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| Woman Taken in Adultery by Rembrandt |
Speaking the Truth in Love vs Lovingly Speaking Truth
Sometimes “speaking the truth in love” is really just candy
coated judgmental spiritual pride. How many times have you heard the phrase
“I’m telling you this in love” and then felt like you were just punched in the
gut. I wonder if we flipped that phrase in Ephesians 4:15 around to “lovingly
speaking truth” maybe there would be less spiritual abuse in the church.
Having the truth and being right shouldn’t overrule the command to show compassion and understanding towards others. In Matthew’s Gospel, when the Pharisees questioned why Jesus ate with sinners, they felt that they were right and speaking the truth according to Jewish customs. They were overly concerned that everyone was following their rules than with the individual needs of those that Jesus was sharing a meal with. Jesus told them to go and learn what the Prophet Hosea meant when he said that God desires compassion and not sacrifice.
Look at the story in John’s
Gospel about the woman caught in adultery, those who brought her to Jesus felt
that they were right – that they were speaking the truth according to the Law
of Moses. They had chapter and verse saying that the woman should be stoned to death. But Jesus’ response was to lovingly speak truth by first deescalating the situation, then extending
forgiveness and compassion before telling her to go and sin no more. As James said, mercy triumphs
over judgment.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience. (Colossians 3:12)
Kevin (Cloud)
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