Quite a few years ago, my friend and “preaching hero,” Myron
J. Taylor wrote a wonderful article for Christian
Standard titled “Speaking the Truth in Love.” It was classic Myron Taylor –
connected to the text in Ephesians 4:15 that says “speaking the truth in love,”
well thought out, well written, and challenging.
More than a few people wrote “letters to the editor,” – some
of which were published – suggesting that Taylor wasn’t quite “true to the
faith” and was allowing something as “warm and fuzzy” as “love” cause him to
compromise “truth.” Those aren’t exact quotes of those letters, but do reflect
the spirit they portrayed.
Apparently those folks would have had issues with Paul.
After all, he is the one who said, “speaking the truth in love, we are to grow
up in all aspects to him who is the head even Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15, NASB)
If you follow social media at all, you likely are exposed to
a whole lot of “speaking something like the truth, without love.” Over the past
few weeks I’ve seen “Jesus really isn’t ‘the reason for the season’ the fact
that I am a sinner is;” “as a husband, if I’m not ‘correcting my wife’ it could
cause her to end up lost,” “Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem as good citizens,
just to pay taxes,” and lots more. All of this kind of “truth” is connected to
some Scripture text in a way that suggests it is “absolute” in terms of its
“truthfulness.” None of it was said with any authentic indication of what “in
love” had to have meant to Paul.
Where did we get the idea that “truth” and “love” are
competing ideals? In this Ephesians text, Paul’s phrase “speaking the truth”
employs a word group that is ultimately centered in Jesus Himself, who said,
using a noun form of this verb, “I am the truth.” (John 14:6) This particular
verb is used only twice in the entire New Testament – Ephesians 4:15 and
Galatians 4:16. You can’t read either of these texts in their context and think
that Paul thinks that truth and love are competing ideals.
The “in love phrase” in Ephesians 4 is the word for love we
all likely have heard a time or two in church – agape. The word isn’t so much the “warm and fuzzy” sense we often
associate with love, but rather, “intelligent good will” as my first Greek
teacher, Jim Evans (long-time EES Executive Director) insisted it meant. If I’m
putting the meaning of these two words – “speaking the truth” and “in love” –
together appropriately, then my goal for speaking the truth ought to be
centered in good will for those who hear (or read) my words.
Interestingly, the goal of “speaking the truth in love” is
that those who hear us will grow up in all aspects to Christ, the head of the
Church. When I see truth and love as competing ideals, my “speaking in the
truth” likely sounds more like condemnation than encouragement to grow up and
be more and more like Christ – in all aspects of my life. When I see truth and
love as two sides of the same coin – the potential is that I sound like I want
you to join me in growing up to be more and more like Christ, who is “truth”
and “love” in a rather remarkable fashion.
Going back to my friend Myron Taylor – I heard him preach
many times. I read lots of his sermons. His articles in “The Cathedral
Messenger” became the impetus for lots of my own thinking and preaching. I’ve
read the books he wrote.
He was committed to “truth” but did it in a way that let
me know he loved me (and the truth) enough to want it to attract me to it
rather than feel condemned by it.
Most of us reading this can no doubt make quite a list of
things we believe to be “the truth” about who Jesus is and what difference he
makes. Like is true for me, truth probably fascinates you as you think about
“the God who made the world and everything in it” (Acts 17) and the fact that
He cares about us.
But . . . if in speaking that “truth” I don’t sound as
though I love you enough to want you to embrace it as truth in your life – then
“truth” is spoken, but not “heard.” Thus, we find ourselves “being right in the
wrong way.”
My resolution for the new year upon us – speak the truth in love!
