Quietly reading her magazine, she waits to hear her name. Upon her turn, she follows the nurse back to the examination room. When the doctor enters, the woman amiably proceeds to tell him everything’s going just fine and that she’s expecting him to write her a clean bill of health. Unprepared for the truth, she stands up abruptly and walks out when he tells her she needs medical intervention. Six months later when she needlessly dies from something that was treatable, the doctor can only shake his head in dismay.
While the above scenario might seem ridiculous, let’s consider what happens when people choose consumer Christianity instead of genuine relationships that sharpen and challenge us spiritually. There are great consequences when believers refuse accountability because church life has become more social than redemptive. We find it increasingly difficult to leave behind the sin that “so easily trips us up” if we’re unwilling to let others tell us the truth (Hebrews 12:1).
Leaders in the church often face the challenge of trying to confront sin while dealing with individuals who think their appearance at church meetings entitles them to a clean bill of spiritual health. They care little about real treatment for the hidden disease of sin.
Willing to deal in truth, David saw Nathan’s confrontation for what it was: a call from the heart of God (2 Samuel 12:7). As we live in relationships with other believers, we need to recognize that accountability has a twofold purpose:
• To restore our relationship with the Lord (Psalm 51:12).
• To restore health to the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:4).
If you hear the hard truth from a “Nathan,” recognize that it isn’t a putdown. It’s a sign of great love (Hebrews 12:6).
More:
• Proverbs 3:7-8
• Ecclesiastes 7:5
• James 5:16,19-20
Next:
Why do we sometimes see others as self- righteous when they point out a sin issue in our lives? What person in your life challenges you to live according to God’s Word? How are you viewing your spiritual health through your eyes and not God’s?
Izzyt84 on June 26, 2010 at 1:03 am
I strongly agree that there are far too many pastors who refuse to address the problem and consequences of sin. They don’t want to “offend” anyone, so they ‘water down’ the message of God and preach “feel good messages” to the “seeker friendly” crowd. Many of these ‘churces’ do not even have a cross anywhere on their property for the same reason; it may “offend” some people. Did not Christ “offend?” when He called the Pharisees and Saducees hypocrites and brood of vipers and tell them it will be easier for the publicans and harlots to enter the kingdom of heaven than them? I think Jesus’ statement was a pretty bold one, thank God. We need to be “bold” in our message! Especially in these ‘last days,’ when the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is so near. Be bold brothers and sisters!
graceofGod on June 26, 2010 at 3:08 am
I can’t agree with you all more. A point I’d like to raise is that I have heard countless times pastors who reiterate the Bible truth of God’s grace and forgiveness without stressing the importance of repentance from sins which have been committed, thus giving the congregation the idea that is it ok to keep on repeating the sin because God is merciful and will always forgive us if we ask.
lindagma on June 26, 2010 at 7:06 am
One of the hardest things to do as a lay Christian is to be a Nathan. We risk losing a friendship. Or to be a David and recognize that the person bringing our attention to sin is doing so in love. Sadly, I think we are so caught up in taking care of number one that we avoid investing in another life. I thank the Lord for my dear friend. Yes we sympathize and support each other through difficulties.. but we give each other scripture and wisdom in how those difficulties are handled. We all need a friend like Nathan.
Noe Meo on June 26, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Just seeing those little feet…
Soldier4Christ on June 26, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Wow, this is a great devotional. It brings attention to a growing problem in the church today. Many people that attend church like to get the uplifting, sugar coated messages. They don’t want to hear about what the consequences of sin are. They want to believe that attendance once a week is enough. These kinds of messages are ok once in a while and are really more geared toward new believers as well as seekers, but unless we get into the meat of the Word we can’t grow and develop a relationship with Christ. The church, especially in America needs to prepare for the days ahead as the return of Jesus nears. We have had it easy so far but times will change and the wheat will be separated from the chaff.
mumof3 on June 26, 2010 at 4:41 pm
I so agree with the above comments, I go to a church where by the grace of god we have a pastor who preaches Gods Word without apologising for it, as a result both the people in it and the church itself has steadily grown. We have seen Gods blessing in many ways and I am privilidged to be apart of it. I grew up in churches where this was not so and have only experienced growth in my christian life in the last 10 years. Thanks God for pastors who are filled with His spirit and not afraid to preach His Word.
