Hit Me Again Please
How many times have you or I been corrected about our behavior or perceived or even more often miss-perceived behavior by both well-meaning and judgmental (more so these) brothers and sisters with the statement, "I am just speaking the truth in love." If I had a dollar for every time I heard this phrase I would by a boat. The miss-application of this and several other scriptures is worn out. Oh that I could teach a lesson on misused, misapplied and not even in the Bible, scriptures. The only scripture that quotes this phrase is Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
But like many misapplied scripture, this one is taken out of context. Lets look at the whole passage.
Ephesians 4: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (underlined by me)
This seems to present a slightly different picture than that of correcting me because you think I might not be handling my finances well, or my language is not appropriate, or you don't agree with how I am raising my children (all for which there are specific instructions stated in the Bible in other places). The context, is referring to unity in doctrine and the importance of that as well as the need for correction "speaking the truth in love" for when members are astray in their thinking.
Now, don't get me wrong, misunderstanding doctrine can lead to the aforementioned problems and GENTLE correction may be needed and should definitely be spoken in love but we need to be careful of how we do so and be sure of why we are.
Matthew 7:3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
I guess one could say, based on the following passage, 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work., that the application doesn't matter, but it does. It is why we are required to not just study His Word, but we are to contemplate on it and allow the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, and direct us on the meaning and application of the scriptures.
It is so easy to point a finger at others and then pick a verse, stretch it into a whip, then beat someone with it who may or may not need correction. We are fallen, but we are called to, above all other things in which we relate to others, to love. Love needs to be tough at times, but does not need to always be harsh.
Titus 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
But like many misapplied scripture, this one is taken out of context. Lets look at the whole passage.
Ephesians 4: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (underlined by me)
This seems to present a slightly different picture than that of correcting me because you think I might not be handling my finances well, or my language is not appropriate, or you don't agree with how I am raising my children (all for which there are specific instructions stated in the Bible in other places). The context, is referring to unity in doctrine and the importance of that as well as the need for correction "speaking the truth in love" for when members are astray in their thinking.
Now, don't get me wrong, misunderstanding doctrine can lead to the aforementioned problems and GENTLE correction may be needed and should definitely be spoken in love but we need to be careful of how we do so and be sure of why we are.
Matthew 7:3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
I guess one could say, based on the following passage, 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work., that the application doesn't matter, but it does. It is why we are required to not just study His Word, but we are to contemplate on it and allow the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, and direct us on the meaning and application of the scriptures.
It is so easy to point a finger at others and then pick a verse, stretch it into a whip, then beat someone with it who may or may not need correction. We are fallen, but we are called to, above all other things in which we relate to others, to love. Love needs to be tough at times, but does not need to always be harsh.
Titus 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
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