As we launch into our new series, The Battle of the Sexes, I keep having this recurring thought: I'd rather be biblically correct than politically correct.
If we were really honest about it, I think some of us are more afraid of offending people than we are offending the Holy Spirit. I want to say what I say with great tact. I want to use my right-brain and left-brain to really come at tough topics creatively and logically. And I want to be as positive and as persuasive as I can possibly be. But at the end of the day, sometimes we need to say things that people don't want to hear!
There are moments where you have to make a choice between biblical correctness and political correctness. And it takes good-old fashioned guts to say what people don't want to hear. But I think there is a way to say things so that people may like you less but respect you more!
For what it's worth...whenever I have to have a tough conversation with someone where I have to confront an issue, I almost always reference John 1:14 where it says Jesus was full of grace and truth.
Grace means I'll love you no matter what. Truth means I'll be honest no matter what. Grace without truth is weak and shallow! Truth without grace is counter-productive. But grace and truth is a Christlike combo that will impact people!
If we were really honest about it, I think some of us are more afraid of offending people than we are offending the Holy Spirit. I want to say what I say with great tact. I want to use my right-brain and left-brain to really come at tough topics creatively and logically. And I want to be as positive and as persuasive as I can possibly be. But at the end of the day, sometimes we need to say things that people don't want to hear!
There are moments where you have to make a choice between biblical correctness and political correctness. And it takes good-old fashioned guts to say what people don't want to hear. But I think there is a way to say things so that people may like you less but respect you more!
For what it's worth...whenever I have to have a tough conversation with someone where I have to confront an issue, I almost always reference John 1:14 where it says Jesus was full of grace and truth.
Grace means I'll love you no matter what. Truth means I'll be honest no matter what. Grace without truth is weak and shallow! Truth without grace is counter-productive. But grace and truth is a Christlike combo that will impact people!
6 Comments:
Wow, good stuff Mark, especially that last paragraph. It made me immediately think of Colossians 4:5-6 and how we are to deal with "outsiders". What a great thought to start the day.
Mark, superbly-put. I've been pondering and writing on my challenge of always wanting to wield God's Sword (Truth without Grace, in my life) when maybe I should be emulating God's Heart (Truth with Grace). Conflict makes me want to conquer, and that's not always God's will.
Teach us, we want to learn!
Amen brother. Reverence for God more than men.
"Truth means I'll be honest no matter what." This is exactly what my life, and blog, is about (albeit from a different angle). I appreciate your honesty.
Thanks Mark! I appreciate your candor and willingness to challenge the leaders who read your blog to step up and do something biblical...imagine that! You certainly have challenged this pastor!
Dean
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