The line between being an accessory per complicit (i.e., non-confrontational) awareness of sin and being led of God to speak in love to reveal the truth of how horrendous is sin...
...is one that's being sought, increasingly, now.
You can't make argument that Christians have always taken strong, public stands in terms of denouncing sin, when there exists tradition of code used by our ancient brothers and sisters so to identify themselves to one another without alerting the secular world of their devotion to Christ.
Literally having gone into hiding, Christians obviously weren't engaging in large-scale public proclamation of the horrors of ever having turned from God. Their concern wasn't taking a stance against the world, publicly.
And yet, if they hadn't ever spoken of Christ and of His sacrifice to atone for sin--even speaking, as part of that revelation, of the truth of sins' horrors...
...if they hadn't spoken to some about the treachery and horror of sin, none would have been added to the number of those redeemed by Christ--not through their lives, through their ministry, at least (granted, the Lord does draw many without human intervention, apparently...still, we are all told to make disciples).
Yet, it was surely person by person, then? Divine appointment by divine appointment?
Even as the law given to Israel made it clear they were to correct their neighbor when wrongdoing was noticed--otherwise such a person who refused to confront their neighbor would be counted guilty as well--then still (Leviticus 19:17)...such a thing is not a light or easy matter to consider or approach. And it's not something that apparently applies to all and sundry, everywhere, at all times, now--except that the Lord leads in that particular way (sometimes He definitely does--check out the commissions given the Old Testament prophets, keeping in mind that God doesn't change).
Point being, those of us who know truth have a deep responsibility to share it. With a great deal of discernment and love, in terms of being guided by the Lord, in how and with whom to do so.
Guided by Him rather than being a "bull in a China shop," as the saying goes--rather than awkwardly bludgeoning everyone and wreaking havoc, we are called to speak the truth in love. Love doesn't mean compromise, though.
That's the part that's hard. The flesh would rather do what's easy, what's less painful, what causes less friction--saving face, preserving reputation, not "rocking the boat."
Speaking truth with great love, all the while being torn apart to see the pain that's caused, is extremely difficult. Especially as it seems that there's simultaneous longing, all the while, of wanting to soothe the obvious offense or pain--wanting to deliver from it, yet while remaining steadfastly devoted to speaking true.
This is an ongoing learning process, as coming to more fully know the Lord, apparently. Truth is true, even as we are all laboring under various and multifaceted delusions which He delivers us from incrementally, over time. We come to know and recognize and be equipped to speak truth more deeply as time passes, just as we come to know God more encompassingly, through our loving pursuit of an increasingly single-minded devotion to and awareness of Him.
Even in this, though--while there's heartache from speaking truth when it's given to say, then there's a solemn peace and quiet resolve secured, for having submitted to God per speaking. This seems never given to justify self, but always striving to justify God and truly help others--that is the desire, that is the pursuit.
And that's a point at which temptation is all the more apt to arise: In speaking any manner of truth, attacks on self, especially on one's own ways and faults, are quite likely to be experienced (whether mental/spiritual assault or through others). Go in, knowing this. Expect it, and surrender from prior to embarking to the total awareness that self has no stake in this, but the Lord's will is that which need be done and maintained. We don't need to and truly can't justify ourselves, is the thing--we have all failed. And we are all in need of ongoing correction.
Jesus is the One who has justified those who are His. And He is the One who preserves us. And the One who will defend us and deliver us from our attackers, too--whether even delivered into glory with Him, at this very moment, then still He is faithful and He will act of behalf of His own. Here or hereafter, whatever is of His will to the good of those who love Him, by either route. There is a day of judgment coming, and He will make all things right then, even if He doesn't now.
Patience on that point can be challenging in the midst of pressing through to seek Him despite impossible circumstances: always testing His leading against His Word--ever only to seek His will, by seeking to do as He said even by testing all spirits. This, just to to ensure leading is of and from Him and not from self, when there comes a point of feeling pressed to speak a difficult truth.
