In Ephesians within the body of Christ and really as a model in Jesus to the world we're told that we're to be "speaking the truth in love"- and as Miroslav Volf points out in Exclusion and Embrace, this means in the original something like "truthing in love" which includes speaking but living as well.
Why do we struggle to understand the truth at times, and maybe many times? Volf suggests that it is often because we fail to will and live out the truth, or we fail to want to want to find and live in the truth.
Truth is more of a character issue than an intellectual issue, though thinking is a part of our humanity as well. To do anything less than to seek and will to live in the truth from God in Christ, is to perpetuate deceit and error. Since this is a character issue, what lies behind our refusal or failure to seek after truth to live in, is the desire to hold on to our own "truth" because of our own self-interest, Volf points out. We see this time and again in scripture and in life, yes- in our own lives haven't we?
And not only are we to seek to live in the truth from God, but we're to do so "in love". If we seek to be "truthing" but not do so with the goal of embracing others, than we are not really seekers of truth, but we are holding on to our own "truth". "Truth" is related hand-in-glove to trust and relationship, and indeed scripturally truth has to do with living in relationships in according to God's will primarily, not only knowing intellectually.
Of course we all fall short, though we're to be aiming and striving toward that goal. We do so in Jesus who is the Truth and the Life, so that our hope to grow in this and to live lives of loving integrity is only in him. But scripture makes it clear that this is possible for us in this life. Truth is not truth apart from this love, and love is not love apart from this truth. We indeed can, and must learn, more and more to be "truthing in love".
(all of this taken from Miroslav Volf, but certainly not pure Volf-just go and read him)
What strikes you about this, or what thought would you add here?
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6 comments:
Ted,
Excellent post brother.
I totally agree.
I would love you and any of your buddies to join in on the discussion that we are having on my blog on this day. I would love your thoughts especially. Again, great post as always. God bless you brother and hope you have a wonderful day in the Lord Jesus.
Thanks for your kind, gracious comment and for your interesting post. I commented on it. Blessings on you, as well.
I think speaking the truth in love is about reminding each other of the gospel...everyday.
i think that our choice is to believe in follow Jesus and then the truth is given to us in God's love and is manefested in our lives as we follow Jesus.
ESI, Yes. Good way of putting it. The gospel is God's grace and truth in Jesus, God's truth and love entering, invading and finally changing this world.
Nancy, I agree that following Jesus is key in all of this, for our lives, and out from our lives- in the blessing of God.
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