Creekside Church Sermon of August 3, 1997 "A Confrontation With the Truth" II Samuel 11:26-12:13a	Rev. David Bibbee
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If it could only be that easy. If only with words we could take things back and change the outcomes. But as someone observed, there is one thing even God cannot do, and that is make the past not to have been. To be confronted by the truth is an awesome thing, particularly when the truth of God meets the truth about our lives. No matter how elaborate or eloquent the denials and rationalizations, the truth has a way of finding us out and the discovery is seldom pleasant. A Jewish proverb says, "Endure the truth, even if it be bitter." Or as someone paraphrased Jesus, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free, but first it will make you miserable."

Today we will observe the impact of God's truth and how, even though it is a painful thing, it is also a necessary thing in order to have a new start by God's grace. We will do this by continuing our exploration of King David's exploits. Last Sunday, you will recall, David, the man after God's own heart, had an affair with Bathsheba which resulted in a pregnancy. Unable to make it appear the child was her husband Uriah's, David orchestrated his death on the battlefield, and then made Bathsheba his wife.

David's kingly power went haywire and his sin reduced him to thinking the lid would remain secure on the truth. And it may have, if God hadn't sent the prophet Nathan with a story about someone David knew. It was a heartrending story about a rich man who stole a lamb that was the sole, beloved possession of a poor man and his family, and who cooked it for his dinner guest. David declared that the man should die for his cold, cruel deed. And Nathan declared, "You have passed sentence on yourself. You are the adulterer. You are the deceiver. You are the murderer. You are the man."

Now notice that what David did not do. No scapegoating like back in the Garden of Eden. "Eve made me do it!" No, "Bathsheba seduced me." No, "This affair was created by mid-life crisis" excuse. No, "I've been framed!" No, "I categorically deny all the allegations." David was hemmed in by the terrible truth. No executive immunity. No fifth amendment. He confessed. "I've sinned against the Lord." David had acted high and haughty as though accountable to no one, but when confronted with the truth, David fell from the throne to his knees before God.

Do you remember what it was like to get caught with your hand in the cookie jar? Do you recall when you had to painfully accept responsibility for something? Of course you do. We know David more than we let on. That's what makes the church such a dangerous place. Most of us don't associate church with danger. We are here to praise God for his goodness and his love for us in Christ. But as C.S. Lewis said, "Before our faith becomes a thing of deep joy, it brings us despair. Only when we see ourselves for what we are can we rejoice at how God descended to us in our need."

Sometimes we come to church to get away from what's wrong and get an infusion of good feelings. But we ought to remember that Jesus wasn't into packing people in with a steady diet of "Be Happy" messages. The church growth people need to look at the story again because Jesus didn't hold crowds very well. He could take a huge, enthusiastic crowd and whittle them down to a handful in no time. The truth does this to people. It is sharper than a two edged sword. Most would rather walk away from it than endure it.

We are far more likely to be confronted with the unpleasant things of life in the church than anywhere else. Here you'll be confronted with Bible stories which run counter to the stories the world tells you. On any given Sunday, you'd better be careful because like David, a Nathan may be poised to tell you about you. Who would want to submit themselves to that kind of truth? Like T. S. Elliot wrote:

Why should people love the church? Why should they love her laws?
She tells them of life and death, and of all they would forget.
She is tender where they are hard, and hard where they like to be soft.
She tells them of evil and sin, and other unpleasant facts.

Legend goes that Socrates was approached by a student who said, "I hate you, for whenever I am in your presence, you show me what I am." Can you think of people in whose presence you are a better person? Their character, their commitments, their faith inspires you to be better. Sometimes, just by being themselves, you are challenged by the truth of what they are and you aren't. You are forced to look above your level and realize you have higher to climb.

The leader for the Ministers Conference at Annual Conference was Tim Timmons. He is a motivational speaker and consultant to corporations, and also the pastor of a church in Irvine, CA which grew from 160 to 10,0000 members. The focus of his ministry is upon those who have never been to church or were turned off by it, which, he says, makes for a lot of people. To be more visible in the community and get some exercise, he joined a racquet club. On his first visit, he was paired to play with another member. The two met at the net and shook hands. "Hi, I'm Tim Timmons." Instantly the man's expression changed and he walked away. "Of all the people to play, and I get paired with you. Tim Timmons...the preacher, right?" "Yes...so?" "You don't know who I am, do you? I'm the pornography kingpin of Orange County. What do you have to say to that?" Tim replied, "Are we gonna play tennis, or are you gonna talk?"

