The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
I Corinthians 12:21-26 NIV, emphasis mine.
So with truth there is justice and thus equity and fairness. The truth does sometimes bring about balance and moderation.
But not always.
Our commitment is to the truth, whether it is extreme or moderate, whether it causes unions or separations, for sometimes truth unites, and at other times truth divides.
Christ was and is the Prince of Peace who blessed peacemakers. The death and resurrection of Christ brings peace between God and people, and between people and each other WHEN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTED ARE ACCEPTED!
But if Christ is rejected, then He does not bring peace. He brings a sword that divides families and friends. The Scriptures declare these absolute truths:
Friends of this world are enemies of God.
Those who are not for Christ are against Christ.
No one can serve two masters. One master will be loved and the other hated.
God is light. In God there is NO darkness AT ALL.
These truths are not "in the middle." Truth, by definition, excludes falsehood or that which contradicts it. This does not mean we should strive to be as obnoxious, abrasive, and blunt as possible, "in the name of the Lord!" It does not mean we should see how many people trust in Christ, NO THANKS TO HOW RUDE AND STUPID WE ACT!!!
No. We should speak the truth in love always, being as gentle as possible. Yet at times, no matter how gentle we try to be, and no matter how loving we say it, the truth will indeed offend some who hear it! Who is more gentle and meek than Christ? Who has EVER been more loving and wise than the Lord Jesus? Yet He was hated and called demon possessed! He was accused of blasphemy and crucified as a result. Therefore, as Christ warned His followeres, if we are as committed to truth as Jesus was, then we will experience the same responses He did. The Lord Jesus said:
"For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world: to bear witness to the truth. All who are of the truth hear my voice."
Our cause is His cause. Those who hear Him will hear us. Those who reject and hate Him will reject and hate us.
Followers of Christ are His witnesses, as well as witnesses of the truth. They cannot, do not, and will not tolerate contradiction or compromise. If a truth is "moderate," they will proclaim it. If a truth is "extreme," they will proclaim it. They live for and are willing to die for the truth.
Are you?
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