Speak the Truth in Love.
What a hard thing to do. This generation has gotten used to avoiding the topic and avoiding conflict that no one can speak to each other in the truth of love.
No one wants to be 'mean', everyone wants to be fun enjoyable Christians that are "just nice guys". I think the media has dictated for what Christians should look like. They have put the loving men of justice and upright men who fight racism and sacrifice their lives for people who they don't know. That's all good and everything, but the problem with that, is that, it has restricted Christian men to becoming those things. In result of this, there has become a box where humanity has become reliant on looking at Christian men this way. And if they aren't like this, they happen to be "bad, hypocritical" Christians who it's free to spit on as Christian men should just take it and be the nice receiving guy. I'm not proposing to go punch them in the face, but I think we should at least have the decency to reply to the spit and say why we have done what we have done and that if it seems hypocritical then it might be. We can explain to them that we are not perfect and still a part of God's forming plan for us.
The media's box has become also, somewhat of an idol. One day while I was at a counseling session, I found that I was doing good things for the sake of "being virtuous". I had made an idol of becoming a good person. It is self defeating and I think it is one of the easiest traps that is presented to us as men. Let us not give into the idols of ourselves as well!
Being a nice guy and overlooking a problem presents even more problems. Saying the truth that might hurt someone just seems "too much". People wait around to find the "diplomatic solution". When in fact in the Bible it tells us to reconcile with each other before the sun goes down. Jesus gives explicit ways to deal with conflict, he doesnt tell us to avoid it.
Speaking the truth might hurt someone. That's the truth. But we cannot break the spell of apathy on our non-Christian friends with "niceness". The solution to breaking this hard-heartedness is like that of an allusion to medicine. Drugs have an invasive nature upon your body because of its unnaturalness. However after the initial hurt of a drug or even a vaccine, your body recovers stronger. We must break apathy in timed truth in the correct doses, just like any good medicine.
Josh
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This post is very true. Our generation has pretty much been trained to avoid conflict, but as much as we hate it, Jesus calls us to dive headfirst into conflict. We are called to reconcile and hold each other accountable and that means calling each other out when we stumble. We call each other out in order to help them and continue their walk with them.
ReplyDeleteAs leaders and fellow brothers in Christ, we will have to step between two feuding parties and bring them together. You won't be able to do that just by being nice. You will have reveal the truth to both of them.
Now it's just a matter of discerning when to intervene. Indeed, one must discern whether they even have ''the truth'' to reveal.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have no idea how to discern such things. Ideas?
ReplyDeleteI think it's in Matthew about when to approach your brother before the sun goes down or to approach him before he takes you to court. But then again it's hard to do that practically.
ReplyDeleteI had an argument with a friend the other day, and I just lost myself in the argument and couldnt think of trying to reconcile or think twice.
To what degree are we talking about intervening as well?
Checking via Biblegateway.com
ReplyDeleteEphesians 4:26
'"In your anger do not sin"[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,'
[a] Psalm 4:4
Matthew 5:23-25
'23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.'
Indeed, these commands are a high calling. But then again, the way of Christ is the "narrow gate" (Matthew 7:13). And we're to remember "wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction" (ibid.). Living a Christ-like life can be quite difficult. Indeed, it likely should be thus for we are each called to "take up [our] cross and follow" (Matthew 10:38).
Practically speaking, of course it is nigh impossible to reconcile in the midst of an argument. But, surely, when one has come to their right mind (i.e. not passionately angry), it is probably best to seek forgiveness (even if you're "right") as soon as possible.
Jaemin talks a little about intervening in conflict. And I was wondering as to how to approach such things. Because, clearly, such things call for wisdom and discernment.