Speaking the Truth in Love
Marion H. Reynolds, Jr.
April 19, 1919 - Sept. 3, 1997
©FOUNDATION Magazine, July-August 1995
AFTER SIXTY-SEVEN YEARS of publication, we feel a special burden to remind ourselves
and our readers that God has commanded us to "speak the truth in love."
This is especially important to remember in our day when so many who name the name of
Christ have been deceived into believing that it is unloving to speak the truth at all.
Too many Christian leaders, having been deceived by the false philosophies of psychology,
are teaching that we must be "non-judgmental" toward others. The result
is that heresies thrive within the churches and the wolves in sheep's clothing are
welcomed into the flock without exposure or warning. They have replaced; God's way-speaking
the truth in love-with man's way-withholding the truth, supposedly in love.
No wonder so many are confused.
As a necessary corrective, we urge a careful study of the fourth Chapter of Ephesians.
It begins with a plea to walk worthy of our vocation with all "lowliness, meekness
and long suffering. " When we speak the truth in love we should
always bear this in mind. We are to endeavor to "keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace" (v. 3). The spiritual unity referred to here is already a
blessed reality between all who are "in Christ, " but we are to also
strive to maintain that unity outwardly by walking and ministering in a way that conforms
to: God's revealed standards for proper fellowships among those who hold sound doctrine.
We are not to place outward "unity" above "purity," for that cannot
bring or maintain the "unity of the Spirit" of which the Bible speaks.
Man certainly can, through his own devices, effect a "unity among people, " but
if it is at the expense of truth, it cannot be "of the Spirit." We are
specifically warned against "every wind of doctrine" and the "sleight
of men" and their "craftiness" used to deceive (v. 14). It is in
this context we are told to speak the truth in love-this alone will produce
spiritual growth and maturity (v. 15).
It is strange that so many believers can see the importance of speaking the truth
in love in almost every area of life except that most important one- the
spiritual. Would you go to a "non-judgmental" dentist who loved you too much to
tell you that you had a badly infected tooth which needed treatment or removal? Let us
suppose you go to a doctor. He discovers a serious ailment which might well be corrected
by medication or surgery. However, being a "non-judgmental" physician and not
wanting to upset you or your plans, he decides to say nothing about the problem because
that would be "unloving." Is it really "love" to withhold the truth?
Now it is true that some dentists or doctors might be able to break the bad news to you in
a more kind and gentle way than others. Some pastors may be able to speak the truth
in love in a way less a offensive than others. But the fact remains-true love will
manifest itself in speaking the truth, not withholding it!
Through these years we have always tried to speak the truth in love. We
may not always have succeeded in that effort. But it certainly has been and continues to
be our desire. Now there can be little doubt that the winds of doctrine are blowing harder
than ever before and surely deceivers are growing more cunning and crafty, often trying to
hide their heresies with generous sprinklings of Scripture and evangelical terminology. A
faithful watchman has two responsibilities. First, he must be able to tell the difference
between friend and foe, especially an enemy in disguise. Second, he must give a loud,
clear warning when the enemy approaches Now, since we know that watchmen are human and
therefore fallible, there is always the possibility of making a mistake. So, if a watchman
incorrectly designates a "friend" as a "foe, " he should be quick to
apologize and the wrongly accused friend should be quick to forgive him in accordance with
Ephesians 4:32: "And be ye kind one to another, tender- hearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." This we have done and
will always try to do by God's grace. Is it not true, however, that mistakes which result
from being over-cautious will surely be preferable to erring in the other direction? Think
of the terrible consequences which must inevitably follow whenever the enemies of the
Gospel are never challenged or exposed. Imagine the harm and loss that finally comes to
believers who are given no warning of the tactics of the enemy.
Furthermore, if we wish to be good ministers in God's sight, then we must obey His
Word. That we have a special responsibility to warn believers is made clear in 1 Timothy
4.1: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils."
:Sounding a faithful warning concerning the error being sown in the churches today is
clearly required of all who desire to please their Lord in these deceptive last days.
"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good
minister of Jesus Christ...." (v. 6). Because it is our desire to be good
ministers of Jesus Christ, we trust that this and future issues of FOUNDATION
magazine will be helpful to our brethren and accepted in the spirit in which it is
written. We ask your prayers that we may always truly know how to speak the truth in
love.
M.H. Reynolds, Jr.
