I want to make sure that I'm really clear about that last post. My concern with posting it at all is that I have seen Christians hurt each other by being overly blunt with "The Truth." I am talking about the hard-nosed verbal bludgeoning of another person in the name of defending the Gospel and the Kingdom or God when they are really most interested in winning arguments.Or to put it another way:
The bull in the china shop of someone's emotions rarely wins someone over to their point of view; they just break a lot of breakable fine china.
Or to put it another way:
Much hurt has been done in the name of "speaking the truth" because one can easily forget the second half of the phrase, "in love." I am not saying that we should dilute the word of God...God forbid! I'm saying handle it well and handle people well. You won't win someone to your point of view by giving them a theological (and emotional) bloody nose.
Or to put it another way:
It doesn't have to be a choice: either truth or love... no, no, no! I'm saying we don't have to take away Truth in order to love and we ought not to sweep love aside so as to stand on Truth. I'm saying: go the extra mile and add love to Truth in order for it to be real Truth. Like I said last time, if you don't love, your 'Truth' is a resounding gong and clanging cymbal."
Or to put it another way:
"Let your gentleness be evident to all."
Or to put it another way:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..."
Or to put it another way:
"And over all these virtues put on love..."
Or to put it another way:
I don't think we're called to spend our few days here on earth roaming the theological streets looking for someone to pistol-whip into theological submission. We're called to live lives that are faithful to the Gospel message itself as well as to be the hands and feet of it's message: to go and make disciples of all nations (including our own) and feed sheep and look after orphans and widows and bring cold water to the thirsty and clothe the naked and visit those in prison.
Or to put it another way:
I don't want to live in the upper left where the Pharisees (supposedly) had 'Righteousness' (or 'Truth') but had no love. And I'm not interested in the theologically liberal quadrant since, though they can have lots of love, they have no True God beyond the one they invent for themselves.
Doesn't Jesus call His people to the 'Jesus' life in the upper right? Righteousness (Truth) AND Love!
Chris,I like this diagram... thanks. What I guess I resist warming up to is giving anyone a space above the 'x axis' that doesn't get 'grace and truth' as a package deal (and I'm probably being both stubborn and naive ;). No child of God can long ignore love and mercy and continue walking with Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteAs I think on it, I'm sure my response is largely provoked by the abuses below the x axis. Trying to insure warm fuzzies among a group of people may keep some happy, but if there is a lack of reverence for God's word and pressing on to know God... those warm fuzzies aren't 'love'... they are deadly evil.
And while I would rather err on having knowledge of God to work from in learning to rightly demonstrate love, I have not always been obedient to the Word which instructs gentleness in rebuke. God was gracious to demonstrate this to me just yesterday at church... and I came away gently rebuked, loved, and strengthened in my faith that God knows me and disciplines those He loves.
Thanks for posting some good material for thought... "Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,"
Thanks for this Chris! What I think is so cool is that the point where we need to be (right in the center) is impossible to achieve unless we are totally, humbly dependent on Christ. Abiding, refusing to do things in our own strength, refusing to lash out at someone in our flesh. Only Christ can place us there - in the center. Unless we are totally, humbly dependent on Christ, we will end up in a quadrant (and a quandry) every time. Thanks for these great posts! P.S. I loved the bull in the china shop quote - TOTALLY TRUE!!
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