In the Ephesians 4, the writer encourages those he is writing to put off falsehood and to speak the truth to one another in love, inside of this argument:
The writer of the letter encourages them to "live a life worthy of the calling" that they have received," which includes the command to be humble, gentle and patient, and to bear with one another in love; always seeking to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. If we need to be patient and bear with one another, it is assumed that there will be conflict, even amongst believers.
However, we were each given grace and part of God's design for the Church is gifting each in a different way and calling all five areas of the fivefold ministry (apostle, prophet, evangelists, pastors and teachers), to operate in their gifts, in order "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." If the Church functions in this way, then we will no longer be "tossed back and forth" and "blown here and there" but will instead grow up into a mature body of Christ.
This is where the encouragement comes in to speak "the truth in love." In order to be set apart from the unbelieving Gentiles, the writer encourages them in the reminder to put off the old self and put on the new self (I left this section out of the passage above, sorry). So, they are to put off falsehood and put on the act of speaking truthfully to one another. Directly after this, he reminds them of the directive, " 'In your anger do not sin.' Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."
We usually don't read these two things together, but remember them as separate commands to the believers. It takes on a stronger meaning when we put them together. Part of not sinning in our anger is to speak the truth (in love) to one another. We can let the sun go down on our anger by continuing day after day to go to bed without speaking the truth in love to one another and helping each other to grow up into maturity in Christ.
I hear some great message the last two weeks from Danny Silk, a pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, CA. It was actually a part of a pre-marriage teaching, but hit some incredible points for ministry and life in general. One thing he pointed out was the command to speak truthfully to one another in love. He pointed out that we often worry so much about hurting people's feelings that we say false things at the expense of truth. We lie to one another. (For example, we say, "nothing is wrong," or "no, I don't mind if you do that," when we really do mind a great deal etc.) These are good points and have been a part of my thinking lately about what the cost of integrity truly is. He also pointed out how we need to not lie to each other in our relationships. At first thought, most people would think that they don't lie, or weave fancy tales in their everyday interactions, especially with those that they love. However, how often do we, in our desire to not hurt someone’s feelings or be seen as a mean person, hide the truth from each other? How often do we actually confront the difficult things in our relationships and point out the shortcomings in people, even at the expense of awkwardness and hurting their feelings? If we truly are speaking these truths in love (no matter how harsh they may seem), we actively love the person more than hiding these truths from them for peace and harmony.
This is a tough teaching. But it came for me at a time where I suddenly found myself in a variety of situations where I was being called to speak the truth and say the difficult thing because I loved someone and cared for them more than I cared if they got mad at me. This is not my normal personality; I prefer non-confrontation. However, the power of the love of God has shown so much stronger as a result of these interactions, and the respect for one another heightened.
We read in 1 Corinthians 13:6 that "love . . . rejoices with the truth." In 2 Corinthians 6:6-7, Paul commends himself and his companions in many ways, including in "the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God." Sincere love is part of what we have developed in us by the power of the Spirit of God. This pairs up with truthful speech. Sincere love, love that is not false or shallow, will include truthful speech and will delight with the truth.
1. . .I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it . . . 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work . . .
22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen . . . (new international version)
The writer of the letter encourages them to "live a life worthy of the calling" that they have received," which includes the command to be humble, gentle and patient, and to bear with one another in love; always seeking to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. If we need to be patient and bear with one another, it is assumed that there will be conflict, even amongst believers.
However, we were each given grace and part of God's design for the Church is gifting each in a different way and calling all five areas of the fivefold ministry (apostle, prophet, evangelists, pastors and teachers), to operate in their gifts, in order "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." If the Church functions in this way, then we will no longer be "tossed back and forth" and "blown here and there" but will instead grow up into a mature body of Christ.
This is where the encouragement comes in to speak "the truth in love." In order to be set apart from the unbelieving Gentiles, the writer encourages them in the reminder to put off the old self and put on the new self (I left this section out of the passage above, sorry). So, they are to put off falsehood and put on the act of speaking truthfully to one another. Directly after this, he reminds them of the directive, " 'In your anger do not sin.' Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."
We usually don't read these two things together, but remember them as separate commands to the believers. It takes on a stronger meaning when we put them together. Part of not sinning in our anger is to speak the truth (in love) to one another. We can let the sun go down on our anger by continuing day after day to go to bed without speaking the truth in love to one another and helping each other to grow up into maturity in Christ.
I hear some great message the last two weeks from Danny Silk, a pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, CA. It was actually a part of a pre-marriage teaching, but hit some incredible points for ministry and life in general. One thing he pointed out was the command to speak truthfully to one another in love. He pointed out that we often worry so much about hurting people's feelings that we say false things at the expense of truth. We lie to one another. (For example, we say, "nothing is wrong," or "no, I don't mind if you do that," when we really do mind a great deal etc.) These are good points and have been a part of my thinking lately about what the cost of integrity truly is. He also pointed out how we need to not lie to each other in our relationships. At first thought, most people would think that they don't lie, or weave fancy tales in their everyday interactions, especially with those that they love. However, how often do we, in our desire to not hurt someone’s feelings or be seen as a mean person, hide the truth from each other? How often do we actually confront the difficult things in our relationships and point out the shortcomings in people, even at the expense of awkwardness and hurting their feelings? If we truly are speaking these truths in love (no matter how harsh they may seem), we actively love the person more than hiding these truths from them for peace and harmony.
This is a tough teaching. But it came for me at a time where I suddenly found myself in a variety of situations where I was being called to speak the truth and say the difficult thing because I loved someone and cared for them more than I cared if they got mad at me. This is not my normal personality; I prefer non-confrontation. However, the power of the love of God has shown so much stronger as a result of these interactions, and the respect for one another heightened.
We read in 1 Corinthians 13:6 that "love . . . rejoices with the truth." In 2 Corinthians 6:6-7, Paul commends himself and his companions in many ways, including in "the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God." Sincere love is part of what we have developed in us by the power of the Spirit of God. This pairs up with truthful speech. Sincere love, love that is not false or shallow, will include truthful speech and will delight with the truth.
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