Category: Godly Speech

A Christian Response to the Orlando Massacre

News of the massacre at an Orlando gay night club a little over a week ago was shocking and tragic, on many levels.  49 people killed, 53 injured, and millions upon millions horrified at such brutal, cold-blooded carnage.

 

Since the shooting, there has been no lack of rhetoric regarding how Christians should think and respond.  In all I’ve read and listened to, there’s certainly a mixture of “the good, the bad, and the ugly”!  No doubt you’ve been involved in at least one conversation, and probably many, about this event.  No doubt you’ll be involved in more in days ahead.

 

If you’ve not already heard it, I encourage you to take 25 minutes and listen to Dr. Albert Mohler’s thoughts regarding a Christian response to the Orlando massacre.  He recorded this on his podcast “The Briefing” on 6/13/16, the day after the massacre.  Dr. Mohler’s words express biblical truth and love – I think you’ll find them helpful.

 

Beloved, Paul’s exhortation from Col. 4:5-6 is always timely and relevant:

 

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

 

Because Christ lives, and is returning,

Greg

Speaking Truth Lovingly Entails Listening Carefully

As members of Christ’s body, the church, we have the privilege and responsibility of protecting one another in the truth.  This is the heart of what God commands in Eph. 4:25 –

 

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

 

We need to be moving toward one another, and seeking to move each another toward Christ by speaking the truth of God’s word in love (see also Eph. 4:12-16).  We’re thus to help one another stand against the deceitful lies of Satan.  He is the one who relentlessly seeks to lead us into unbelief and disobedience, to think that God and His word doesn’t matter.

 

Part of learning to speak the truth wisely in love means listening carefully to one another!  And listening carefully often involves asking good questions:

 

  • How is it with your soul?
  • How can I pray for you?
  • Any challenges you are currently facing…any temptations?
  • What things are you thankful for today?
  • What truths from God’s word are you feeding on today?

 

Beloved, may God help us minister His truth to one another lovingly and skillfully, that we might strengthen each other’s faith.  And may He thereby equip us to all the more faithfully proclaim the gospel to those who are lost.

 

Because Christ lives, and is returning,

Greg

Adequate to Speak the Truth in Love

All the rich truths the Holy Spirit has revealed in Eph. 1:3-14 are given to establish and assure Christians of their identity in Christ.  As we grow in our knowledge of God and the blessings of His grace, we walk more effectively in the good works He has prepared for us (Eph. 2:10).  We likewise are more equipped to minister to others (Eph. 4:11-12).

 

Practically, this means that every Christian has been fashioned by God to effectively minister to others.  If we have been chosen by the Father (Eph. 1:3-6), redeemed by the Son (Eph. 1:7-12), and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14), then God has made us adequate to serve others for His glory.  And He has entrusted His truth to us – His word, the Bible.  The essence of our service then, in the power of the Holy Spirit, is to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).

 

Beloved, whether you are ministering to other believers, or to unbelievers, you are adequate to “speak the truth in love”.  Whether you’re ministering to family, friends, or strangers; to those older, younger, or peers; whatever the person or situation – you are adequate to “speak the truth in love”.  You can share scripture in your conversations, you can read and study scripture with others, and you can pray for scripture to be effective in the lives of others.  You are adequate!

 

Certainly, we should be continually growing in our knowledge of the truth, and thus growing in our “truth-telling” ministry to others.  And we should also humbly receive the ministry of others in our lives.  But never doubt that God can use you right now to speak His truth in love to others.

 

So, who might God have you talk to today?

 

Because Christ lives, and is returning,

Greg