“He also said to the crowds… ‘You hypocrites!’”- Luke 12:54-56
most of us have a pansy notion of what it means to be Christ-like. i know that until quite recently, i did. i thought to be sweet and understanding, to be silent and avoid contention, to give a winning smile and a kind word- this was to imitate Christ. but in recent weeks i have been challenged by a perfect storm of Scripture, lecture, and conversation- an orchestration of God shaking my very theories of love, communication, and Christ-likeness.
i guess it all started with a sermon by my pastor, chris osborne, on galatians 4:11-20, especially vv. 16-19. bro. chris contrasted the ‘love’ of the judaizers with paul’s love for the galatians: the judaizers loved so that they may be loved in return; paul loved so that Christ would be formed in the galatians. i realized that the desire to be liked is what drives my communication with almost every human being i encounter. i am not even willing to chance “becoming their enemy by telling them the truth.” when in conversation someone maligns Christ or His Church or expresses opposition to the principles found in His Word, i silently shake my head. my motivation is utterly selfish: i want them to like me, so i do not offend them. if i cared for them, i would share with them the truth.
further down the page in galatians, paul is not afraid to be downright caustic about the judaizers: “i wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!” his anger is not sinful; his motivations are pure. paul cries out with such passion because of zeal for God’s truth and love for the galatians. this mirrors the actions of Christ Himself. we are used to stories of Christ calling out the pharisees for hypocrisy. i cut the intro verses in such a way that you can see Christ also calls out the crowds in a strong, offensive manner for their failure to recognize Him as Messiah.
Christ is love.
Christ is offensive in the name of truth.
ergo, love is offensive in the name of truth.
“[Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”- 1 Corinthians 13:6
in early february, my linguistics prof took one day to go off on the subject ‘what is right speech?’ she said things like, “using your language to love people is not achieved by making a list of words you do and do not say.” of course, she was talking about using curse words. noting the strength of language used by paul in the third chapter of philippians, i am inclined to agree with her, at least to a point (and with a point). she also asked us to consider the fact that every time we open our mouths, we are in danger of offending someone. who do you choose to offend and why?
when she said this, i realized that every time i remain silent and do not use an opportunity to proclaim the truth of Holy God, i offend Him. and i would much rather offend a person in conversation than my Almighty God.
“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”- Luke 12:51
“We should be zealous in making known the truth, for though divisions will be stirred up, and a man’s own household may be his foes, yet sinners will be converted, and God will be glorified.” -Matthew Henry
peace.
I never really thought of being silent as being selfish; that is a very good point.
I got home at 3 a.m. and just couldn’t wait until morning to read this post! I will echo Kevin, and challenge yourself and your readers on the manner in which this ‘language of love’ is to be played out in our lives. As we well know, there are more ways to be silent than just keeping our mouths closed. Using Christ as our preeminent example, we see that not only did he speak offensive things, but he went to offensive places (the homes of sinners), and did offensive things (healing on the sabbath, cleansing the temple). In other words, “though we have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though we have all faith, so that we could remove mountains, and have not love, we are nothing. And though we bestow all our goods to feed the poor, and though we give our bodies to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth us nothing.”
The world, and college campuses in specific, are ripe with opportunities to speak this oft offensive Truth in Love. I pray that we may be willing to suffer persecution for the cause of Christ, and for the furtherance of His Gospel of repentance, redemption, and reconciliation — and do it all with a love that will not allow our consciences to be silent.
Thanks brother. You speak much wisdom here. This was utterly appropriate, and it was exactly what I needed to read.
I really appreciate many of the things you say. Silence if often not Golden, Truth is Golden. Just as captured thoughts must be filtered through the person of Christ, so must actions. Yes, the Truth will be divisive, but this is a symptom/result, not the purpose of His presence. His Standard must be kept regardless of the consequences because we are not of the world. We must, though, be careful to make sure we are not driven by a self-righteousness (pride) that causes us to be stiff-necked and brittle. Remember that He provides HIS strength in our weakness, we are not to depend upon our own abilities or strengths or ideas.
The Word given to me by HIM on my recent trip to Africa was:
A man that works FOR the Lord will grow tired; A man that works WITH the Lord will grow.
So, drawing sustenance and wisdom from The Vine helps us to take the proper stance in all matters and maintain The Standard of the Truth.
You know I was reading the post and was thinking to myself, God you know right where to poke. But what really makes me second chance myself on speaking the truth or speaking up instead of keeping my mouth shut, is that when I do witness I get scared that if they throw a question at me that I don’t know then I’ll lose it all. Well a recent Bible study, or conversation with God, told me, don’t be afraid. If you don’t know the answer right then, tell them you’ll find it and let them know (thus now I carry a small Bible with me). It shows them that you are committed to them, and also finding the answer. Just don’t not answer them, because that will have the opposite effect on them.