One of Uncommon Pursuit’s core values is “truth that inspires love.”
For me, this is of critical importance.
Why?
Because too often, I have seen truth be used for something other than love.
For instance, a true statement can be used to bully someone. A true statement can be used to conceal a more important false statement. A true statement can be used to incite hatred. A true statement can build up our pride.
Far too many times, I’ve read the Bible - a highly important source of truth - for my own benefit. But the Bible is a gift of love intended to equip us to love God and love others. That’s what this truth is for.
Part of what makes this so difficult is that self-deception can use the truth to keep us deceived. I can read the Bible, study a completely true passage, and use what I have learned to feel superior to others.
I want to regularly remind myself that truth is a gift from God that equips us to love.
A few practices that help me do this:
Confession of sin
Honest dialogue with others
Evaluating how I am treating others
How have you seen truth mis-used? What helps you remember that truth is a gift to help us love?
I have had the truth be used against me from people I thought I could trust to share it with. I try to make it a point to always think of how the other person would feel. I am so glad you broke down the instances of how truth can be used " true statement can be used to bully someone. A true statement can be used to conceal a more important false statement. A true statement can be used to incite hatred. A true statement can build up our pride." I am sure within my lifetime of experiences I have while maybe not deliberately have used the truth in the examples you gave, all except for hate. But like you said the truth should inspire love
My go to for TRUTH John 14:6 is a humbling look at truth because I will never measure up to ultimate truth which is Christ.
In this passage some look at this as a prideful statement from Christ, which does what you said about hatred from a true statement.
Switching gears, a bit, truth lives in us, we are not truth but a vessel for the Truth.
These few things help to remind me it’s not me its Him in me that is perfect without flaw or blemish the truth and nothing but.
It is impossible for any human to be capable of perfect truth, my pride has/can corrupt how I see myself when I forget what God said, “He remembers we are dust”, a truth I should never forget to keep at the forefront of my mind.
I will close with these quotes
Powerful and honest statements that help me thank you both.