This is about the difference between creeds and deeds. Action and diction. Your words and your walk.
I’m assuming if you’re reading this that you want to be known and respected as a man or woman of truth. That may be a big assumption, of course, since it’s possible that you went to bed last night with the happy memory of somebody you conned.
But if you’re a believer, God has placed a desire in your heart to please Him, and truth is one of the things that does that. So is love. So it’s no surprise that the Bible describes spiritual maturity as the fine art of “speaking the truth in love.”
And it is a fine art. What do you do when words and wishes collide? What do you say when your honest thoughts and feelings aren’t very loving?
Years ago I was sitting in a therapy group, where a couple of people were talking about their “inner child” and their “inner adolescent.” It was a poignant discussion by some people who were sincerely seeking healing and growth. But I couldn’t help but think, “My problem isn’t my inner child, or my inner adolescent. My problem is with my inner jackass.”
I figured it would be better to stay quiet. Love? Maybe. Self-protection? No doubt about it. I said it best when I said nothing at all.
The greatest love tends to show up in the fewest words. The Lord’s Prayer has 66 words. You’ll find 179 in the Ten Commandments. The Gettysburg Address has 286 words; Jefferson’s July 4 masterpiece – 1,300 words.
On the other hand, the US Government Regulations on the sale of cabbage – 26,911 words. There you have it. Now you know who loves you. Or at least who doesn’t.
Lies show up in church sometimes, expressed as love. But is it? Here are the three biggest lies you’ll hear on Sundays:
“Fine.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ll be praying for you.”
Good thing we don’t grow long noses, Pinocchio. Not only would it embarrass us, it could also get somebody else in trouble when they go on about how handsome it is.
I wonder if it would be possible to create a place where it really was safe for somebody to say, “I’m just having a hard time trusting God with this.”
Or “I’m hurting.”
Or “I’m so angry at God!”
Or “I don’t know.”
Or “I forgive you, even though I don’t feel like it.”
Genuine. What a charming word.
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Hi Andy,
For whatever reason, I kept getting an error when I clicked the link for the rest of your post. But, “Amen!” to what I did read. I think of the words St. Francis told his followers when he said to preach the gospel and use words “if necessary.” There is also a line in the song, “Testify to Love,”
“I’ll be a witness in the silences when words are not enough.”
Blessings and peace.
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