Bible reading: Ephesians 4:1-16have we allowes "the world" to influence our understanding of truth. We speak of the "cold hard truth" or the "bare facts" as if there is an objective truth that stands on it's own. Paul makes it clear the the "truth" happens in relationship. We "speak the truth in love". Jesus says, "I am the truth" (John 14:6) - truth is embodied, lived out, practised. He also says "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you freee" (John 8:32) - if Jesus IS the truth, then the truth we will KNOW is him - the knowing Jesus refers to is not an academic mental knowledge, but rather a relationship - like when you know a person. We will know Jesus (the truth embodied) and he will set us free.
When people are questioned about Gossip, they always retort "but it's the truth". "Is it the truth?" is only one of the questions we ask of ourselves as followers of Christ. Another questions we need to ask ourselves is: "Is it kind?" I would go so far as to say that the "cold hard facts" (disembodied truth) without compassion, fails to be truth at all!!! Ideas, without compassion, are just ideas, but if they are lived out in a life, embodied, they may prove to become truth in the practise...
Paul, in Galatians, writes that the Fruit of the Spirit is... "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. There is no law against such things." I find it very interesting that "truth" does not feature in this list... Paul might ask us "Does it need to?"
reading on a regular basis.keep up the good work.
ReplyDeletethanks kev.
ReplyDeletehope that people will not only read but also make some comments. We are keen to enter into some conversation around our sermons...
so thanks for making a comment!!!