| “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head…” |
| —Ephesians 4:15a |
In many so-called “Christian circles” today, it’s all about love. These groups, and particularly their leaders, place an enormous emphasis on “love.” These dear ones claim that Jesus was all about love and that we followers of Jesus must be all about love, as well.
Now, in fact, love is extremely important. And, God-breathed love has an importance at the top of the scale. Yet, so often in the Christian life our very best intentions get waylaid by balance. We lean too far in one direction or the other and end up distorting the message of the gospel. We become out of balance.
Yes, Jesus certainly emphasized and demonstrated love. But, Jesus also demonstrated and emphasized absolute truth, too. Jesus demonstrated and emphasized holiness. He emphasized compassion. He emphasized a strong stand against Satan.
In placing all their emphasis on being loving, these dear ones neglect the emulation of the totality of who Jesus was. He was truthfulness. He was holiness. He was compassionate. He took a strong stand against Satan and all the evil that the evil one perpetrated. In showing God’s love to everyone He met, Jesus never pretended to ignore the truthfulness of their particular situation.
Yes, Jesus reached out in love to sinners and accepted them as they were. But, He never ignored their sin or pretended their lifestyle wasn’t sinful.
In other words, Jesus maintained a perfect balance between love and truth. By emphasizing love over truth—or even worse, pretending that sinful behavior isn’t sinful in order to emphasize love—these dear ones ignore the whole counsel of God. Take note of these words from the Apostle Paul found in Ephesians 4:15-16:
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Love arises out of truth—or as Paul puts it, “speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Let us not fall out of balance by emphasizing love and ignoring truth. Let us not deny the whole counsel of God. If we intend to follow Christ’s example, let’s truly follow His example in its totality.
This day, let’s be both loving and truthful. In so doing we follow accurately the footsteps of Jesus.
Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2016
