““I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” (Luke 4:24, NIV84)
The day that Jesus said the words above, He was thrown out of his hometown. He was thus rejected by the people who lived near Him not because of He broke the law or behaved atrociously. Jesus was rejected because He spoke the truth. He commented rightly on scripture. The people in Jesus’ hometown rejected Jesus’ teaching because it hit them right where it hurt. Jesus knew His neighbors. He knew how they thought, how they understood life, what their goals were. Jesus’ explanation of the scripture was so right on the money that they were offended.
There will be times in your life when you will be similarly treated. You may be rejected for speaking the truth. You might be shunned for stating the obvious. If you shine a light on hidden sin, the response might just be that you are hated. Even though you are trying to save their souls, people may respond with hate and rejection and bitterness and resentment. That’s a consequence of dealing with the truth of the gospel.
Even in yourself, you may find your hackles raised when you are forced to deal with your own errors, your own failings, your sin. When the truth hits home, you might have to face your fears or deal with a recurring temptation. This may cause you to become bitter with God, angry at yourself, resentful of the pastor who dared to speak the truth to you. I would honestly say that if you don’t ever experience rejection when you speak the truth of the gospel, chances are you are not dealing with the truth or you are not rightly understanding the gospel!
When Jerry came home from overseas, he was angry and bitter. His stint in the army caused him much pain. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder was his diagnosis. Jerry had a hot temper, a short fuse, and too many bad memories from the war. When doctors suggested that he take anti-depressants, he told them that they were not going to drug him into oblivion! When his best friend mentioned that he needed the help of a good counselor, Jerry swore at him for five minutes straight, then refused to talk to him again. When Jerry responded angrily at his mother for something petty, she pulled away and refused to say anything negative. Everyone was walking on eggshells around Jerry.
Then, Jerry ran into his old pastor at a holiday event. When the pastor saw Jerry, he waved. Later, the pastor sought him out. Then, the pastor said to Jerry, “We have missed you at church. I remember when you and I used to work together for the food pantry at the holiday festival!” Feeling guilty for being half the man he used to be, feeling insecure around the pastor, feeling the emptiness in his soul, Jerry unloaded on the pastor. He swore at the pastor so loudly that some people in the crowd could only gasp at the interchange. After Jerry walked away, several of Jerry’s family and friends said they were sorry about what had happened. Others told the pastor he deserved the tongue-lashing and should “mind his own damned business”. What had the pastor done? Nothing wrong. What was the result? People blamed the pastor for a wrong when it was Jerry who had the problem.
People often do not respond to the truth in a positive way. In fact, they often take offense at the person who speaks the truth. When a person cites the gospel, some people are so offended at the seeming “holier than thou” attitude of the person that they respond with resentment: “How dare he get all religious with me!” When people respond negatively to God’s truth, it’s often their issue. When people get angry at you for daring to speak God’s honest truth in love, its often their own insecurities coming out. It doesn’t mean you should berate yourself for telling the truth. It doesn’t mean you should quit talking about the gospel. It just means you hit a sore spot.
It hurts to tell God’s honest truth in love and suffer for doing so. It’s difficult to deal with the emotions when you try to do something loving but are rejected outright and painted as a bad person. That doesn’t mean you should stop being loving or should cease telling the truth. It just means your words hit home. It means the person is hurting or dealing with serious issues. You just happen to be the one who gets the brunt of their emotional or spiritual illness.
True Christians are willing to be humiliated or berated for telling God’s truth in love. Faithful Christians are willing to face the wrath of others who attack them unfairly just for being loving. Shallow Christians will stop speaking about spiritual issues when confronted. They will pull back rather than risk an uncomfortable situation while speaking about spiritual things. Honorable disciples of Christ are not ashamed of the gospel, not willing to hide their love of Jesus! (Luke 11:33!). They seek to save souls even when those souls may strike back.
Jesus spoke God’s truth in love to His hometown. He was rejected for his efforts. You will be rejected in a similar manner for just speaking the truth in love. Jesus did not stop praising God, even when confronted or berated or abused. He did not withhold the gospel even when His life depended on it.
