By Pastor Matt Parra

The truth sets us free, but it doesn’t always make us feel good. I remember having to tell a friend that he was being lied to by a girl he trusted. He was so upset by the revelation that he got sick. He’d been deceived and the truth set him free, but it was a traumatic experience for him. Any time we share the truth with someone we should share it in love.  The truth can be dangerous if it is handled haphazardly without a kind regard for the person we share it with. 

We are constrained by the love of God to tell people the truth, we never hide it for “Love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth” 1 Corinthians 13:6 and at the same time we understand that there are things people are ready to here and things they aren’t ready to hear and a sincere, heartfelt, Spirit led sensitivity is necessary to delivering the truth in a way that pleases God and that’s in keeping with the gospel plan of salvation.

“The law is good if a man uses it lawfully”1 Timothy 1:8 This means we can use the Scripture in a way that is not good and this is why the apostle tells us that when we share the truth we should share it “in love”. Ephesians 4:15 Everything we say can be said in love but not everyone will feel that we’re being loving. We can’t control how people respond but we can ensure that we aren’t operating out of fear, condemnation, competition, or ignorance. In the strength of Christ we can “do justly” holding ourselves to a high standard, “love mercy” granting people grace when they don’t live up to our standards, and “walk humbly with God”, following Him for His sake and not for ours not feeling the need to control everyone around us because we are not in control, God is. Speaking in love doesn’t guarantee a positive result. Jesus always spoke and acted in love and still, He ended up on a cross. 

There is a time to, “cry aloud and spare not and show My people their sins”, but that doesn’t mean we are free to be cavalier, callous, and cold towards other human beings for whom the Son of God gave his life. Isaiah also says, “comfort ye comfort my people”. What some call preaching the truth is just telling people off with holy language or showing them how much, they need to be like us. I want our church to be a safe place. Not safe from the truth but safe from it being used the wrong way.  Again, “The law is good if a man uses it lawfully” 1 Timothy 1:8. I’d like to ask that all our communication to and about each other be seasoned with grace. And that we would commit to only ever speaking the truth in love.