Good confrontation is hard to find these days. There is definitely confrontation out there, but it's mostly forms so vile that the people in its path flee or become so enraged themselves that they become entrapped in it. 

What happened to good confrontation? 
---- 
I remember being a kid at summer camp, whirring down a zipline from high up on the shoreline down toward the lake, and suddenly finding myself flying unattached through the air. The counselor who had pulled up the line had done it incorrectly and the loop of rope I was hanging on to became caught: there was no way for me to hold on as my body continued propelling me forward. It happened so fast, and suddenly I hit the water just a few feet from the shoreline. My life jacket brought me back to the surface. I was shaking and afraid, but okay. My counselor calmed me down and then suggested that I go down the zipline again. She told me that if I didn't do it now, I would probably be scared of it for the rest of my life. I knew she was right, and somehow she convinced me to confront my legitimate fears and give it another go. 

Get back on the horse, you know?

My camp counselor knew what I needed when she had me face my fear. It was hard and terrifying, but it rewrote the ending of that ziplining experience from one of fear to one of bravery. While that one additional zipline wasn't exactly fun, it created a framework for growth. The next year, I ziplined again (the first miracle) and enjoyed the thrill of it (the second miracle). 

How many times in life are we pushed or nudged into growth?

All those times when we aren't sure we can give the presentation, run the 5k, read scripture in front of everyone at church, deliver the baby, pass the exam, rappel down the wall, swim the whole length of the pool, or speak up for ourselves; and someone pushes us to gather up our strength and we give it a go. When we wouldn't have on our own. We just needed a little confrontation, some direct pressure to move forward. 

In John 6:60-69, that's what Jesus was doing. After the disciples complained that following Jesus was so hard that they didn't understand why anyone would do it, Jesus said, "Does this shock you?"  Jesus laid it out for them and says that he's got "Spirit and life," which is the most important thing of all. Many of his followers left and gave it all up. Because it was hard and they were being confronted with that inevitability. But for those who stayed, it solidified their dedication to Jesus who has "the words of eternal life." It made them come to terms with the fear of the difficulty: that it was worth it. That life following Jesus provided meaning and growth, even when it was hard. 

Notice that Jesus doesn't chase after the people who left. He lets them go on their own accord. But he doesn't pretend that following him will be easy for the sake of boosting his numbers either. He knows that what he is offering will both inspire and require growth in the most important ways, and he's willing to be honest about that.

When have you been faced with a good confrontation of your faith?

When have you provided a good confrontation to support the growth of someone else’s faith? How has that brought you into the “Spirit and life” that Jesus invites us into?