Speaking the Truth

Yesterday while walking our pooch, I was thinking about life and some relational and  spiritual things, and had some important revelation, at least it was to me.

I found myself thinking about the Body of Christ, local congregations and such and how we struggle to really love one another, as Christ commanded (John 13;34).  It is sadly common to find factions, disagreements,  gossip and slander running through populations of the church, and this not what the Lord called us to demonstrate to the world, and one wonders why this is so?

Personally, I find that while I like most everyone, and outwardly I have a gracious personality, inwardly I am often battling a judgmental perspective. I find that I am quick to judge and categorize people without ever getting to know them. If I am honest with myself, I have all sorts of assumptions about all sorts of people.  

The way it works is simple, I might see someone do something that I wouldn’t do, and think to myself, they are wrong.  I might ascribe that wrongness to any number of things, wrong motives, selfish intent, lack of intelligence, etc. Whatever the case, what I haven’t done is give that person any opportunity to explain, or even converse, I have just sat back and made a judgment on almost no information.

Worse yet, I will sometimes find that my judgements are based on hearsay, on third party descriptions of something I haven't even witnessed. I hear something and think I know what that person’s motivation was and make a judgment.

Its ugly, I know. This is certainly not in-line with Jesus’ command.

I also should say I deal with the same thing internally, towards myself, at least one that is line with the revelation of Christ in scripture.  I find that I am very aware of my sinfulness, to the extent that I can forget the truth of who I am, and what the Lord says about me.  Without going into great detail and listing all the verses, suffice it to say that Christ chose me, forgave all my sins, made me a new creation, sees me as a co-heir with Him, and I am loved. He understands me, knows my every thought, and action and still loves me, has mercy and compassion on me, forgives me, and is for me!

The question I was thinking through was why is the above my experience? 

I can think of a few reasons:

• There is an enemy who is the father of all lies (John 8:44), and who is called the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12;10).
• I listen to the voice in my head too much.
• I  don’t get to know people well enough to know their motivation, their lives, and their own stories.
• I lose my perspective of the truth too easily.

The next question is how do I move forward and learn to love like Jesus commanded me?

First, I must learn to speak the truth!  Mostly I need to speak the truth to myself, I must have a firm grasp of what the Lord says about me, and apply those same truths to all those I meet, especially my brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.  The Lord has no favorites (Gal 2:6), but rather loves and blesses all of us with the same abundance!  If He loves me and has grand feelings towards me, He has those same feelings towards everyone else!  He loves us uniquely and with the same fervor!

Secondly, I need to recognize the source of the accusations upon which I issue my judgments. In fact I really just need to get off the judge’s seat.  Regardless though I need to speak the truth in my thoughts to myself, about others.  I need to shut down the voice of the accuser and speak the truth.  I need to learn to ask myself what would the Holy Spirit, our defender and advocate (John 14:26)  and Jesus our intercessor (Rom 8:34) say about this person or this situation?

Thirdly, I need to get to know my brothers and sisters!  I need to grow in intimacy with those around me, that I might understand their lives, and have the same mercy and compassion for them that Jesus does.

Fourthly, I need to practice Matt 18:15-17 more regularly, specifically verse 15.  While these verses have to do with someone who sins against you, they are really about restoring and maintaining relationship.  If I never allow a person to tell me why they did what they did, then I am only listening to the accuser. I have found that almost every time I think I know a person’s motivation, I am wrong.  In other words, all those judgments I make in my head are almost always wrong!  Ouch!

Fifth, I need to watch my words, both internal and externally, for we are called to only speak things that will build up and edify the Body (Eph 4:29).  This is true for what comes out of our mouth, but also for what we think internally. 

Lastly, and actually probably first, I need to walk in humility.  I need to stop exalting my opinion to a place of judgment!  I need to recognize that Jesus loves me, and that He loves each of my brothers and sisters every bit as much!  I need to treat others the way He treats me! I think that is actually the very command - John 13:34-35 NIV:

[34] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Let us choose to love one another, and ourselves as Jesus does!  Let us throw off the lies and judgments and instead listen to Him, our intercessor, advocate and Lord!  Let us choose to speak the truth to ourselves!  Let us refuse to speak ill of anyone, including ourselves!

Amen and Amen!