THE TRUTH – IN LOVE!

THE TRUTH – IN LOVE!

Eph 4:14-15

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

John 4:16-18

16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

          How was Jesus going to engage this woman in soul-saving, life-changing conversation without offending her? This is exactly the challenge we face in this age of tolerance and acceptance. I, and the church I pastor, have been occasionally accused of being too “judgmental.” If, by that, folks mean that we do not shy away from calling sin by its right name, then I plead guilty. We always try to do this in love.

          Jesus challenged her personal sin! Asking her to call her husband spoke to the fact that women usually did not frequent the well at this hour of the day. Scholars generally agree that she was trying to go about her chores as inconspicuously as possible. Like a skilled surgeon, Jesus began to peel away this woman’s layers of secrecy. Ignoring cultural prejudices and gender barriers, Jesus simply asked for a drink of water. Slowly but deliberately, Jesus explained that he had “water” that would truly satisfy. She made a joke of it and asked for indoor plumbing!

          In asking her to call her husband, Jesus was simply following the custom of discussing important business between men. She answered that she had no husband. I’m trying to imagine the pain that she must have felt as she said this. Jesus knew it – and felt it too. This poor woman had endured five failed marriages. Each “I do” became more bitter in her mouth than the last. Ultimately she abandoned marriage as a structure for relationships and simply cohabitated with a man. Perhaps she had more than one partner! Jesus did not add to her pain but simply explained that He was aware of her situation. Neither did he condone her behavior because it made her uncomfortable. No, if she was ever going to have peace, this sin must be addressed.

          Sinners prefer to debate religion than to deal with their sin. She opened a discussion of the differences between the Samaritans’ worship and the Jews’ method. Tenderly, Jesus explained to her that she was wrong but that true worship was to be done in spirit and in truth.

          I’d like to share a quote I read from some commentary. “Men’s carnal mind relishes a religion like that of the apostate church, which gives an opiate to conscience while leaving the sinner license to indulge his lusts.” For the most heinous of all sin is the sin of those who know God’s word of grace, and keep it not.

Dear Lord, help me to speak the truth with as much skill and tenderness as you did at the well. AMEN