We have no defense, in and of ourselves, is the thing. So, we can't be justified in speaking unless the Lord leads--He's the only One who's ever been sinless. Speaking from a stance which considers self justified to correct another--taking up a crusade based on personal agendas and private understanding of Scripture (i.e., not given by the Holy Spirit)...while the Lord is so gracious and merciful that oft He has and does bless such things, regardless our cold-heartedness and lack of regard for Him...taking such a stance equates to refusing to submit to the Lord.
Because we're all guilty, apart from Christ. And even in Him, the truth of what He's done humbles and doesn't drive one to mock those who haven't come to repentance. Knowledge does increase sorrow--to know Christ means seeing the truth of the state of the world, which is to sorrow over the state of those who don't know Him.
This doesn't lead to mockery, and certainly not to exalting oneself as superior to those who haven't come to recognize the truth of who Christ Jesus is. But it leads to reverence for a burden of truth, recognizing the state we're all in. And coming to know Christ especially inspires grief over sin and grieving what sin has done and is doing and what its end will be for all those who don't come to repentance, who refuse to acknowledge Christ as Lord prior to casting off their mortal coil.
So, to see truth increases desire to share it with those who are laboring under delusion from sin. This, even while remembering and realizing, complete lack of awareness isn't the problem.
Problem is--we all have known the truth, in the very depths of our being, from the outset of life. We all have known that so many things we chose to do were utterly wrong. We all had experienced a shrill cry of terror from somewhere deep within, at some instance in our past--whether prior to present memory's reach, or not. We all erred against what we knew to be true, thus departing from truth.
We all chose to act against what we knew to be right. We all departed from God--turned our backs on Him, thumbed our noses at Him and sneered. We all did. We have all despised Him. And if to varying degrees, then it's only been by grace that He's restrained some more than others. From beginning to end, any who have been saved out of sin and into relationship with God have only come to reconciliation through Christ's work, alone. He has saved, and He will preserve that which He has taken for His own.
Nevertheless, there's a heavy-heartedness in contemplating sin, even being aware of Christ's saving presence--He paid so high a price, ever more deeply cherishing Him means being grieved at having contributed whatsoever to His sufferings. Means despairing, in part, to ever and always recall that He has paid that price and for you, for me, realizing we did contribute only the sin which made our salvation necessary (J. Edwards).
He loved us that much, though. And He loves us no less, now. Despite our abject wickedness and aversion to Him. Still, He loved us that much. And loves us still.
In that awareness, there's a forsaking of self in favor of desiring His will alone. And that self-denial further entails a necessary turning from what seems perhaps easiest in favor of turning toward what He deems right.
His will is to redeem others. He didn't die for us or for them so that we would not experience difficulties, but that we could be saved out of sin which deserves such wrath as He absorbed, for us.
So, as He leads, we have to speak. But that doesn't mean bullhorns for everyone. It doesn't mean pulpits for everyone. It doesn't mean the same thing for any of each of us, and it never has.
That's part of this walking by the Spirit, walking by faith:
We are given and expected to trust Him to guide us to where we ought to be, and trust Him to give us the words we need to speak when we get there. Even if that's just starting by being prompted to tell the cashier God bless you--He is willing to meet us where we are, but doesn't leave us where He found us.
Thing is--regardless whether we're consciously aware of the process or not, if we're in Christ, He is leading us. Regardless. He does that. It's His prerogative, and He's completely able.
God can do what He wants, as it goes.
And He does, ever as in keeping with His nature.
It's not as though we have a "part to play," is the thing--we don't necessarily "contribute," really...but at the same time, His desire for us is that we move nearer to Him, that we seek active fellowship with Him, that we come to know Him on His terms, and that we do His will out of love for Him.
Even knowing, of that lattermost, that His will is to our good: We benefit, by the whole process. Mentally and spiritually, here and now, and in all ways, hereafter.
He's just good, that way and so many...all...other ways.
So, when He directs to speak truths that are difficult...when He directs to take a stand that is difficult...He gives the strength and direction as to do so. Even if He doesn't give such speech as allows for self-justification in the eyes of man, then there's an element of trust in God which is ever implicitly necessary.
