September-October 1997
ONE PILGRIM'S PROGRESSFacing the TruthA "litmus test" for honesty by J. Michael Feazell | 
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Many of the Hebrew prophets faced skeptical audiences who did not want to confront the truth. Isaiah was one of the men of God who faced many of the obstacles that we humans throw up as barriers to the truth.
In one of his insightful condemnations of people who would rather follow fables and lies rather than truth, Isaiah characterized the children of Israel: "These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction. They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!'" (Isaiah 30:9-11).
This message rings true across the centuries. We humans still do not like to be confronted with the Holy One of Israel. Some churches and some individual Christians cover their ears to the truth and would rather continue to believe cherished traditions. Honesty is sacrificed for comfort, as we justify ourselves with "what we have always believed."
I believe a spiritually healthy church or group is honest with itself. Where there is pretense there is spiritual sickness. The Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of truth" (John 15:26). To hide from the truth is to hide from God.
Likewise, Jesus is the Truth, and when his disciples are committed to him, they are committed to truth. Only when we face the truth can there be freedom in Christ. Only when we face the truth can there be healing and forgiveness. Only when we face the truth can we stand before God ready for his transforming work in our deepest parts.
I suggest the following "litmus test" for honesty in any Christian organization:
- Face the truth about yourself. You are
a sinner. God knows it and you know it. Be brutally honest with yourself
and with God about that.
- Face the truth about your group. No group,
including yours, is the one and only "faithful remnant." Your
group is not the most important group on earth. Its mission is not the
most important mission on earth. There will not be a "greater reward"
for members of your group. Your group is not "more special" than
other parts of the body of Christ. God loves you and every member in your
group, but he can, in fact, get by without your group.
- Face the truth about your leader. No leader
is infallible. No leader has "all the truth." No leader has been
raised up by God to bring "new" truth that has "never before
been understood." No leader has a special dispensation from God to
sin. No leader is the only true servant of God.
- Face the truth about your questions. If
you have questions, admit them to yourself. Don't be afraid to explore
the possible answers. You don't have to reach final conclusions; you just
have to live in the real world. To suppress your questions or hide from
them only sets you up for even greater disillusionment and grief later.
- Don't be afraid to seek the truth. Truth may hurt, but it is the best medicine for healthy living. Truth stands up to examination. There is no need to fear it. If your belief is false, it is far better to face it and change it than to cling to it. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," Jesus said. The temporary pain of facing the truth is well worth the joy of freedom it brings.
Author and speaker John Dawson has said that only we Christians have the freedom to be honest about our true situations. It is only when things are uncovered that the blood of Christ can be applied.