(Audio/Video/Text)
Title: Speaking the Truth in Love
Intro:
(no major English variants in translations…so let’s take a look at the Greek)
A Look at the Language:
“speaking the truth”
Greek: alētheuō
This word is only used twice in the Bible, both by Paul. Here is the other place we see it:
Galatians 4:16
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”
But, this word, interestingly, does occur several times in the writings of contemporary philosophers like Plato and Aristotle. And remember, Paul is writing to a predominantly Greek base at Ephesus who have recently become believers in Christ. So while the word is somewhat unique to the Bible, it would have been a word and concept that, through secular knowledge and awareness, would have been familiar to the original readers of Paul’s letter.
Now, this certainly isn’t the main point of the sermon today, but I do want to press into Three practical question here:
Three Reflection Questions:
1. What does it suggest that Paul was both aware of and used the contemporary concepts of the culture of Ephesus to make his point?
2. Would it be a benefit for evangelism and discipleship to be aware of what’s going on in the world around us, and even use those concepts to connect with the truth of scripture?
(Examples?)
3. How might we do that?
(Doug Beaumont and the difference between “Cave Dwelling Christians” and “Teflon Christians”)
To Speak the Truth in Love
So, we know that at least Plato and Aristotle were familiar with this concept and stressed it as important, so it touches something at the heart of the human condition…and we have even many times over modernized the language of the same concept into into our own sayings, a few come to mind:
“People will not care what you know, until they know that you care.”
“You will only grow when your desire to learn outweighs your desire to win.”
“The sermon you live is louder than the sermon you speak.”
Two Ingredients:
So, essentially we see two ingredients in this concept. One is data, information: The Truth. And we’d best define Truth as “That which is true for all peoples, in all places, throughout all time”
Perhaps the phrase “Universal Truth” or “Big T Truth” come to mind.
But the second ingredient is us. It is how deliver this data, how we convey this truth, it is how we act, how we treat people, the respect and care that we show to the recipient of this data.
What happens when we speak the truth, but not in love?
What happens when we speak in love but not the truth?
Conclusion: Both aspects are absolutely necessary to be obedient to scripture, to follow the teaching of Paul, and the example of Christ.
Final Thought:
The REASON we are to speak the truth in love, is so that we might “grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.”
So we understand that Christ is the example of excellence we ought to strive for, and part of our measurable maturity and walk over the years is being able to to ask the simple question:
“Am I more Christlike than I was before I became a believer?”
“Am I more Christlike that I was a year ago? Five years ago? Twenty years ago?”
So let me close with this: It is essential, yes, that we go out and speak truth in love, both to the believers and non-believers in our life. But I would also add to that the importance of surrounding ourselves with others that will do the same to us. We will need correction (truth) and we will need that to be delivered with grace (in love).
There is such a thing within the church that I’d call “toxic truth” where we tell ourselves, “Just give me the truth, hold me accountable, don’t sugar coat it, don’t worry about my feelings.”
And the problem with that is that it often leads to legalism, and harsh correction, and then we fall in line, not out of love for becoming more like our savior, but rather out of fear of suffering correction by the people in our church.
May that never be the case here. May we be a church that knows how, and understands the importance of speaking the truth in love.