. Not because I was willing to die for my belief, but because I know God is on my side, He will not allow anyone to harm me.
Fear of man is not of God, and few people understand it. I have had preachers say I was lying about not feeling fear, you know how that made me feel? It made me sad for them. How long are they going to doubt God? That very doubt keeps them from getting close to God. If our church leaders don't believe God, what message are they sending to their congregations?
Okay, I am getting off my soapbox now. Sorry about the length.
We were very fortunate at the church where I got saved to have a pastor and his wife who were not afraid to call you out on your sin. Some of us were grateful and saw the love behind it and others became angry and left the church.
In my experience when I have in a loving way brought someone's sin to their attention, I was called judgmental and self righteous. And have lost those friends. I guess it's a good thing that life is not a popularity contest. LOL
I think that very often that is what it comes down to. And also finances, there are churches that are more concerned with attendance and the resulting tithes than they are with preaching the truth. May God have mercy on their souls for choosing money and popularity over the truth of the Gospel.
Great word Leon, and as Lydia says, stay on your soapbox, its much needed.
This is the problem in the world today and especially, in the churches, and dating relatiosnhips. We don't like hearing the truth about ourselves, circumstance, or God, yet, we say we know God and have faith and christians love to quote, "the truth will set you free." But fail to know that the truth can't set you free, if you first, can't or refuse to receive the truth that is told about yourself or your circumstances.
Hearing the truth, set you free only when you have received the truth for what it is. This prevents the devil from having a weapon to use against you when you can speak the truth and know the truth even if it does hurt. The truth only provides protection so that no weapon formed against you will prosper. But if you refuse the truth or to make changes, every weapon the devil has will be formed against you.
It amazes me how in the church, christians refuse to tell the truth about even the preacher or those in positions of office, and sit back and do nothing. Maybe its because they themselves are in the same sin, which would mean it applies to them as well. But when will the truth be told? There are singles old and young people in churches involved in sinful relationships, and the pastor and memebers of the church know these things, but no one steps forward to confront the person and provide proper counseling. And every Sunday they are lifting holy(unholy hands) up to God, praising Him, and on first Sunday taking communion. Even serving Communion, including the pastor who is in sin... and members refuse to confront...
I just don't understand it! And It gives me a headache. And as you says, Lydia, when you speak on these things, you then become the trouble maker. Well, this is what Jesus and the disciples were also called trouble makers, and its all apart of counting the cost of being a true disciple of Christ under the influence of the Holy Spirit.... and the word says, the disciples turned the word upside down with the truth of the gospel.
I've even noticed on this board when the truth is told in response to a question, some don't like it and they stop posting. Tough love is how God deals with us in all things, so why ask a question if you're not willing to hear the truth of the answer. How can you grow to maturity spiritually, emotionally, or mentally, if you can't receive the truth???
Ella a good question, we will never grow in our walk with the Lord if we will not receive correction. The view is better from a distance, so we can not really see our sinful condition and need our brothers and sisters to tell us in love what they are seeing in our behavior.
