Speaking the Truth

“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.” (Ephesians 4:15)

It is difficult to speak plainly in today’s sensitive culture.  The efforts to create a civil and accepting society keep us tied to a very general language about our relationship with Jesus.  As we strive to be relevant and engage those who have long rejected the traditions of the church, we speak a language that can easily fog up the glass that the lost must look through to see the love of Jesus.

The voice of Jesus was so clear.  He simply stated the eternal reality of those who would follow Him, question Him, judge Him, and beg Him for help.  The voice of Jesus brought clarity to those who were open to the message.  But here is the tough part.  His voice confused those who were hard-hearted and unwilling to trust Him.

So even though His words were clear and precise, much of the impact had to do with the listener.  If their hearts were not ready, then Jesus’ words seemed like lunacy.  This presents an interesting challenge for us as we reach out to others.

Our job is not to make the message relevant as much as it is to speak truth.  The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of those who are ready to accept His words and waits patiently for those who are still struggling.