Speaking...Or Arguing...The Truth In Love?

Recently I have angered someone because I told them, in short, that they followed a false prophet and followed a different Jesus than written about in the Bible. I supposed I can see how that would make someone angry, but we still went back and forth a bit. Through some discussion that ended up hitting a brick wall in the end, as far as I can tell, I have been accused of the following:

- Hatred. In that my comments during discussion were a personal attack against the members of the church started by this particular person.

- Rudeness. In that my words were sharp and unloving.

- Pride. In that I came across like the Pharisees who were prideful and thought they were right with God and everyone else was purposed for stoking the fires of hell.

And some other things. I didn't keep a paper trail; I just happen to remember those, along with this:

- I shouldn't let beliefs come between relationships with family.

Dead wrong.

I'm not saying believers should be jerks, but they certainly shouldn't suppress the truth just to "be nice". When someone is in a fraudulent and flawed system we should just keep quiet to keep the peace? I don't think so.

Christ said this: "Do you think I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three." (Luke 12:51-52)

Should we not tell people following the world's religions about Jesus because we might offend? Should we not warn people about false teachings and false prophets because we might offend? Should we not approach brothers and sisters who are backsliding because we might offend?

That's what the world says to do. That's not what the Bible teaches. It's not what Christ said to do. It's not what Paul said to do. It's not what Peter said to do. It's not what John said to do. I'll take their instructions over those of the world's pluralistic, relative-truth, all-paths-lead-to-God opinion.

Despite what some may claim, truth is absolutely knowable through God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, false beliefs can be positively identified. Trying to show this to people in love is not rude, not prideful, and not hateful, whether or not someone put a "Jesus sticker" on their beliefs.

In short, having a "happy" relationship with someone is less important than that someone having a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ,

Having said that, I admit freely the following shortcomings of which I find myself guilty:

- I too often fail to speak up (or shut up depending on the situation) because I don't want to hurt relationships, because I fear possible ridicule, or because I'm worried about the repercussions and covering myself at work. For shame! God help me to be better in speaking the truth, preaching the gospel, and avoiding the appearance of agreeing with incorrect opinions and beliefs!

- I see that, with regarding to false teachers in particular, I have failed to heed the Word. Too often I get it into my head that I need to discuss, debate, or argue. What the Bible teaches is that we are to avoid false teachers. We are not to bless them or wish them well. We are not to give the impression that we think they have legitimate claims, doctrines, or opinions. John tells us that to do this is to share in their wicked work.

That last statement was a hard one for me, because I know that the rank and file member of some group is likely not intentionally trying to do anything "wicked". However, it follows that if they preach a false Jesus and/or a false gospel, they are spreading falsehoods and doing something wicked anyway, whether or not they mean to.

Too often already I have thought that this is where people are coming from and they need to see the light -- unfortunately, what I thought was an opportunity to speak the truth -- even if the person didn't want to hear it -- turned out to be nothing more than a distraction, keeping me from focusing on the things of God.

Thank you Lord, for using this latest altercation to open my eyes to my sin of getting sucked into that which is pointless and a clear failure to redeem the time!

Grace and Peace