Truth Speak

When we choose to follow Christ, we are taught to be different, to be changed.

You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.  So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbours, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. - Ephesians 4:22-27

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul says we should be truthful with each other, and if that truthfulness leads to anger, so be it.  But do not let the anger continue through the day and into the night.

So, how are we doing?  How truthful are we with one another?

In some ways, I think social media allows us to be more truthful, but it also lets us linger in the anger, without forgiveness or regret.

It seems, when we are not face-to-face, we can say what we are thinking without concern for how it is taken or how the person feels.

To do as Paul suggests, we really have to be close to one another, trusting, wanting to build a relationship that lasts, rather than tear each other down.

When we share the truth, we are opening ourselves up, becoming vulnerable.  Bearing our souls can leave us unprotected, enabling others to hurt us.  We have to trust them to be equally honest with us and that can be painful.

So, instead, we tend to make it alright, keeping our true feelings hidden until we are no longer in the presence of the one who hurt us.

Then we lash out in anger to the world.

Wouldn't it be better to confront the pain head on?  Wouldn't we rather get it out in the open and resolve it?

Truth speak is tough.  It makes us vulnerable and humbles us. 

If we look around at those we spend time with and realize we cannot be truthful with them, what does that say about our relationships?

It is time to start being true to our faith. 

And that may make us angry at times, but we can deal with that.  We had a good teacher.

More to come...