Lesson of the Week
May 18, 2005The trouble with brutal honesty is that is more brutal than honest. And there is no mercy in the world of brutes. Nature has no catch and release program. Brutes devour one another. The only people who consistently speak the truth in love are the merciful. Mercy is the miracle that frees us to tell the truth to ourselves and others in love.
Jesus is the truth. Satan is the father of lies. The truth sets us free. Lies trap and enslave us. Lies like: I’m not angry: I’m not jealous; I’m only working 80 hours a week for my family; I can stop this any time I want; I need this today; If you would change I’d be happy; I’ll start tomorrow; ensure that we will stay in destructive patterns and unfulfilling relationships.
Why do we lie to ourselves? To make us feel better about ourselves, but it doesn’t really work. Why do we lie to others? Sometimes because we think they can’t handle the truth, sometimes to protect our addictions, to escape the consequences of our sin, or to make us look better than we are. But lies never work. Whether we use them to justify, excuse, rationalize, repress, deceive, or escape, lies always fail because they can’t change reality, and we all have to live in reality. No good consequences come from lies. Lies give birth to a chain of lies, a web of deceit, a false way of life. Lies keep us from changing for the good and cut us off from the mercy of Jesus when we most need it.
What does it take to tell the truth consistently? First, it takes a commitment to tell the truth. We are born with a propensity to lie. No one had to teach any of us to lie. It just came naturally. We have to make a commitment to go against our old nature. Second, we have to come to Jesus frequently to be washed by His word, encouraged and strengthened. And third, we must remember that the goal is never simply to tell the truth, but to tell the truth in love. The trouble with brutal honesty is that it is more brutal than honest. Brutal honesty does not set anyone free. It crushes and covers with shame. It separates us from one another.
There is no mercy in the world of brutes. Have you ever watched a nature program on TV? There is no catch and release program in nature, is there? Once the lion gets the stray gazelle in its jaws it never lets it go. Animals feed off the mistakes of other animals. And when we are brutally honest, we are doing the same, feeding off mistakes of our brothers and sisters. People lie because they have experienced so little of the mercy of God. Every lie is a missed opportunity to enjoy the mercy of Jesus.
Mercy is not natural. It has to be learned. It is an acquired taste. Only the people who live under the mercy of Jesus Christ can consistently speak the truth in love. Our spiritual maturity is not measured by how long we have been a Christian, nor by how much of the Bible we know, nor by our ability to articulate deep theological truths, nor by our ability to see what is wrong with people and things, but by our awareness of our need for His mercy. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Mat. 5:7).
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.
I think I'm still on the ''brutaly honest level'' of maturity so my comment will be the same.:-)
I do agree that we as christian certanly have a need to have more mercy towards each.I certanly have that desperate need to receive a kind word now and then.
On the other hand I dont entirely agree that mercy is an 'ACQUIRED taste'.i
darko :: April 15, 2006 07:20 PM