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

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. (NIV)

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. (NLT)

Dive Deeper:

This week's passage guides us on living in accordance with truth. It calls upon those acquainted with the truth of Jesus to discard their old selves, marked by deceit, malice, and greed, indulging in various impurities. We are urged to put on our new selves, reflective of the image of God, which brings about holiness and righteousness through Him. Through the Gospel's transformative power, we are integrated into the body of Christ, with the responsibility of embodying truth in our interactions with one another (Gal. 6:1).

Passivity vs. Harshness

In earlier verses, we're urged to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:14-15). Reflecting on the transformed life of a believer, it's evident that truth and love are crucial. Because of this, Satan seeks to corrupt the good in the world by pitting good against good, truth against love. This is why we see in today's common belief that truth and love are opposites, leading us to become either passive or harsh.

The passive lack a commitment to truth and believe that truth and love can't coexist. They avoid calling for change, opting for acceptance without confrontation. Paul emphasizes that false teachings easily deceive those who avoid speaking the truth.

The second error of harshness lies in being overly driven by truth without room for grace, akin to the Pharisees. Despite their vast knowledge of the truth, these Old Testament teachers lacked love and became self-righteous false teachers (Matt. 23). Like the Pharisees, we can be so focused on the facts that we forget grace, turning truth into something harsh, self-righteous, and deceitful. Claiming to be wise, we can become fools (Romans 1:22).

Unity

The actual call is this: unity. The believer's growth to maturity involves speaking the truth in love to their neighbor, both leading to and from unity. Pursuing gentle correction out of love, not self-righteousness, is crucial for this unity. 

Christ has made us new not only as individuals but, moreover, to be grafted into the body of Christ. We are accountable for one another, sharing burdens, lifting each other, and pursuing sanctification together. As we pursue maturity and unity, a miracle happens in the hearts of believers. We become 100% truth and 100% love. They become interchangeable. 

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

If your words cause disunity or confusion, it's vital to question whether they stem from passivity or harshness and seek the Lord's guidance toward unity of spirit. The ultimate goal is unity, as we are interconnected members of one body. It requires us to speak the truth and do so gently and in love. 

Written by Blake Stanley

Challenge:

Send a text to a trusted friend or mentor who knows you well and ask them which fault you generally tend toward (passivity or harshness). Ask, “If I could improve at speaking the truth in love, what’s one way I could do that?”