When truth hurts

Several years ago I was preaching in a church where I always knew when a certain member was bothered by my Sunday sermon. I knew she was bothered because I got a phone call during the week telling me she was bothered by it. In a nutshell, she would tell me she was upset by some point she heard in the lesson and somewhere in the conversation she would state, “people come to church to feel good.”

Over the years, I’ve often reflected on that statement and what it meant. Was she looking for church to be an anti-depressant? Was she looking for positive affirmations for something in her life? I don’t really know. One thing she never said was, “I’ve been reflecting on what you said in your sermon and realize I need to make this change or that change to be a better Christian.” Or, “I’d like to know more about what you said in the sermon.” Instead, she went into a defensive mode and took anything said personal.

Now, I concede the point that people like to feel good. Nobody WANTS to feel bad, nobody WANTS to be told bad news. However, many times when we hear a lesson, be it in church or somewhere else, and we “feel bad” it’s because there is truth in what was said. In Acts 2, the Apostle Peter preaches the first gospel sermon and hits his audience right between the eyes with truth that I doubt any wanted to hear. Peter flat out called the people assembled “killers.”

In verse 36 Peter says: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Yet, notice their reaction. They did not get defensive and tell Peter, “Hey! Back off! We came here to feel good and here something positive! You hurt our feelings!” Instead, Acts 2:37 records: Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

There we have the appropriate reaction when truth hurts. Peter told the crowd what they NEEDED to hear, not what they WANTED to hear and the people that day took steps to make the situation right.

When truth hits us like it did the people on Pentecost, ask “What shall I do? What changes do I need to make to better reflect Jesus to those around me?” Seek guidance from Scripture and advice from Godly people that you know and apply lessons from the situation to moving forward with lessons learned.