1/ I remember in seminary listening to a speaker respond to someone accusing him of not being loving as a spiritual leader.
His response was that speaking truth is the most loving thing you can do for someone who believes lies.
His response was that speaking truth is the most loving thing you can do for someone who believes lies.
2/ The room applauded and I probably applauded too. But I think this is a witness to where conservative evangelicals have lost wisdom.
We have somehow internalized the idea that lovelessness is fine as long as truth is spoken (or something that I agree with).
We have somehow internalized the idea that lovelessness is fine as long as truth is spoken (or something that I agree with).
3/ What's worse is that this mindset actually does something to us. If we are fine with lovelessness, it turns us into certain kinds of people. It darkens us. It makes us prone to slander, malice, hatred, divisiveness, sarcasm, cynicism. Indifference to love changes you.
4/ Further, it turns us into fools. Actual fools. It makes us vulnerable to certain kinds of evil. We are easily duped into believing people who simply use a common "tone" rather than share a common truth. In fact, tone and truth almost become interchangeable.
5/ In fact, in the end, when we become indifferent to love, we end up of losing truth. Truth becomes just a means to score points, gain attention, or just fill some void in your inner life.
6/ An older Christian once encouraged me, if you can't engage in a theological debate without being mean-spirited or without using sarcasm then you probably aren't wise and mature enough to participate.
James 3:17-18
James 3:17-18
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