One of the things that I find frustrating (probably because I used to believed it) is the false dichotomy between truth and love. We've been indoctrinated by an anti-intellectual, anti-doctrinal mindset so pervasive in evangelicalism that we believe it's an "either or" situation not a "both and".
In Sunday school, we are learning about the 12 disciples. In yesterday's class, our teacher shared these great observations about John:
- God knew the greatest source of truth in the New Testament about love, as far as a human author is concerned, would have to be a man who was also strong and uncompromising or his love would take him down the road of sentimentalism. And if he was to speak the truth in love, he had to be as much committed to the truth as he was to love.
- So, he became a lover, but a lover whose love was controlled by the truth. And that control was born out of that tremendous zeal he had in his personality, that passion,that strength, that fiery character.
- John loved dealing with truth in absolutes and opposites, understanding the need to draw clean lines in the sand. No gray areas.
Just read John's epistles and you can see how black-and-white he was regarding truth. Yet, his nickname is the Apostle of love. So next time someone tries to pit love against truth, give the biblical example of John. There was no "either or" for him, so why should it be so for us?
In Sunday school, we are learning about the 12 disciples. In yesterday's class, our teacher shared these great observations about John:
- God knew the greatest source of truth in the New Testament about love, as far as a human author is concerned, would have to be a man who was also strong and uncompromising or his love would take him down the road of sentimentalism. And if he was to speak the truth in love, he had to be as much committed to the truth as he was to love.
- So, he became a lover, but a lover whose love was controlled by the truth. And that control was born out of that tremendous zeal he had in his personality, that passion,that strength, that fiery character.
- John loved dealing with truth in absolutes and opposites, understanding the need to draw clean lines in the sand. No gray areas.
Just read John's epistles and you can see how black-and-white he was regarding truth. Yet, his nickname is the Apostle of love. So next time someone tries to pit love against truth, give the biblical example of John. There was no "either or" for him, so why should it be so for us?
Great post, so close to the heart!
ReplyDeleteLoved your thoughts Persis. Our pastor's been preaching through the Gospel of John for over a year and I can definitely see these traits in this apostle.
ReplyDelete