Truth or Error ? ? ? ?

September 8th, 2017

Ephesians 4:25 (KJV):  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Galatians 5:15 (KJV):  “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

Proverbs 6:16-18 (KJV):  “These six things doth the Lord hate:  yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  a proud look, a lying tongue,  and hands that shed innocent blood,  an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,”  

Now that i’m older, I’ve had time to reflect on my life.  One of the most annoying elements of aging is not being able to recollect truth from error (error sounds so much better than lying).  Being in the Navy i had heard a many good stories, the telling of stories to others was and is still a way of getting attention, to be admired, accepted and enjoyed.  But now looking back i cannot remember if the things i said of those days where actually true or were they stories, told to often, becoming truth with the  telling of, in my mind.  

We’ve heard said that God has given man two ears and one mouth.  Two to hear with and one speak (mostly just making noise).  Flowered-ie talk sounds good to the speaker most often, but to the (aged) hearer it is cumbersome and distracting.  An example:  “Hey jimmy, i think i know where you live, iv’e heard you have apple trees.  I sure would like to come out and pick a few if you don’t mind.”  “Yes that would be great, call and let me know when you intend to arrive, i’ll unlock the gate.  i’ll have ladders ready and a few boxes on hand so you won’t have to be concerned about  transporting.”   One week passes, nothing.  Second week still no followup.  Third week i see them at fellowship and ask, “When are you planing to come and get those apples. there in their prime and soon will be past.  Once they fall the Yellowjackets are a nuisance and the fruit gets damaged.”  “Yeah I know, but: need to wash the dog, have to go to the coast, games on the TV, wife wants to go too . . . . .”  i have learned that most often everyone is “Long on talk and Short on do.”  It’s just not in fellowships but everywhere were one has contact with others.  “We’ll have to get together”,  “Can i come out and . . . . .sometime”  “That would be great, we’ll have to do that.”  

So lets take this into the fellowships that we attend.  Knowing then, that 99% of what is said is error, and that 1% is truth, will i really be attentive in what i’m hearing another say. Try this a few times:  they’ll ask “So how’s it going.”  Reply with; “Had a horrible week”; most will just acknowledge and leave it there.  Have even had people say “Well that’s good” and go on, didn’t no more hear what i had said the nothing.  People will speak out error trying to make the hearer think that they are being accepted, appreciated, desired; laying a facade, verbally.   Most have been shined on, lied to so many times that the truth is lost in the fray.  Everyone i believe wants to be accepted, admired, appreciated, liked and loved.  But i have found that all these examples are just flowered talk, deceitful, non-caring.  Heres an example.  Some time back there was an individual who would (at a past fellowship) always wants to hug and most often say something mushy, warm and fuzzy:  “you’re a great blessing”;  “I really love you”  “sure am glad you’re here” etc. . . . .   Saying i’m a blessing but doesn’t have time to get together and discuss Bible truths, doesn’t want to talk about Jesus.  Have been to there residence several times, brought gifts, tried to be considerate, show interest in their passions.  But what’s the hardest is when one says they love me, not taking time to know me.  Then they, by not knowing anything about me, my children, how many, Grand-er children, Great-ist children.  What were my careers, what did i do.  Where do i live, have my phone number, what’s my wife name?  Are my parents alive or passed, were they in Christ etc. .  But then without even a break “Sure do love ya brother.”  Do i really believe that ??????  Since then i’ve had more experiences in the same vain.  Does the one speaking really believe i believe what there say’n; that concept most likely doesn’t even enter there thoughts: may come from self-centeredness and worth.  

So then as the body of Christ, the church, when we speak to one another let it be truthful and with love.  Its simple to do, but be ready for the fallout that is sure to come from those whom this was written too.  We, humanity are creatures of habit.  One hears words (speeches) over and over long enough they start to be truth.  Then in believing it to be truth, fall into the same trap (of deceit) that they too have been deceived into believing.  But that’s not the worst of it.  Then the gospel is presented: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.  But they don’t hear, their hearts are stoney and dry, they have heard error over and over for so long, nice to do’s and let’s do’s for so long everything they hear is all categorized into the same context and is just passed off as again “Long on talk and short on do-ism.”  Those that do hear will draw to themselves those of the same nature and in turn reject all that don’t fit their idea of how one (life) should be.  We’re all sick, me included more so because i know;  its hard to just speak to one another in love and truth, but it needs to be said and more so, it needs to be done.  A person who is truly in Christ, understands  and knows what Paul was talking of when he wrote:  “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”  2 Timothy 1:12.  Once one does truly understand the workings of that verse; there isn’t anything one can say that will get a rise out of the hearer.  They will listen, and when counsel is given with scripture, commenting in love in an attempt to edify and enlighten the speaker.  But it will take a long long time to break down the wall of pragmatism, but with time and patience from the speaker. one will prevail, so don’t give up.  “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:11.  With; “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12.  One can’t go wrong when speaking scripture if,  its a big IF;  if one has:  “Study (ied) to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  i need to know why i’m approved unto God to be a workman ( “we are ambassadors”  2 Corinthians 5:20).  This truth spoken of here is of the same nature as;  “worshipping God in spirit and in truth.”  John 4:24b

So i submit, lets’s speak to each other in truth, put away lying for what ever cause, speak in love to lift up the hearer, be mindful of who we are in Christ,  “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Romans 12:2.  Learn to listen and ask questions, then be attentive to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to speak to them through you (if one can’t support what one thinks is to be said, it may be better to just listen harder than to say something from ones own mind and not what God had intended.)  When nothing is given, let it lay, don’t come into giving man’s wisdom.  Is God trying to teach you to listen to Him and others in the course of the conversation we are involved in? If so, keep quite, gain wisdom, God’s wisdom.

Thank You LORD Jesus for loving me and giving me Your life.  What You have given me is hard.  i pray that one would hear and test the words too see if they are truth and from You.  i pray for myself and those who speak truth; speaking “What saith the scriptures” and devil be damned.  The true man or woman, boy or girl only has only one head, if in You;  “But speaking the truth in love, that we may grow in You unto all things, which You are, the Head, even Christ, Your body the church.   In Jesus’s name  Amen . . . . . . .