Hold the Faith Firmly, People Gently

Scripture

“Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” — Ephesians 4:15

Reflection

Jude tells believers to “contend for the faith.” Christians have sometimes heard those words as permission to become combative. We may imagine that faithfulness means winning the argument, exposing the error, defeating the opponent, or making sure everyone knows exactly where we stand.

But Scripture repeatedly connects truth with love.

Truth without love can become cruelty. Love without truth can become avoidance. Christian maturity requires both.

It is possible to be correct about Christian doctrine while behaving in ways that look nothing like Jesus. We can defend the gospel angrily, arrogantly, or contemptuously—and in the process undermine the very message we are trying to protect.

Jesus could speak hard truth, but he never stopped seeing people. Even those he confronted were more than their mistakes. They remained people created in God’s image and objects of God’s love.

Perhaps one of the clearest spiritual disciplines for our divided age is this: hold the faith firmly and hold people gently.

Convictions matter. Truth matters. But people matter too.

Application

Think about one person with whom you strongly disagree. Before thinking about what you would like to say to that person, pray for them. Ask God to help you see them first as a person rather than as a position you oppose.

Prayer

God of truth and love, give me convictions strong enough to stand and humility deep enough to listen. Keep me from using truth as a weapon or love as an excuse to avoid honesty. Teach me to hold the faith firmly and other people gently. Make my words sound more like Jesus. Amen.

Song – Kill Em w/ Kindness