Loving Words: Truth and Consequences
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Here’s a hard Truth: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” For all who are paying attention and actually care, this Truth leads to self-examination, exploration of some of the deeper mysteries of life and, for a few, salvation. But salvation only comes when we accept the Truth that we are all sinners who need a savior. And in that moment of distressing revelation about ourselves—that we are sinners—opportunity knocks, because “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Not everyone believes there is absolute Truth (designated herein with a capitol “T” except for quotes from the Bible). Many believe truth is relative: Perspective, need and desire are just a few things that define truth at a given moment. Instead of the Truth, there are situational truths—truths defined by what works best under the circumstances. But if there is transcendent Truth that is not dependent on or our own needs, fears and desires, then what we call truth may have to yield to a higher power (e.g., my belief that I’m a “good person” and am therefore going to heaven will have to give way to the Truth that “no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again”).
Pilot was perhaps the most unfortunate relativist of all time. He was caught in the middle of the religious leaders who wanted Jesus crucified, his peers who wanted his job, and his own nagging awareness that Jesus was no ordinary man. When Jesus told him that “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me,” Pilot had a choice to make. Rather than examine his own understanding of reality or explore the profound life-changing ramifications of what Jesus was saying, Pilot simply parried and asked, “What is truth?” sealing his own fate and place in history. Pilot thought his clever response made him the final arbiter of Truth.
He was wrong.
Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life.” He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and last word on all things, including Truth. His disciples, then and now, have been empowered to bring God’s Truth to an unbelieving world. And not without controversy.
The Galatians were falling away from the Gospel they had been taught. False teachers had gained prominence in the church, and religious traditions, rather than faith, were being heralded as the road to salvation. Once counted as mentor, friend and Apostle, Paul’s correction was not welcome when he confronted the Galatians.
“Have I now become your enemy” he asked, “by telling you the truth?”
In a way, he had. Because a hard Truth, whether about our own sin and failings, or about false teaching or abuse of authority, is rarely welcome. Worse, Truth is often so hated that crucifying the messenger seems like a viable alternative to receiving the message. It is what the Romans and Pharisees chose. And it was what Jesus was willing to suffer in defense of the Truth about who he was and why he came into the world.
What are we willing to suffer for the Truth?
John tells us we cannot love with just “words and tongue,” (the scriptural way of saying talk is cheap), “but in actions and in truth.” Our lives have to be a living testament to God’s Truth if they are to have any impact on the people around us. That can only happen if we accept that God desires Truth “in the inner parts”—Truth which transforms the heart and mind and lovingly sets us free.
Jesus did not come to be our enemy, though some think he is. He came to save us and show us this absolute Truth: "Love never fails."
Sometimes it is absolutely our responsibility to speak the Truth in love.
Other times it’s our duty and responsibility to lovingly hear and receive the Truth from others. That doesn’t make the messenger our enemy any more than speaking the Truth make us theirs.
One measure of our maturity in Christ is this: Are we as willing to hear the Truth as we are to speak it?
If not, we need to grow up.
Which is, incidentally, something else God desires for all of us.