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For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV
The ugliness of truth is that, left alone to its own devices, it becomes hateful.
The more confident you become of what you believe to be true, the easier it is to stop loving another person who believes differently. The wars, the split churches, the broken relationships, and the political infighting – all in the name of truth.
Even if you have truth, you can be condemned for what you do with that truth. Truth becomes controlling, even oppressive, without love.
Paul warns:
Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Ephesians 4:15
Truth is not a weapon used to cudgel others into submission. Truth loves to conviction. The Gospel of John teaches that the Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Who wants to be judged?
Jesus taught that there is no greater love than laying down your life for another (John 15:11). Jesus set the example and He is truth! We speak truth and bring application through love.
Love tends to let go of truth. Love without truth becomes nasty.
The more intense your love, the easier it is to forget truth, to compromise, to throw out doctrine, and to ridicule what your parents – or pastor – taught. In love, we redefine the Biblical definition of marriage. Is it unloving to preach that Jesus is the only way to eternal life?
Ignoring inhibitions, rules, and scripture brings death to relationships. Love is maintained by truth.
And because of a total disregard of truth expressed in scripture, the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:12 OGV
Love is not an excuse for indulgence. Compassion can’t override the Bible. Love opens the door for healing truth. Throw out truth in love and you get later regret – both personally and culturally.
The counterweights of truth and love are worked out in honest relationship with God, others, and self. Truth exists and love abides, and it is possible for them both to cohabitate.
Humility with truth, and commitment in love, create the bond.
Truth and love. We tend to wander one way or the other. Maintaining both, we walk the narrow path of following Jesus.