The church is to operate in the “truth in love” space. Scripture is clear in this regard….
“but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,” (Ephesians 4:15, NASB95)
What does this look like? What are the challenges in today’s world? Continue reading as we examine this vitally important issue in more detail.
The first issue is our SOURCE of truth. We live in an age where increasingly people say “I don’t believe anything anymore.” People have been lied to by their political leaders too many tines. People have been lied to by the media. People have seen lies go around the world in seconds on social media. With AI, you can no longer believe what you see or hear anymore. So, what do we do? Is there truth to be found anywhere? Our culture offers only one alternative: each individual determines the truth. The individual is god! This folly leads to chaos, and we see this unfolding in our country today. We see moral chaos and, increasingly, chaos in our streets.
The biblical, Christian worldview is clear about our source of truth. JESUS EMBODIES the truth (John 1:14, 14:6). The BIBLE REVEALS the truth (2 Timothy 3:16), and the church PROCLAIMS the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). The people of God live from the standpoint of revealed truth. If truth is a constant, moving target, then we have no basis to be bold about anything. Everything starts with our source of truth.
BOTH truth and love are ESSENTIAL. There are voices in our culture today who only want to emphasize God’s love. They use the famous Biblical truth “God is Love” like a trump card over everything else. You aren’t supposed to name sin or call for repentance because, after all, God is love. That position is a lie because it is love without truth. At the other extreme are those who are clear about the truth, but they don’t really care about people. They use the truth as a cruel hammer. That is truth without love. The Biblical way is BOTH. Speak the truth and only the truth. When you speak the truth, make sure it comes from a heart of love – love for the Lord and love for people. Truth and love are not mutually exclusive. They go together.
It’s truth IN love. After I recently preached on this text, a member of my church came up to me said, “Pastor, it’s very important to be clear. It’s not truth AND love. It’s truth IN love. There is a difference.” They are exactly right. It’s always truth IN love. It’s not truth AND love. What’s the difference? If it’s truth AND love, then I am obligated to speak the truth and I am obligated to love. However, truth IN love means that the truth I share must be wrapped up in love – like the picture at the top of this post. Love must permeate truth. Speaking truth must be MOTIVATED by love and DONE from a heart of love in the MOST loving way possible.
The truth is OFFENSIVE to some. There is no getting around it. There are some truths that, no matter how kindly and winsomely you say them, will offend some people. For instance, to simply state the Bible’s simple, clear position on marriage and sexuality will bring howls of “bigotry” and “God is love.” We should make every effort not to be offensive. We should constantly search our hearts to make sure our heart burns from our love of God and is tender with love for people. However, if the truth offends, so be it. We must stand on the truth. The alternative is to lie to people. Just know that if we refuse to lie to people, some people will be offended.
The “truth in love” space is where Jesus operates. I love the famous story in John 8 where the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman to Jesus who has been caught in the very act of adultery….
“Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”” (John 8:2–11, NASB95)
There it is. Truth in love. Jesus absolutely showed this woman love: “neither do I condemn you.” However, Jesus loved her enough to tell her the truth about her sin: “go and sin no more.” Jesus loved her enough not to leave her in her sin.
The truth in love space is where Jesus operates. The truth in love space is where the people of God must be. The truth in love space is where I must be.
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