If I Offend (By Gary Patterson)

 

The Christian Journeyman eZine 

If I Offend (By Gary Patterson) 

Orig.Post Date 3/15/2021 

 "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." (Ephesians 4:15) 

What is so needed today is unity! Division is seen in marriages, families, communities, schools, government, etc. There are truths from God's Word that need to be spoken in order for unity to be implemented. The question comes: "What if I offend someone, by sharing the truth of God's word; so we can come together, and function the way God intends?" 

 Like a gardener who prunes the bushes that bear fruit, so in time there will be more productivity; there are times that God's Word must be shared to prune us, and cut away the wrong attitudes that lead to division and destruction. It's not an easy task, and that is why the apostle Paul says, we must involve ourselves in "speaking the truth in love."(v.15) 

 When difficult truths are shared in a loving, non-threatening way, those truths are more readily received. It seems today, that we are doing a lot of shouting and shaking of cages (sort of speak) to get our words across. My question is: Why the hostility, why the threatening approach? Some will say, "If I don't shout, and threaten, they won't listen to what I have to say." But is that love? Is that showing first of all, concern for the person, or party of opposition? 

 The marks of spiritual maturity of a Christian is found in the three greatest gifts given to us from the Holy Spirit. "Faith, Hope, and Love, and the greatest of these is love."(1 Cor. 13:13) In our approach to people we hope to correct, and bring to unity with us; are these marks of maturity being displayed by our behavior? 

 Is Love out there, every time we have a debate? Biblical truth, may bring offense, but if it is clothed in a garment of love, it can have a very appealing affect. GP 

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