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[UntoHim]

Speaking The Truth In Love
As we begin another year (The 16th for LocalChurchDiscussions.Com!) may we all be lead by the Lord in our speaking and writing to one another, both believers and unbelievers alike. As Christians, as children of the light, our speaking and communicating with one another should be full of light, life, truth and love. I know this is a lofty goal, especially for those of us who are immersed in the most polarized and contentious culture the world has ever known. Let us take heart at the words of our Lord in the Priestly Prayer of John 17:
I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world.

Yes, we are stuck in this polarized and contentious world, at least for now. But we are not of this world. In this world there is very little love, and even less truth. The same thing could be said about false religion. Those trapped within false religion are starving for love and tragically bereft of the truth. Many of us know this first hand. We also know that mere apologetical arguments, as scriptural as they may be, will not win the day, nor the hearts and minds of those we seek to lead out of false religion.

Only speaking the truth in love, along with the working of the Holy Spirit of God, can change minds and soften hearts. But our minds must be changed first. Our minds must be renewed first. Our hearts must be softened first. Our hearts must be enlightened first. If not, I'm afraid that we will simply be the blind leading the blind. May God have mercy on us all.
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