Truth

"...if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.  Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?"  Galatians 4:15b-16

Boy, I tell you, this is a tough one.  It's not always easy being a truth-teller.  I'm not talking personal truth, I'm talking God's truth.

Last week a friend was sharing with me how her heart was hurting for a gal she knows is living in sin.  She has made some choices contrary to Scripture.  She has indicated that she is a believer, but she is choosing not to live God's Word on this one.  What a mess.

A faithful follower immediately hears alarm bells ringing.  Now, like a smoke detector, do we remove the battery until the smoke clears, buying us more time until the fire in our soul ignites again over this concern for another, or do we let this alarm in our spirits immediately try to pull a friend from danger?

I could just write volumes here.  I've done both.  I've kept silent for a period of time praying God would convict of sin.  Yes, that would be the easy way out for me, yet that can backfire too.  I recall one situation when afterwards my precious friend came sobbing to me asking, "Why didn't you tell me?  I just didn't know."  She was completely broken over her choices, and as a fairly new Christian she had simply not understood God's Word pertaining to her actions.  She just needed guidance.  Conviction and repentance followed her understanding.

Another time I shared truth repeatedly, yet sadly it was never received.  Oh agreement was spoken as Scriptures were opened, but there was never change.

Then, as the verse speaks above, dearest of friends can sadly become enemies when truth separates.  Enemies is such a harsh word.  It's not so much you they are opposing, but Christ in you.  God's light in you reveals the darkness in them and they don't want to be exposed.  They are content with their lifestyle and to follow God according to every detail of His Word is going to mean too much change.  It's easier to cover their sin with a blanket of truth that God is love, then to walk in obedience to His Word.  They are deceiving themselves.

So what do we do?

First, this is not about personal preferences, but God's precepts.  We have to know His Word.  We have to know it in context.  We can't be pulling out verses that justify our ideas.  Dig into Scripture.  Scripture!  Not the latest book on the topic regardless of how well-known or acclaimed the author might be.  Man is fallible.  God and His Word will never fail.

Prayerfully, with a heart of love, share truth.  We are not responsible for their reaction, but we are accountable for our actions.  If you are following the Lord, you know when He is nudging you to speak up.  The nudging is usually accompanied with human fear so we can easily tell it's God prodding our heart, because on our own we'd never say a word.  If you can't wait to show someone the err of their ways, the longing to correct might be birthed in a desire to 'be right'.  Pause and consider your own motives first.  Does your purpose come from a heart aching to see another walking in truth?  Is God encouraging you from His Word to confront in love?

There are no guarantees of the outcome.  That's the scary part.  Hopefully truth will be received and obeyed.  Truth-tellers aren't popular.  They weren't in Jesus day either.

If God is stirring your heart to speak His truth to someone, I'm praying He will give you wisdom and courage while filling you with His love so that the other dear soul will only see Christ's heart in the heeding.