- araratchurch
- Nov 5, 2022
- 4 min read
“Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.””
Mark 8:31-33 NLT
Most parents know that there is often an inner conflict between wanting to be liked by your child or doing what you know is best for them. But, when put in concrete words like that, you would immediately say that the welfare of the child should always take priority over the need to be liked or to seem loving.
Many of us know the pain of having to expose our child to something they don’t understand, something they find painful or scary, but is for their good. It’s gut-wrenching to have your child look at you, begging you, whether verbally or with their eyes, to deliver them from this bad situation. Whether it’s restraining them to receive some very needed medication/procedure, or popping a little hand reaching for something hot, you take no pleasure in being the “bad” guy. But, the truth is, a loving parent will do what is best for the child whether the child understands it or not.
There has been a trend in modern churches to orient themselves toward a more “positive” gospel by only speaking what is seen as being “encouraging.” The pastor might as well be swishing pom-poms around while chanting some meaningless cheerleading mantra. Now, I know that sounded harsh; and in my heart I really don’t look at the pastors doing that with distain. I don’t know what the Lord has called them to do. But, I do know what we are ALL called to do.
The false choice we consider today is the choice between speaking the truth or being loving (along with loving, we also think in terms of being seen as encouraging, being liked, or being popular). The fact is, there is no such choice presented in the word of God.
An often used scripture having both the concept of speaking the truth, as well as being loving, is where we are told to speak the truth in love. Unfortunately, the emphasis of this verse is usually placed on the “in love” part without consideration of the “speaking the truth” part.
Let’s examine this verse within its context:
“Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”
Ephesians 4:14-15 NLT
The context of the aforementioned “speaking the truth” is in terms of the instruction to give people sound doctrine to keep them from falling prey to heresies or even their own self-deception. The emphasis is on “speaking the truth” BECAUSE we love.
A little later on in the passage we see a good summation of the intended meaning:
“So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.”
Ephesians 4:25 NLT
We—as the body of Christ—together must work for the corporate good. Part of working for each other’s good, as well as the good of the whole body, is to make sure that sound doctrine: the truth about what the Lord wants, is demonstrated in the way we live and heard in the words we speak.
Now certainly, if we see ourselves (as one individual described himself to us) as a “holy broom” looking for occasion to correct anybody and everybody, we certainly are not going to be well-received. Nor should we be. That attitude is one of personal agenda rather than out of the motive of love.
The 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, offered this poignant reminder:
“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Now, I will prepare you, you must understand that even with the most godly, pure, and loving intentions, the truth is sometimes seen as “Bible thumping” or being judgmental. But, our part is to make sure our motive is one of love and to ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom as to what to say and how to say it, while He prepares the heart of the one who will hear it.
In our opening scripture we see Jesus harshly rebuking Peter. Jesus has just shared the fact that He will have to suffer and die. Peter rebukes Him, not realizing that what he is saying goes against the will of God. Jesus correctly identifies the source of this kind of thinking as being Satan. He then explains to Peter that he’s thinking like men think, rather than like God thinks. Now, anyone who has experienced the saving grace of our Lord, and the great gift of salvation received through His sacrifice, would never accuse Him of being unloving. And, with that, you will also find that He always speaks the truth, even when the hearer receives it as being hurtful.
So, make sure that your motive is to fulfill the will of God in telling the truth about sound doctrine. Then, speak the truth as the Lord gives you the opportunity, leaving how people respond, to the Lord. Remember, there is no choice to be made between being loving or telling the truth; the truth is, telling the truth, is the most loving thing you can do.
Today we lay to rest the false choice between telling the truth and being loving.
- araratchurch
- Nov 5, 2022
- 6 min read
“When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the Lord told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream. The Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.””
Judges 7:5-7 NLT
I noticed a tendency in the political arena that one group was co-opting the language of an argument, or even the way particular things are referenced. It’s as though the change in the power dynamic, or even whether some action or behavior is accepted or rejected, often is first changed in terms of the language used to describe the action or behavior.
One huge example of what I am referencing (in terms of controlling the language) is the exchanging of the word “abortion” with the phrases “reproductive rights” and “women’s healthcare.”
Another example currently seen in the headlines is the changing of “election integrity,” to “voter suppression.” Rules—formerly accepted as prudent—become reframed, or rephrased, as something “sinister.”
Whereas I could go on expounding in terms of these examples, this is not our purpose here.
What we will be doing over the next several days is looking at some “false choices” that have insidiously been interjected into our Christian walk.
The imposition of a false choice serves the purpose of intimidating a person into either doing or not doing a particular behavior, or thinking or not thinking in a particular manner, just like the language manipulators make what you are doing now undesirable—or even malignant—by reframing.
The first false choice we will examine is the argument that if we are watching for the coming of Jesus Christ, that somehow keeps us from doing any productive work. In other words, if we are watching for Jesus to come (as we have clearly been instructed to do), then we have forsaken all hopes of living a “normal” life or accomplishing anything. We are necessarily somehow standing with our arms limp at our sides and our eyes out on stems, wearing a robe while staring at a candle. Now, put in those terms, it sounds ridiculous, and it is. But this is how the purveyors of this false choice would have you visualize the one who is looking for our Lord to return.
Today we will make our argument against this false choice by pointing out the position on the imperative to watch for the Lord’s coming, as well as the instruction to do good works.
I will begin with He through Whom all things were made: Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, you can’t read the words of the Lord without understanding that there is a push toward being better and doing better. We understand that we are not saved because of good works but we clearly see that the Lord expects that we be productive (fruitful). This scripture is one of many pointing out this aspect of the Lord’s expectation concerning our behavior:
“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:15-16 NLT
Whereas it is a given that the Lord clearly instructs us to good works, we also cannot read His words without seeing the warning that we should be watching for His coming.
““But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”
Matthew 25:10-13 NLT
This example (one of many) shows that our Lord presented no choice between watching for Him or doing good.
Next we will look at the words of Apostle Paul. He also stressed that it is important—even indicative of walking with the Lord—that we do good works.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Yet, we also see that Paul stressed our need to be watching for the Lord’s coming.
“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.”
1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 NLT
So, we see that Paul forced no choice between doing good and watching for the Lord’s coming.
We will turn things around a little bit as we consider what Peter had to say in terms of watching for the coming of the Lord as well as doing good works.
“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”
2 Peter 3:3-4, 9-10 NLT
In the above scripture Peter is most vehemently warning that we are not to take on the attitude of scoffers or growing weary of watching for the Lord’s return.
On the other hand, after having given this severe warning about watching for the Lord‘s coming, Peter tells us that the knowledge of how things are all going to end should lead us to do good works.
“Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.”
2 Peter 3:11-14 NLT
So we see that Peter forced no false choice between watching for the Lord or doing good works.
In our opening scripture we see where the Lord was culling down the army of Gideon (eventually) to 300, with the final test being how they would drink water. Those who lifted the water to their mouth so that they could watch while they drank were chosen to remain; the men who got down on hands and knees to drink, making it impossible to watch, were sent home.
Child of God, there is no evidence that watching for the Lord‘s coming takes away from a persons motivation or ability in terms of being productive. Quite to the contrary, you will find that the people who are truly looking for the coming of the Lord are the hardest workers, as well as the most “positive” people.
Remember, not only do you not have to choose between watching and working, the fact is, we are commanded to do both.
Today we lay to rest the false choice between watching and working. Jesus is coming! (WATCH!) Get ready for Him! (WORK!)