As Tim walked back to the baseline, he uttered a prayer, "Lord, let me beat this guy." And he did. Then the surprise. The next Sunday as Tim began the service he looked over the congregation and who should he see but Mr. Kingpin and his family. After worship an older member came to Timmons in a tizzy. "Do you know who that is?" She said pointing to the unexpected guest. "Yes, we play tennis together at the club." She didn't know what to say. His family kept coming, and six months later he approached Tim after church and said, "I'm out of the business." "You're what?" "Don't get me wrong. I'm not born again or anything. But I've decided to quit the porn business." Over time, the reorientation continued, and eventually he and his family were baptized.

The truth Tim was about and which was evident in the church, caused this man to question the basis of his life. God's truth targeted him, created upheaval, turned everything upside down. You better be careful. The Bible is not the book to read, the church is not the place to be, committed Christians, not people to see--unless you can tolerate the truth. Come to church long enough and God will turn your holy cows into hamburgers. Your idols will be knocked over. Good sounding reasons for postponing service will be exposed as the excuses they are. The cover-up will be uncovered and we will see the truth which we deny concerning our prejudice, our self-centeredness, our racism, our infidelity, and the murder we commit with our words and thoughtless acts.

David may have been able to live out his life with no one knowing his secret, but he knew it, and he would remain burdened inside. Only by enduring Nathan's searing story could he finally be free. "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said, "Your sin is forgiven." Standing in the light of God's truth is hard, but also redemptive.

During the early years of his ministry not long after becoming a Christian, Keith Miller traveled around the country speaking to lots of mens gatherings about the adventure of life with Christ. At one meeting he had an impulse to say, "I have the darndest feeling that I came here to talk to one of you guys." As soon as he sat down he said to himself, "You stupid jerk! Why did you say that?" He wanted to be dramatic, but not melodramatic. In the course of talking with folks after the meeting, a handsome, distinguished man came forward. He had tears in his eyes. "I'm the one," he said.

They began to talk. "How did you get here?" Miller asked. "I'm an attorney. I travel a lot. I'm married. I don't live in this town...but my mistress lives here. I was going to see her. When I got out of my car at her apartment I ran into three guys from my home town. þHey, John. What are you doing here?' Inside I was paralyzed. I didn't know what to say so I shrugged and said, 'Just passing through.' 'Fine. Why don't you come with us to hear this Christian business man named Keith Miller?'...Sure. I haven't got anything else to do. That's how I got here.

I heard what you said about being frustrated, pushing your life too hard, and how God is helping you. I realized my life is out of hand and I'm scared." Keith had a plane to catch, but didn't want to just leave the man. "Would you like to commit your life to Christ, leave this woman and learn to live again?" "Yes." "Then tell God where you've been and who you are. Confess. Then tell Christ, 'I give up. Show me how to live because I don't know how anymore.' " "I'm not sure I can do that," he said. "Well, can you tell God you want to want to do that?" "Yes, I can."

The two prayed and Keith left. They kept corresponding over the next year. John was changing. He was doing loving things for his family, church, and community. He was talking to people about what was happening in his life. John lived in a town of 10,000 people. He wrote one day and asked Keith to come and give a talk to some of his friends about Christianity. "I don't know what to tell them." He said. John picked Keith up at the airport. People keep asking me how I became a Christian. I don't know what to say." "I don't know what I can do, but I'm glad to see you, and we'll give it a try." Keith said. As they entered the church and approached the sanctuary, he heard the muffled sound of singing. The minister met them and said, "I want to tell you, Mr. Miller, I don't know what you did for John, but he has changed my life."

Keith was taken back by those words, but not as much as by what he saw when he entered the sanctuary...the faces of John's friends who wanted to know what happened to him...all 800 of them.

Confronting the truth of who we are and aren't, what we've done or not done, is a hard, harsh, humbling experience. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you miserable. But even more, it has the power to make you free. Unable to evade the truth about himself, David could only say, "I have sinned." But Nathan said, "You are forgiven. You will live again."

The disciples of Rabbi Baal Shem once said, "Tell us, dear Rabbi, how we should serve God." "How should I know?" He replied. Then he told them this story.

A king had two friends who were found guilty of a serious crime and sentenced to death. Now, even though the king loved them, he dared not acquit them outright for fear of giving a bad example to the people. So this is the verdict he gave. A rope was stretched across a deep chasm and each of the two men was to walk over it...to safety and freedom or, if he fell, to his death.

The first of the two got across safely. The other shouted to the first across the chasm, "Tell me...how did you do it." The first shouted back, "How should I know? All I did was this. When I found myself listing to one side, I leaned to the other."

The truth, God's truth, is life. So as we list to one side, lost, and out of control, let's not resist the truth, let's not fear it, but lean toward it, and live.

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