Tearing Down To Build

2 Corinthians 13:10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

One of my members said he came to church to be edified. Like renovating a building sometimes you have to tear down to build up. Not all sermons can be positive. Indeed, much of the Word is as negative as it is positive. Jesus talked more about Hell than Heaven. There are plenty of thou shalt nots with the thou shalts.

We live in an age where anything that does not make you feel good it is labeled as negative, legalistic, judgmental and unloving. If you look at some of the language of John the Baptist, Jesus and especially Paul there are some things that were definitely not positive. Generation of vipers, Scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites and beware of dogs that need to be cut off (radical circumcision) are not the kind of things that are politically correct or anything we want to hear in church today.

"My life sucks, Preacher! Preach smooth things! Don't bring me down or bum me out!!" If your life sucks maybe there are some things to be that need to be torn down so I, or rather God and His Word can build you up. Harsh truth is often needed as the wrecking ball to tear down false thinking and actions before you can start building with gold. silver and precious stones rather than wood, hay and stubble.

We take foul tasting meds, painful shots and even endure surgery to be physically healed. Why not endure "sharpness" if it brings edification to your soul? You would hate a doctor who only gave you chocolate covered placebos that did not to heal you, but made you feel good emotionally. Your good feelings would be based on a lie that might ultimately kill you. So much more do you not want the preacher to preach chocolate covered placebo sermons that let you walk out feeling good on lies and then you die ending up in Hell cursing that preacher you praised in life.

Real love is based on truth and sometimes truth can be harsh.

Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

If I ever wound you with truth it is because I love you and Christ and cannot kiss you with sweet lies because He would not do so.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Swords are sharp and hurt worse than a surgeon's scalpel. but the Holy Spirit can wield that sword like a laser scalpel cutting only that which needs to be removed from your heart, mind and soul to heal and save, not kill. Seek what you need from Him, not just what makes you feel good. You will never feel better than when the truth hits home and changes you. Maranatha!!