KarenN on June 27, 2010 at 12:44 am
When I have read this account in the past I have thought about why Nathan went to David to speak to him about his sin. Of course the Word tells me why but Nathan could have chosen not to confront David. However, Nathan is an example of obedience to the Lord. He did not fear David and went boldly to tell him of God’s displeasure at his sin. David though also shows us a great example of both obedience and also repentance.
David was not proud nor was he a fool. He knew had committed a sin against Father by contriving to kill Uriah so he may have his wife and so accepted what the Lord had said he would do. Although the reading goes to verse 13 it’s worth reading to end of the chapter. Reason is because we see how the Lord changes His Mind about punishing David and instead the Lord takes the life of his child with Bathsheba. During this time David prayed and fasted in an appeal to the Lord to not kill his child. The Lord however did as He said He would. David then gets up takes a shower, changes his clothes and goes to comfort his wife. His advisors were surprised at the change in his attitude. And I feel this is the lesson here, well for me anyway =)
David told them that while he prayed and fasted he had hoped that the Lord would not take the life of his child. But the Lord did and so carrying on fasting and so on would not bring the child back. So he stops his appeal as the Lord had exercised His Will. David accepted what the Lord had done without complaint and without blaming the Lord. He then lay with his wife and they soon had Solomon.
For me the issue here is not about criticising the Pastors at church, please remember Pastors are not accountable for us – only for themselves, or pointing out the “sinners” in church (aren’t we ALL sinners?) but the repentance that David showed for the sin he had committed. David took on the punishment that the Lord had set for him. Quite frankly knowing the Lord like I do in my own life, I reckon it was not with any joy that He made the decision to punish David.
Our God is a faithful, caring loving God. He wants us to do what is right and to stay away from sin. Hence why we have the Word to guide us. Jesus did offend the Pharisees and Sadduces but actually He did it with a heavy heart and with sadness. He did not want to offend them for the fun of it. In fact He did not speak to offend but they were offended by the truth of His words (see Matthew 23). And this is what made Him sad “How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks but you wouldn’t let me (Matt 23:37) See the difference between David and the Pharisees, say? David accepted the consequence of his sin. The Pharisees had Jesus killed because He is Truth and the Truth offended them.
It is not really about being a Nathan or a David. It is about being without sin and leaning onto the Rock that is Jesus Christ is the only way to do it.
Remember above all else, what Jesus did or said, He did with pure love.
Thanks
Patsy on July 1, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Just read KarenN ‘s comment. Thank you. It shows such Godly wisdom.
regina franklin on July 1, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Dear KarenN–
Thank you so much for your response. You’ve done well in pointing out that God’s response to us is always one of love–even when bringing us correction.
There is one point you raise, however, that I want to offer some food for thought. In your response, you said, “please remember Pastors are not accountable for us – only for themselves, or pointing out the “sinners” in church (aren’t we ALL sinners?).” Let me wholeheartedly agree with you that absolutely we are all sinners and yes it is the role of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction. However, Paul demonstrates throughout the New Testament that there is a time and place for bringing correction within the body of Christ. Today in my Bible reading, I was in Acts 20. Verses 28-31 is Paul’s admonition to the elders of the church in reminding them that they had a responsibility to watch over those entrusted to their care. Paul advised Timothy of the same responsibility in 2 Timothy 4:1-4.
And as Paul reminded the elders in Acts 20:31, any admonishing he did was done with tears–not because leaders are called to be on a power trip or to operate from self-righteousness but because they have a scriptural responsibility to look out for the good of those under their care.
Even the Old Testament addresses this idea as the book of Ezekiel records the danger of shepherds who become more focused on their own needs than in being on guard for their flock (Ezekiel 34) and as Ezekiel prophesies about the watchmen who abandons his responsibility to call out to the people the coming dangers (Ezekiel 33).
Love is not love when it leaves people in the pit of sin. But neither is it love when it seeks its own agenda. Any correction of others should be done out of concern for the well-being of others (and not for our own justification) and in a spirit of love.
Thanks again for your feedback!
Blessings.