I think this is a lesson that I keep learning. I know I’ve written about this previously but I keep growing in understanding of what speaking the truth in love means. Being who I am, my view was/is truth is truth and should always be spoken. True. But there is a myriad of ways to communicate truth and our lesson is to always speak it in love. If we hit people over the head with truth, how much will they understand and accept it; and equally important – act on it? Question – what is our source for indicating truth (as we understand it)? Are we speaking from our own opinion or do we have another basis for speaking? Truth is truth… but whose truth?
Regardless, what does it mean when we are to speak truth… in love? How does this ‘look’ operationally? Do we even understand this concept? Another issue is that rarely do we hear how someone has determined their truth. I’ve also noticed that people tend to speak what they believe as ‘truth’ with (from?) great authority. What and who is their source – external? internal? Simple example – when asked how the (fill in the blank) is true, the one response that I really dislike is, ‘oh, everyone knows that’. By inference does this mean that those who ‘don’t know’ or don’t follow are walking in lies?
Perhaps on the surface this seems like a simple policy/process, but it really isn’t. To appreciate and apply this ‘truth’ I turned to the origin of the concept. We see this phrase in Ephesians 4:15 (part of a sentence). When you begin to consider how the phrase is used, Paul is exhorting the people about walking in unity – read the whole chapter. This phrase is stated in the context of ‘growing up’ to a perfect man so we aren’t tossed about by trickery, cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (v. 14).
The purpose is so that the body is complete, joined together by what every joint supplies (v. 16). The result: causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (v. 16). This is why we are to speak the truth in love. Truth becomes a foundation and a glue. It is not a weapon to bend others to our way of thinking or to judge others as ‘unworthy’. Speaking the truth in love requires an honesty on the part of those speaking and it requires an openness and trust in the listener. Speaking requires listening – all in love.
