GIVE ME HARSH TEACHING!!

Have you ever wondered why the truth is never easy to swallow? It is because the truth reveals clearly the wrongs and the sins that we've been trying to hide. It's shameful and scary to have our "secrets" revealed, not only revealed to others but to ourselves even!

That is why I want to encourage everyone to pray that God would use and give the strength needed for preacheres to be truthful. Because if it's hard for the audience to hear the truth - how much more harder is it for the preacher to preach it!? Preaching is not just a one off process - it takes hours and even days of the preacher's time to prepare and write it. How would a preacher feel if the topic that they are preaching is actually the sin that they've been struggling to deal with. That is why it's so important for us to pray for them and for ourselves that God may give us a humble and teachable heart. 

The less we hear the truth, the more "hidden" sins we have, and for many Sunday sermons is the only thing that would keep Christians accountable. How sad is it to come to church seeking the truth and getting sugar-coated lies. That's just how false prophets in the OT are! Telling Israel that they would not die if the disobey God - but the reality is that the angel of death is standing right in front of their faces waiting to slay them!

In conclusion, the truth is and will always be harsh and scary to hear, but keep in mind the message of 2Corinthians 7:8-13:

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted.

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

If harsh teachings is the only thing that would keep me accountable to God and to other people, then give me it. I would rather take bitter medicine and get healed than sweet medicine that leads to bitter death.