And with all things which are given to speak?: Always, always, always testing against Scripture, for consistency. And testing the Spirit, itself--we have been told quite explicitly that the Holy Spirit has love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And He will not contradict Himself. But there are many spirits and even leaders in various communities and even churches which would lead astray.
The spirits which take such a stance do so knowingly--maliciously, with intent to mock Him by harming us, or even with intent only to harm for the sake of harming. Such liars, they are--attempting all manner of rationalization and attempting even to garner sympathy, when evil is at the very heart of every matter. Some even are so vile as to take on the guise of the young or of dearly departed loved ones, just to injure the guileless or the bereaved by leading them into lies, away from truth. They have no shame, no sympathy, no scruples. And would plead and cajole and even appear to grieve, some of them, just to garner sympathy, so to destroy. While others even use humor, but to the same end. And still others, terror--attempting even to mimic what fear it is to come into the presence of God, Himself, so to attempt to overwhelm and overcome, as to wreak havoc unto destruction. And still, there are so many others. So many, many fronts they attempt. And the only way to discern between them, between one's own thoughts, and between the Holy Spirit of Christ...is know and remain firmly grounded in the truth.
There's only one truth with that power. Only one truth capable of cutting through all those facades. And He's living and active. And willing, as we ask and seek Him:
Jesus Christ is the only means of discerning truth. His is the very Spirit of Truth. He gives discernment, moment to moment, every day. He directs, He leads, He guides into all truth. On a moment-by-moment basis.
His Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of Jesus, Himself...guides and protects all those who are His.
There's no other way to discern truth. There's no means. No method.
So, there's no other way to speak truth, either:
If we cannot know truth, except by His Spirit, then how are we to speak it, apart from Him?
Not as though entering into relationship with Jesus suddenly makes us capable of righteousness and capable of knowing truth, in our own strength, when before being indwelt by His Spirit...we were bereft of these abilities.
Not at all! In fact, the opposite is the case.
In coming into relationship with Jesus, the more deeply we enter into fellowship with Him--being taught by Him, being led into all truth, being instructed in the ways of righteousness, being established on the Holy Way--the more deeply we come to know Him, the more we even automatically begin to deny ourselves, as increasingly the deeds of the flesh are put to death merely per force the increasing depth of communion with His Spirit.
We weren't able to do such things, ourselves, from the outset (not apart from grace); likewise, we weren't able to know or recognize truth from delusion, prior to being instructed by Him. So, how would we know what to say and to whom, in what right moment, apart from His guidance--since He, after all, is the only one who will impress truth upon the heart of the hearer?
We weren't able to free ourselves from the bondage of any sin, prior to Him moving in us, bringing us to life through His Spirit as our old natures increasingly have fallen away in light of the truth of our death with Him, on the cross. He does this. And inspires us to desire it all the more, then just as much so is this the case in terms of speaking truth in love.
As we seek Him for it, which is ever as He leads.
Seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all else will be added to us.
Meaning we no longer crave the things of this world, which is the implied crux of that statement. As we seek Him, we die to self, and are handed more fully into His keeping. We no longer will crave status, we no longer will crave financial excesses, we no longer will crave increasing comfort, we no longer will latch onto the appearance of earthly security. Not because we've somehow suddenly forgotten these things exist, nor that we've progressively developed some new means of seeing these matters, per a new ideology or a new methodology of life-work-play balance.
No, not at all. Jesus works all these things out--giving us truth instead of delusions, as we seek Him, we come to see how frail and faltering are the things of the world, simultaneous as we come to be increasingly aware of His power and might and will toward us, which is good. As we see Him for who He is--increasingly come to be aware of the truth of how He is...we are transformed. Humbled. Gladdened. Made secure. Into rejoicing even in the midst of absolute uncertainty and horrors, just to know such a God as Him is in control.
He does this, though. We can't "muster up and maintain" the means to do these things and have them be continual and sincere in the midst of even chaos and tragedies. But He can give us that joy and peace which allows us to mourn with others, even while simultaneously prompting us to cry out with utmost hope to the God who hears.
He still raises the dead.
And, the dry bones...
He knows when they will live.
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