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Love For Truth And Mankind
J. L. McKinley
It could be said that truth and love are like the
banks of a river. They will keep
genuine Christianity flowing in check until the end of the ages. These two
godly traits must exist with the proper focus in order to keep the religion of
Christ pure and undefiled from corruptive influences. Truth must exist, but
there must also be a love for it
because of its power in the saving of souls. Furthermore, those who love the
truth must also possess a love for God and man who was created in His image (Genesis 1:27; 9:6). Recognition
that the truth we possess comes from God and has the power to transform lost
sinners into children of God is essential.
Without the acknowledgment of such a thing as truth
and a love for Christianity it would become nothing more than a syncretic
quagmire of relativism. Such would scarcely save anyone much less transform
them into the image of Christ (Romans
12:1-2; II Corinthians 3:18). Down
through the ages Christianity has imbibed philosophies from every tributary and
produced a sediment unsuitable for the very purpose Jesus ordained. The
presence of a love for truth and mankind whom it saves are necessary
ingredients in contending "for the faith which was once for all delivered
to the saints" (Jude 3).
However, without love for mankind the religion of
Christ will become an organization interested in keeping rites simply for the sake
of orthodoxy. History tells of those who held views contrary to the majority
being burned at the stake in the name of Christ. How can love be a motivating
factor when the killing of a person over a difference in belief ends all hope
that the person would repent and come to the truth?
What would have happened had Aquila and Priscilla
attacked Apollos publicly over his less-than-perfect understanding of God’s
word (Acts 18:24-26)? Perhaps he
would have sought to defend himself publicly to save face. In such a situation
a person becomes defensive and more difficult to teach. Love will take a person
to the side and teach him privately. This writer has heard people make the
excuse that if error is not attacked at the moment first expressed visitors may
go away believing a false doctrine. Such may be the case, but if an ugly
confrontation ensues they will simply go away. What will be remembered more by
a visitor, a mistaken interpretation of Scripture or a childish display of
bickering between the pulpit and the pew. If elders exercise their
responsibility of knowing what a preacher teaches before inviting him to speak
there will be no false doctrines to attack, but rather only misunderstandings
to privately correct.
It was a lack of love among the brethren at Corinth
that exposed their carnal nature (I
Corinthians 3:1, 3-4). This mindset caused them to abuse the spiritual
gifts that were for the furthering of the Gospel. Paul wrote this majestic
treatise to demonstrate the lack of love would make vain any and all uses of
spiritual gifts no matter how great. "Though I speak with the tongues of
men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a
clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not
love, it profits me nothing" (I
Corinthians 13:1-3).
Without proper motivation, ones actions in the name
of Christ will be unfruitful in eternity, no matter how successful in the
present age. Jesus spoke of those who piously gave and prayed to be seen by man
rather than for their love of God. Jesus affirmed that such pious actions are
not without their rewards in this life, but will do nothing for them in
eternity (Matthew 6:1-8). Indeed,
when love is not a primary motivation in ones religion it cannot produce the
"peace that surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).
The apostle John had much to say about ‘truth’ and
‘love.’ Christians are to be identified by the fact that they "love one
another" (I John 4:6). Again,
"if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (I John 4:11). "If we love one
another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us" (I John 4:12). Earlier in the chapter
John spoke of "false prophets" who had gone out into the world. It
was a demonstration of love that caused the apostle to exhort the brethren to
be on guard against such teachers. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have
gone out into the world" (I John
4:1). We find a similar example in Paul who while at Ephesus warned the
brethren "night and day with tears" concerning "savage
wolves" who would not spare the flock (Acts 20:26-32). Like these two apostles, our professed love for
truth must exist because we understand its purpose and power. Our defense of
that truth must be for the love of mankind whom it saves.
Announcing a new book by J. L. McKinley, a Student of Summit Theological Seminary!
“Jesus and the Resurrection”
~ An Apology for the Resurrection ~
~
An Overview of the attacks of the Resurrection ~
~
A Great Evangelism tool to reach the Unsaved ~
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