Jesus said, "I am the truth," (John 14:6) but he wasn't just "the" truth, he also spoke the truth. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth," 78 times in scripture.
The plain truth is that many Christians who used to applaud the truth, now, no longer know what truth is. They follow the power, money and leverage of the popular new age culture to determine their truth. Jesus, however had no earthly power, money or leverage, but that didn't stop him from speaking the truth.
When the apostles were arrested after speaking the truth and converting many people, they were imprisoned until an angel released them and told them to go back to the temple and continue doing exactly the same thing that got them arrested in the first place. And as expected, they were again arrested and brought before the leaders.
Peter, speaking the truth, said, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him," (Acts 5:29-32).
So, exactly what are Christians called to do? We are called to speak the truth. We are not called to change it, or fix it, or modify it to fit a changing reality or new lifestyle. We are to speak the truth as plainly and clearly as we can. And the truth we are to speak is concerning Jesus, not our feelings or ideas or our interpretations.
This probably won't make our truth any more tolerable to those who don't want to hear it, but it's a little better when we clarify that the truth is about us too. It's a powerful message when you say, "You're sinful and in need of restitution but I can't do anything to help you because so am I, and I might be worse than you. So, in reality, we both need to go to the Savior."
Speaking the truth is never about judgment. It is always about love. Ouch- we miss the mark on that one a lot!! Peter said, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8)
The apostle John said that we are able to love because he first loved us. This is the true mark of a Christian. Love without truth is shallow, but truth without love isn't true, it's arrogant self-righteousness.
Hebrews 4:12 says that the word is sharper than a two edged sword. When we speak the truth of the word, God uses it to pierce even the hardest and darkest of hearts.
One other thing, when the apostles were released from jail the second time, after they returned to their followers, Luke tells us, "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Christ, and every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." (Acts 5:41-42).
What kind of witness are we to be then? A truthful one who counts it all joy to suffer for the name of Christ.
Steve Brown would say, "Now you think about that. Amen."
I remain, in Him,
JT
excerpts taken from Steve Brown's newsletters
So, exactly what are Christians called to do? We are called to speak the truth. We are not called to change it, or fix it, or modify it to fit a changing reality or new lifestyle. We are to speak the truth as plainly and clearly as we can. And the truth we are to speak is concerning Jesus, not our feelings or ideas or our interpretations.
This probably won't make our truth any more tolerable to those who don't want to hear it, but it's a little better when we clarify that the truth is about us too. It's a powerful message when you say, "You're sinful and in need of restitution but I can't do anything to help you because so am I, and I might be worse than you. So, in reality, we both need to go to the Savior."
Speaking the truth is never about judgment. It is always about love. Ouch- we miss the mark on that one a lot!! Peter said, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8)
The apostle John said that we are able to love because he first loved us. This is the true mark of a Christian. Love without truth is shallow, but truth without love isn't true, it's arrogant self-righteousness.
Hebrews 4:12 says that the word is sharper than a two edged sword. When we speak the truth of the word, God uses it to pierce even the hardest and darkest of hearts.
One other thing, when the apostles were released from jail the second time, after they returned to their followers, Luke tells us, "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Christ, and every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." (Acts 5:41-42).
What kind of witness are we to be then? A truthful one who counts it all joy to suffer for the name of Christ.
Steve Brown would say, "Now you think about that. Amen."
I remain, in Him,
JT
excerpts taken from Steve Brown's newsletters
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