What to Do When the Bible Makes You Uncomfortable

Upon occasion when reading the Bible, a Christian will come to the uncomfortable realization, “I’m not what the Scripture calls me to be.” Or, “I am not living the way Scripture calls me to live.” 

For example, when reading through the book of Ephesians, a Christian might come across the words of Paul, “See then that you walk carefully, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” 

If a Christian just binge-watched Netflix or Disney+ the night before, or spent six hours playing Candy Crush on their iPhone, they will be confronted by the reality that they have not done what the Bible says they ought to have done. 

What should we do in such a moment? 

When confronted by the uncomfortable reality that our lives have not conformed to some aspect of Scripture, there are several choices a Christian could make. 

Option #1: They could just move on without thinking about it (ignore). 

Option #2: They could feel guilty about it in an unhelpful way (self-condemnation). 

Option #3: They could unhelpfully apply the law-gospel distinction (quick comfort). 

Option #4: They could ask God to change them (sanctification). 

The first option is, unfortunately, how a lot of Christians approach their spiritual problems. Instead of thinking, meditating, and praying in accordance with Scripture, they quickly move on from what the Bible says to other things, because their reading is mostly a cognitive exercise that checks a box (“I have to get my Bible reading done”). 

Like a rock skipping over the surface of Scripture, there is no searching, no asking God to conform them to the image of Christ. They are simply too busy or would rather not apply their mind to what God is actually calling them to do. 

The second option is, (also) unfortunately, how a lot of Christians will feel when confronted with their discipleship failures. There is always a level of discomfort knowing that our lives are not conforming to the reality of what God calls us to do/be. But many Christians feel an unhealthy sense of guilt that simply deflates them and, in the worst examples, might flood the believer with depressive thoughts about their spiritual state. 

Other Christians, from that sense of discomfort at not “living up” to God's standard, will quickly apply the law-gospel distinction to the passage (Option #3). The reasoning is as follows: “God calls me to redeem the time. I have not redeemed the time. This reminds me of why I need Christ’s righteousness imputed to me.” 

It is undoubtedly true that our failures in the Christian life remind us of our need for Christ. But if our tendency is to constantly apply the balm of the gospel to problem areas of our lives that we aren’t actively seeking to change, this is an unhelpful use of the law-gospel distinction. 

The law-gospel distinction is an absolutely indispensable tool for understanding and applying God’s Word, but the gospel cannot and should not be used as a buffer to protect Christians from the real need we have to be progressively conformed to Christ’s image. If we use the gospel to rob the imperatives of their force, or as an excuse not to target areas of personal sin, we have betrayed the reality of God’s call for us to be sanctified, and have used the gospel in an unhelpful way—for quick comfort. 

The last option is indeed the best and only option for the Christian confronted by the sinful use of his or her time. A Christian coming to grips with the fact that they have failed to live up God’s standards should ask God to forgive them. This is the place to properly apply the balm of the gospel. “God, I have failed to use my time this week to honor you as you have called me to do. I cannot get back the time that I have not redeemed. Forgive me, for Jesus’ sake.” 

After that, however, there must be the added reality of seeking to follow God’s will in the strength of the Spirit in the future. “Father, because you work in me to will and work for your good pleasure, I ask that you would help me to use my time tomorrow in a way that conforms to your Word. Please work in me by your Holy Spirit to take seriously what you have commanded in your Word, so that I would stop using my time as a fool. I recognize that binge-watching Netflix is contrary to what you call me to do. I want to be wise with the time you have given to me.” 

In this way, the law-gospel distinction is (rightly) upheld, with God’s commands being taken seriously (as they should be). Instead of ignoring, or self-condemning, or looking for quick comfort, we should honestly search our hearts and ask that God would change us. 

So, the next time the Bible makes you uncomfortable, what will you do?