The Truth in Love

What do you want to hear?

When you go to the doctor for your annual checkup, don’t you want to hear that everything is just fine? But, what if it’s not? Do you still want your physician to tell you that you are fine even though all the tests say otherwise? Of course not! That would be malpractice. Why then, when it comes to our spiritual health, are we so reluctant to hear the truth?

Not just, “smile, God loves you”

Someone has observed: John the Baptist’s message from the wilderness was not, “Smile, God loves you.” It was “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come.” Jeremiah was not put into a miry pit for preaching, “I’m OK, you’re OK.” It was for crying against the adultery, idolatry and other wickedness of his nation. Noah’s message from the steps of the ark was not, “Something good is going to happen to you.” He condemned the world and was a preacher of righteousness. Jesus Christ was not crucified for saying, “Consider the lilies, how they grow,” but for saying, “Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites … children of hell … fools and blind guides … whited sepulchers … generation of vipers.”

Listen to the whole counsel of God

When Paul was about to part company with the Ephesian elders, he said to them: And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:25-31).

The whole truth is the truth in love

Faithful men of God must always teach and preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. They can do no less and please God, and it is God, not men, who is to be pleased (Galatians 1:10). Of course, the truth must be presented in love (Ephesians 4:15). No faithful preacher will delight in being offensive, but truth cannot be compromised in a bid for the love and praise of men. Real love for God and for souls requires that the truth be taught in spite of any personal ramifications. That is why John was compelled to say to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have her” (Matthew 14:4). In so doing, he was preaching the truth in love.