Truth... in Love.

Growing up, I would say something and my mom would give me “the look,” you know it, right?

Its that look of you better hush up… immediately.

However, often times, I’d respond with, “What? I’m only telling the truth.” In which, she’d say, “the truth without compassion is brutality.”

In a culture today that sacrifices truth at every turn, that repetitive conversation has played in my head. As believers, we have been called to speak truth and not waiver from its foundation.

And please do not misunderstand and tune me out… I do not believe we should sacrifice the truth - however, I recall about a decade of go being at a conference and hearing a speaker declare that we would see an entire generation sacrifice “truth” for the sake of “love.”

In which, we are witnessing before our very eyes today…

It is evident everywhere we look that love has been mistaken as love.

Being back at that same conference earlier this year, I heard a different speaker share that the most loving thing we can do is speak truth.

Now, as a teacher — I am a HUGE advocate for relationships within the classroom. Why?

Well, people do not respond well or sometimes at all to those that they do not believe like them or better yet, love them. If someone knows you love them, then they understand that when you tell them something, even if it is hard to hear — you are saying it out of love.

My kinder students know that whenever I ask them about their words to another, I am going to ask 1) was it kind? 2) was it said in a kind tone?

Our words and the tone in which we speak them go hand in hand in how a message is delivered to someone and how they receive it.

The same is true when it comes to love and truth.

Yes, we are watching generations of all ages sacrifice truth for the sake of love, but I think we should ask ourselves, why?

Why do they interrupt truth as hate? Maybe it is because of HOW we are speaking it…

At some point, we have to learn how to speak truth IN love.

Sometimes, there is a need for tough love, but even then there is a correct method in which to deliver it.

Look within scriptures —

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. -Galatians 6:1

Restore gently. The goal here is to restoration, but I often think of an old car or old furniture when I think of the word restoration. If we are not gentle - what we seek to restore will dismantle and fall to pieces. Same is true of individuals we seek to help restore in their walk with Christ. GENTLENESS is key!

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. -Hebrews 3:12

It is our responsibility that others do not turn away from God — if we are not careful, we will run many away. It goes back to HOW we deliver truth.

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. - 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Encourage. Help. Be patient. It is extremely gut wrenching to watch those you love make wrong choices, follow the crowd, be rebellious — but that is where patience comes into play.

We will never be able to force the acceptance of truth onto anyone, but as my grandpa and many others used to say — I’ve caught more flies with honey.

Kind words are like honey—    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Proverbs 16:24

May we always strive to be gentle, kind, patient…

Full of love, joy, peace, faithfulness, and self-control.

(Galatians 5:22-23)

Now, again… Please do not misunderstand me. We MUST speak the TRUTH, but we also MUST speak it in LOVE.

Culture has replaced love with “acceptance” and that is not biblical, however, many have done so because we as the Church have spoken truth out of rage, bitterness, anger, frustration, envy, even hate… and called it love.

Make no mistake, Christian… People can read straight through a facade of love and we are merely clanging cymbals (Read 1 Corinthians 13 for reference) missing the mark.

Truth… IN… Love.

That is the way.