Why do we need to pit them against each other? They are both important. They are both needful.
Our church just finished reading through the book of Revelation together. In chapters 2-3, God lists seven different churches along with what was good and bad about each one.
The church at Ephesus was commended for testing “those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false” and for hating “the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” (Revelation 2:2-7) But they were rebuked for having “abandoned the love you had at first.” They were admonished to “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.“
The church at Pergamum (2:12-17) was commended for holding fast to their faith and not denying God’s name, yet rebuked for having some who held to false teaching. They were warned to repent, or “I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth,” previously identified as His Word. The church in Thyatira (2:18-29) was commended for “your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance” but rebuked for allowing false teaching.
God is love (1 John 4:8). And Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
God wants us to love Him with our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). He searches mind and heart (Revelation 2:23).
Truth is so important to God that all the prophets and almost all the epistles warn against false teaching. Sound doctrine is brought up again and again. In fact, Paul instructs:
If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)
You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord (1 Corinthians 5:5)
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. (1 Corinthians 5:11)
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. (Titus 1:11-14)
By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:19b-20)
Wow, some of that sounds harsh. But how loving is it to let people go on in a false doctrine themselves or lead others astray? Spurgeon once said, “To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus.” Paul aims for restoration as much as possible: “Warn him as a brother,” “that they may be sound in the faith,” “that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”
We get into trouble if we stand for truth without love, if we use truth as a steamroller or sledgehammer, with pride in being “right.” “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8)
But we also get into trouble if we tolerate any behavior or aberration of doctrine for the sake of love. We need to be gracious, to give people time to grow, to realize we all make mistakes and stumble.
And we have to be careful that the truth we stand for is the bedrock truth of the Scripture: the gospel, the deity of Christ, the verity of the Bible, etc. There are many other areas where good people can differ, but we too often elevate those and defend our views on them with more vehemence than we do the fundamentals.
But if someone’s lifestyle and teaching contradicts the clear Word of God, we have to take our stand with God. The prophets and the apostles proclaimed truth and exposed and corrected errors and false doctrine. Every book of the Bible proclaims truth, and almost every one warns about those who would corrupt it.
We can’t follow the “nice” (to us) parts of Scripture and leave off the rest. All of God’s Word is inspired.
May God give us wisdom and grace as we walk in truth and in love.
(Sharing with Inspire Me Monday, Hearth and Soul, Senior Salon, Remember Me Monday,Purposeful Faith, Tell His Story, InstaEncouragement, Recharge Wednesday,
Share a Link Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, Heart Encouragement, Grace and Truth, Faith on Fire.
Links do not imply 100% agreement.)
Stray Thoughts 
Amazing how many false dichotomies we set up in our evangelical circles. This is a big one, and you’ve given us right thinking!
Thanks, Michele. We need to continually calibrate our thinking with Scripture.
This is so interesting Barbara as recently I have read a post on knowledge verses truth, now truth verses love. Both go together as you have highlighted.
I think the following statement says it all…
“We can’t follow the “nice” (to us) parts of Scripture and leave off the rest. All of God’s Word is inspired.”
It’s not necessarily easy to take a stand in this world or with loved ones choosing lifestyles that are contrary to His principles but it is necessary & needs to be done in all gentleness, grace & love!
Jesus our great example & while He walked the earth, was all about honoring & glorifying the Father in everything He did…does! 😀
Bless you,
Jennifer
Thank you, Jennifer. He’s our example in all things. He spoke pretty plainly and bluntly sometimes, but He’s also the perfect expression of love.
That He is Barbara. 😀
“How loving is it to let people go on in a false doctrine themselves or lead others astray?” and “We can’t follow the “nice” (to us) parts of Scripture and leave off the rest. All of God’s Word is inspired”. Very thought-provoking post. May God help us to stand up for the truth in love.
Amen. How we need grace and wisdom and balance.
Amen. His Word is truth. His Word is light. His Word guides us.
Amen.
This line stood out to me: “To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus.” Help us, Lord. Both truth and love are equally important. There is no love without truth! Love tells the truth even when it’s a hard truth.
Yvonne, I needed to see that there is no love without truth. Thank you.
Amen. Truth is a part of love, not an antithesis to love.
Insightful post, Barbara. I recently began a study of Galatians where the Apostle Paul was confronting the same thing–false doctrine in the church. It makes me wonder how much false doctrine is going unconfronted in our culture! Thanks for this inspiring post! I’ve pinned it!
Thank you! I’m afraid there’s a good deal of false doctrine masquerading as truth. People forget Satan can appear as an angel of light, and he mixes truth and error together enough to draw people in.
Both truth and love are very important. Both helps us get through each day.
I come visiting your blog via Esme’s Senior Salon.
Amen. Thanks for visiting!
This is so interesting and timely too, since yesterday the pastor spoke on this very thing. He mentioned how today everyone wants to talk about God’s love, but few want to talk about obeying Him (which I realize isn’t exactly like “truth,” but same idea). It’s a fine line to walk, but it’s a great topic to contemplate.
They’re very close. It’s easy to presume on God’s grace.
I agree, both truth and love are so important – it can be so tricky to find the right balance sometimes!
It can be. I tend to avoid confrontation, so my default is not to speak up. But sometimes I should, with love and grace.
Are you inside my head? Struggling with exactly how to marry these two in certain situations with a loved one. You have given me a lot to think about.
It’s neat how God works. It can be so hard to balance the two. Praying for His wisdom with your loved one.
Barbara, what a great post. Truth and love are both essential, and they go hand in hand, don’t they? I really liked this: “But we also get into trouble if we tolerate any behavior or aberration of doctrine for the sake of love. We need to be gracious, to give people time to grow, to realize we all make mistakes and stumble.”
We do need to give people time to grow, and we love them by speaking the hard truths lovingly, don’t we?
We do. I know some who like to pounce on others without any love or sensitivity–that’s wrong, but so is not speaking up, which is my tendency. May God give us the right balance.
Your post reminds me of parenting – I love my kiddos – but love means being truthful; it means loving enough to set boundaries, to discipline, to teach. Real love doesn’t fold up truth for the sake of peace! You’ve given us such good wisdom here – a hard truth – but a necessary truth!
Thanks so much, Maryleigh. Parenting requires that balance between truth and love so much.
You’re so right, it doesn’t have to be one or the other in opposition. I appreciate the verses you use to highlight that God cares about both truth and love deeply, and calls us to the same. Yes, may He give us wisdom!
Amen, for wisdom and grace to walk in truth and love. Thanks for sharing. Many blessings to you!
Amen! These are such great thoughts. But I especially love that first line, “Why do we need to pit them against each other? They are both important. They are both needful.” Finding that balance is difficult and so very much worth it.
I love the words from 1 John 4:7-8. God is love. We can’t have truth without love or the other way around. Great post!
Great reminder to stand on the word and walk in love. We have to lovingly deliver the truth. Thank you!
Truth in love… That’s the way to go. We can’t be complacent in either.
good words of encouragement to remember the balance of love and truth and keep pressing teachings to the Word not leaning on man’s teaching alone.
“We get into trouble if we stand for truth without love, if we use truth as a steamroller or sledgehammer, with pride in being “right.”
I loved this. However, it makes me cringe a little for the times I stood so strongly on being right and forgot the love. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Link-Up.
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