SPEAKING TRUTH
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EPHESIANS 4:15-16
EPHESIANS 4:15-16
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
This week Luke and I went to Publix to grab a few items, I often invite my children to join me on everyday errands. I know they are exciting, but some of the most precious moments with my kids have occured as we were doing the everyday stuff. This particular time to the store I experienced something that every person who drives a car has at one time or another.. I was on auto pilot giving little attention to the task of really driving and when I pulled into my parking spot and came to a stop… for a brief moment, even though I knew I had stopped, it looked like the car started to move again.
See, the car next to me had timed their exit perfectly, as soon as I pulled into my spot they started pulling out. You know that disoriented feeling when you’ve stopped, but for just a second your caught off guard by the illusion. To ground yourself you quickly glance around to something that is immoveable… Fixing my eyes on that which never moves allowed me to confirm what was truth.
In that moment I’m able to set aside my feelings of movement and rest in the fact of the reference point that affirms reality.
The Problem:
We live in a world continually being built upon shifting sand…
The concept of truth has become so elusive that in 2016 Oxford Dictionaries selected the phrase “post truth” as its Word of the Year.
Listen to the definition of “post truth”
“relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.”
It’s no surprise given the political climate of that presidential election of 2016 where accusations of fraud, false claim, and proven mistruths… IT was difficult to know who to believe.
This has been highlighted even more so by the COVID Pandemic.
I remember how unsettling it was right in the middle of a global medical crisis thinking, “Who can we trust?”
Doctors had competing claims
It seems like the narrative over the last year has been rooted in partisan affiliation and less in object facts.
We have ended up in a place where when someone refutes a claim it can be easily dismissed as “fake news”
My biggest concern is that in this moment in history God’s people accurately handle and live truth.
2020 exposed the church, which I am grateful for!
Many churches were unable to gather resulting in falling membership & exposing the lack of familial relationships and commitments.
Many churches became partisan in their commentary upon culture:
So prominent leaders claimed the pandemic a hoax.
An attack on American Freedoms and Religious Liberties.
Equating elected officials dissenting stances with the betrayal of Judas.
It’s like we were forced to split into two camps:
1 - If you really Love Jesus, you’ll wear a mask for the sake of others
2 - If you really Love Jesus, you wont wear a mask and you’ll fight against government tyranny and oppression
When taking a stance in the name of Jesus brings division and not unity, we can be sure that God is not involved. For, if you do not have unity you do not have God.
We cannot make mutually exclusive, yet competing claims, in the name of Jesus and both be right.
Paul tells us:
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Notice the phrase “speaking the truth”
This work in the greek is a verb that contains “action that is in process”
Paul’s intention here is not that we simply “say words” consistent with truth, but that our entire being would be consistent with truth.
The Author Abdu Murry in his book, “Saving Truth” speaks of two types or modes of “post truth”
Soft mode - we acknowledge that truth exist, or we are certain things are true, but we don’t care about the truth if it gets in the way of our personal preferences.
There are several examples of this in Scripture.
Peter being told he would deny Christ.
He was confident in his love and commitment.
Jonah
Ignores the call of God to preach repentance.
Reluctant obedience.
What becomes important is not simply the declaration of truth, but our response to it.
The other mode of “post truth” is Hard truth, or a blatant disregard for truth and instead propagation of falsehood to promote a political agenda.
Again, a simple example of this is the life of Christ. The religious leaders of Jesus’ early ministry ignored the truth surrounding the nature of the messiah and the evidence he displayed. Instead, they focused on politically destroying him which resulted in his death.
Why is any of this important?
Truth is an attribute of God.
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
For a Christian to deal in falsehoods is an assault upon the character of God. If we find ourselves at odds with “truth” we find ourselves at odds with God.
Followers of Jesus Christ are encouraged in to: rejoice in Truth
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
We must be careful to not be unaffected by truth or to make truth a priority.
A personal observation:
Any rejection of truth is rooted in pride.
1 - You know the truth, but exalt yourself above it
2 - You assume you know the truth and are unwilling operate in humility.
See, any exercise in exploring the truth needs to be rooted in the idea that I could be wrong.
You know a great example of this? Marriage.
When we find ourselves in conflict we often assume the defensive position and plan our next attack… often times not even listening to one other, we plan our response based upon the narrative we want to build.
Not only can we find ourselves at odds with God, but propagating falsehood is a direct violation of God’s commandments, thus is sin.
when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.
The idea of speaking truth is one of the very first commandments that our God gave to his people.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Truth should always be our aim. Even if it is painful…
Point 2
Point 2
Not only are we to speak the truth, but the mode of delivery is important too.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Scripture says we are to speak IN LOVE:
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
This is diplomacy 101!
I remember when I was 19, married, had a child, and was working as an assistant to the superintendent of our operations,
I was forceful and to the point in the meeting… afterwards, another manager told me, “You weren’t wrong, but we could work on your diplomacy.”
Agape - love, is often thought of as God’s sacrificial love for us and 1 John uses this term to describe God himself.
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
But one of the elements of God’s love for us, it is for us, and concerned with what is best for us.
Have you ever seen someone, perhaps a child, that has been extremely malnourished?
your immediate response isn’t to rebuke them for not eating (I hope)
Often, we are moved with compassion to engage, even sacrificially, to give in order that the malnourished may live.
Agape can also be used to describe a “love feast”
Sometimes we can become spiritually malnourished and when we see a brother or sister in Christ in this state, it should move us with compassion.
It should move me to live in a sacrificial way to serve my brother or sister to ensure they have feasted upon God’s word.
In other words - when we gather together we are fellowshipping around a good meal of God’s loving truth.
As God’s Children, We have shared mutual interest to make sure we are well fed.
Point 3.
Point 3.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
On the heals of unity early in the Chapter, Paul is encouraging us to hold one another accountable, but in a way that promotes unity and growth.
You know what this means?
CONFLICT
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
If we are to follow the example of Christ we are going to seek to find a balance between these two ideas, “Grace & Truth”
We’ve probably all heard this… we can’t be all Grace or All Truth
All grace is like my grand mother… too much to eat, never told me to cut it off
All truth can make us cold and harsh towards the human condition, we find ourselves forgetting we all stumble in many ways.
Conclusion
Conclusion
God has called us to walk together both knowing and living the truth while serving on another in a way that promotes unity and maturity.
This takes practice… and this is why we need each other:
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Community is important for growth.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
