• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Bible Reflection This might hurt a little . . .

This might hurt a little . . .

Posted on July 8, 2017 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment


Scalpel
Copyright: sudok1 / 123RF Stock Photo

“This might hurt a little” was what the doctor told me as he began attacking a cyst in my armpit. It turns out that this was a classic understatement. It actually hurt a lot.

It seems to be a universal law that there is some measure of pain when corrective action needs to be taken to restore health. Those of us who are old enough to have had our scrapes and cuts treated with Mercurochrome can remember the sting associated with having that reddish liquid applied to our wounds.

But like our willingness to endure pain to get our physical wounds healed, we also need to be willing to be confronted where we need spiritual healing.

This highlights the importance of being in fellowship. While it not impossible for my sin to be confronted by my personal prayer and Bible study, it is more likely to happen as a result of my relationships.

The two social institutions that God has provided for us are the family and the church. In either or both of these institutions our selfishness and pride will be exposed and confronted.

While you cannot chose your family and most people would opt out of family relationships only under very extreme circumstances. In 21st Century America, we often have a much different philosophy about church.

It is easy for us to have a consumer mentality about picking a church. If we don’t like the preaching style, worship style, youth group, etc. it is too easy to move to the next church down the street. While there is nothing wrong with having preferences, the danger is that we can avoid healthy discomfort by moving on.

Any of us that have sat under Biblical preaching for any length of time have felt the sting when Scripture confronts us in areas of idolatry or rebellion. We need to have the discipline to find and stay with a church that will faithfully put us in position to be confronted by Scripture.

We need a prophetic voice.


Filed Under: Bible Reflection

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

Church

Whose church is it anyway?

Jesus’ statement, “upon this rock I will build my church,” was a declaration of ownership. In this post, I catalog five implications of this truth.

Who defines success?

In his book Center Church, Timothy Keller compares the ideas of faithfulness and fruitfulness in ministry. Those who emphasize faithfulness, point to the accuracy of their teaching and their diligence in presenting scripture as the guide for life and godliness. They point to the fact that regardless of the apparent results, they remain steadfast in […]

Ladd on the cares of this age

. . . it is the character of This Age to choke the working of the Word of God. The spirit of the Age is hostile to the Gospel.

Focus

Inward vs. Outward Focus

Churches can have an inward focus (all about nurturing the members) and/or an outward focus (all about reaching those outside the church). It is my belief that in a healthy church, these two should both be present. I have been to churches that were so focused on body life that they became ingrown and unfriendly to outsiders. […]

A. W. Tozer

Tozer on the Presence of God

This is a quote from How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit, by A. W. Tozer. “[T]here is an unseen Deity present, a knowing, feeling Personality, and He is indivisible from the Father and the Son, so that if you were to be suddenly transferred to heaven itself you wouldn’t be any closer to God […]

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
June 2023
SMTWTFS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
« May    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2023 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in