Are you willing to speak God’s truth in love, even when it hurts? Is your faith strong enough to handle the rejection of others, even those close to home? If everybody loves you, chances are you are not speaking the truth nor speaking the gospel. Sometimes, the only way you can tell that you are speaking God’s honest truth is by feeling the rejection of those who can’t handle God’s honest truth!
There will be times in your life when you will be similarly treated. You may be rejected for speaking the truth. You might be shunned for stating the obvious. If you shine a light on hidden sin, the response might just be that you are hated. Even though you are trying to save their souls, people may respond with hate and rejection and bitterness and resentment. That’s a consequence of dealing with the truth of the gospel.
Even in yourself, you may find your hackles raised when you are forced to deal with your own errors, your own failings, your sin. When the truth hits home, you might have to face your fears or deal with a recurring temptation. This may cause you to become bitter with God, angry at yourself, resentful of the pastor who dared to speak the truth to you. I would honestly say that if you don’t ever experience rejection when you speak the truth of the gospel, chances are you are not dealing with the truth or you are not rightly understanding the gospel!
When Jerry came home from overseas, he was angry and bitter. His stint in the army caused him much pain. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder was his diagnosis. Jerry had a hot temper, a short fuse, and too many bad memories from the war. When doctors suggested that he take anti-depressants, he told them that they were not going to drug him into oblivion! When his best friend mentioned that he needed the help of a good counselor, Jerry swore at him for five minutes straight, then refused to talk to him again. When Jerry responded angrily at his mother for something petty, she pulled away and refused to say anything negative. Everyone was walking on eggshells around Jerry.
Then, Jerry ran into his old pastor at a holiday event. When the pastor saw Jerry, he waved. Later, the pastor sought him out. Then, the pastor said to Jerry, “We have missed you at church. I remember when you and I used to work together for the food pantry at the holiday festival!” Feeling guilty for being half the man he used to be, feeling insecure around the pastor, feeling the emptiness in his soul, Jerry unloaded on the pastor. He swore at the pastor so loudly that some people in the crowd could only gasp at the interchange. After Jerry walked away, several of Jerry’s family and friends said they were sorry about what had happened. Others told the pastor he deserved the tongue-lashing and should “mind his own damned business”. What had the pastor done? Nothing wrong. What was the result? People blamed the pastor for a wrong when it was Jerry who had the problem.
People often do not respond to the truth in a positive way. In fact, they often take offense at the person who speaks the truth. When a person cites the gospel, some people are so offended at the seeming “holier than thou” attitude of the person that they respond with resentment: “How dare he get all religious with me!” When people respond negatively to God’s truth, it’s often their issue. When people get angry at you for daring to speak God’s honest truth in love, its often their own insecurities coming out. It doesn’t mean you should berate yourself for telling the truth. It doesn’t mean you should quit talking about the gospel. It just means you hit a sore spot.
It hurts to tell God’s honest truth in love and suffer for doing so. It’s difficult to deal with the emotions when you try to do something loving but are rejected outright and painted as a bad person. That doesn’t mean you should stop being loving or should cease telling the truth. It just means your words hit home. It means the person is hurting or dealing with serious issues. You just happen to be the one who gets the brunt of their emotional or spiritual illness.
True Christians are willing to be humiliated or berated for telling God’s truth in love. Faithful Christians are willing to face the wrath of others who attack them unfairly just for being loving. Shallow Christians will stop speaking about spiritual issues when confronted. They will pull back rather than risk an uncomfortable situation while speaking about spiritual things. Honorable disciples of Christ are not ashamed of the gospel, not willing to hide their love of Jesus! (Luke 11:33!). They seek to save souls even when those souls may strike back.
Jesus spoke God’s truth in love to His hometown. He was rejected for his efforts. You will be rejected in a similar manner for just speaking the truth in love. Jesus did not stop praising God, even when confronted or berated or abused. He did not withhold the gospel even when His life depended on it.
Are you willing to speak God’s truth in love, even when it hurts? Is your faith strong enough to handle the rejection of others, even those close to home? If everybody loves you, chances are you are not speaking the truth nor speaking the gospel. Sometimes, the only way you can tell that you are speaking God’s honest truth is by feeling the rejection of those who can’t handle God’s honest truth!