Speak the Truth in Love, Part 1

24 Jan

Speak the Truth in Love, Part 1

Quite often what we say gets us into a lot of trouble and causes deep division, even between the best of friends. In the public sphere these days, we hear many opinions that are touted as fact. Likewise, there is a lot of censure for the expression of contrary opinions. But Believers are in a unique position to counter the falsity around them by speaking the truth.

In James 3:2b-12, the tongue is described in terms of the metaphors of a bit in a horse’s mouth, a helm of a ship, and a fire, as well as a world of iniquity, an unruly evil, poisonous, duplicitous:

“If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths that they may obey us and we turn about their whole body.

Behold also the ships which, though they be so great and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm whithersoever the governor leans. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.

Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. So is the tongue among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed and has been tamed of mankind. But the tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father, and therewith curse we men which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries or a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”

Detailing the source of our vocal utterances as the heart, Jesus stated “…those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man” (Matt 15:18-20a).

As Christians we are called to live holy, obedient lives to God. This includes “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15) which comes at the end of a list of specific instructions on how we should behave. When we respond in anger or disparage those who disagree with us, how can we say that we are showing the love of Christ?

Believers are in a unique position to counter the falsity around them by speaking the truth in love. This behavior is a function of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit living in and through us responds in love and truth to those around us. The Bible is clear that the Holy Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6). When we live in such a way, i.e. following biblical precepts of living that do not hinder the Holy Spirit from His work through us, we speak the truth in love which is a demonstration of Spiritual maturity.

James 3:13-18 further demonstrates the difference in communication and lifestyle of a Spirit-led person who walks in the truth (3 John 4), as opposed to that of one who chooses to ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit:

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

*******

Next week, in part 2, we will look at how this affects our accomplishment of the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20.