Sermon Title: Reference:

All Nations United, Centered, Maturing, Being in Christ

Revelation 7:9a (NIV)

Date:

12 October 2008

in the recording, start play at middle, or time between 17:48 (left) and 16: (right) ============================================================================

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Him who is the head: into Christ. Listen, if we direct an idea or opinion -- the truth -- toward another, without love, the truthfulness of our words is questionable, and their value is greatly diminished. In all relationships, but especially those within the body of Christ, the grownup Christian seeks to communicate the truth in love; not because the truth is more palatable when gift-wrapped in nice-talk, but because love and truth are inseparable, yet when divorced, become shadows of their former selves, and because every delivery of the truth is always to be motivated out of a concern to the other person. If we ever feel we must unburden the truth inside us, upon another Christian, for any reason except his welfare, or the welfare of others, let's do everyone a favor, and keep it to ourselves. The rationalization that "he needed to hear it" has caused immeasurable harm. Remember, the prophets of the Old Testament who screamed against Israel's sin loved the people of Israel.Remember, the people Jesus railed against, he also died for. Speaking the truth in love is not about being nice. It's about truth's dependence upon love. Any so-called "truth" delivered to another person, without love, reads like a cold statistic, and can devolve into a hot hammer for bludgeoning. I present to you: political discourse. So-called "love" without truth is a flimsy shadow-thing that builds relationships on quicksand, and when tested with any amount of weight, collapses. Truth without love is sterile and arrogant, and not to be trusted. Love without truth is childish and vacuous, and not to be trusted...or simply put, one without the other is neither. Have you been lied to by someone who cares about you? --> love without truth. Have you been rightfully corrected, without regard to your person? --> truth without love. While pursuing a good end, have you treated people with kindness and respect along the way? --> truth with love. While showing concern for someone's feelings, have you also chosen to share your core beliefs? --> love with truth. Our Lord has given us the gifts of love and truth, which is to say He has given us Himself, in whom both truth and love find perfect expression. Growing up into Christ requires devotion, first of all, devotion to Jesus the person; and then (devotion) to love and truth that flow from Him to us, all of us, together.

For the next 94 years, may we, Christian brothers and sisters, love truthfully, and thereby truly love one another. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ. Pastor Matt Owen