But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:15
Some of us remember a time when we faced serious consequences when we misbehaved as children. For some serious offenses, one of our parents would lead us out to the woodshed, and apply the board of education to the seat of knowledge. Painful lessons were learned, and learned with a permanency that doesn’t appear to result from the haphazard and empty threats and warnings that parents dish out these days. But there were the statements that our parents came out with that always seemed so hard to understand at the time. Do you remember how they used to say, ‘This will hurt me a lot worse than it hurts you”? I always wondered about that one. Then they would say, ‘This is for your own good!’ At the time, I questioned whether being unable to sit for a few hours was actually good for me. But my parents, and your parents, did what they had to do because they loved us. Administering the truth to people who need it can also be painful. But it can also be worthwhile, if administered in love.
Those who are not saved need to hear the truth of the Gospel, just as we needed to hear it. Only the truth will reach them, only the truth bring them to an understanding of their need for the new birth. But the truth can be painful because we are all so full of pride. We do nobody any favours if we present the truth of the Gospel in such harsh tones that we turn people away. Sometimes we accuse people of rejecting the Gospel when they are just rejecting our unloving presentation of it. You have heard the saying that people won’t care what we know until they know that we care. If we fail to show people that we truly are interested in their eternal welfare, they will see us simply as peddlers of religion. If they know we love them, they will listen to the truth.
Young Christians also need to hear some painful truth when they step outside the bounds of scripturally sound behaviour. Maybe they use words that are not appropriate for a child of God, or maybe they keep company with people who will be a bad influence on their testimony. The truth needs to be told, but we can offend these young Christians if we come across as enforcers and disciplinarians. Yes, we need to be frank at times, but we need to be kind and gentle at all times. If these young Christians are led with a firm but gentle hand, they will grow in knowledge and in appreciation for the Word of God.
The truth is not always popular, nor is it always good news. But it is much more welcome if the hearers know that it comes from a heart of love and kindness. -Jim MacIntosh