The title of this article presents a question that might seem silly to ask. From a Christian point of view, it seems obvious that one should always tell the truth. However, telling the truth does not always require you to speak. In other words, you might find it better to say nothing than to speak the truth in certain situations.

Sometimes silence is what is needed

For a perfect example, consider when Jesus was confronted by the chief priests and elders (Matt. 21:23-27). Jesus obviously knew the truth and could have spoken. However, because they refused to answer His question, He did not answer theirs. Jesus recognized the true intent of the conversation and was not under obligation to tell the truth. Still, let’s not confuse this idea with thinking there are times when we can lie. That’s not what we are talking about in the article.

The Proverb writer stated that one should not answer a fool according to his folly (26:4). You may very well be right about something, but if you are dealing with one who is just being foolish in his thinking, your truth will fall on deaf ears. This is why our Lord told His followers that when someone does not want to hear the truth, there comes a time you have to shake the dust off your feet and move on (Luke 9:5).

There are different ways to utter the truth

We must also not forget that there are many ways to say the same thing without lying. Again, the Proverb writer stated that a soft answer can turn away wrath (Prov. 15:1). Paul spoke similarly in his when instructing saints to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). It is not the intention to speak in a way to defuse a situation by withholding truth. Rather, it means to choose our words wisely.

Let your yes be yes, and your no be no

Knowing that we all need to speak the truth, Christians need to make sure they mean what they say. If we say we are going to do something, it ought to be the truth, not just a ploy to create a temporary reprieve. During His sermon on the mount, Jesus admonished his followers “But let your ‘Yes” be “Yes” and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one,” (Matt. 5:37). God’s people do not say things like, “Well, I really did not mean it.” Or, “You are not going to hold me to that are you?” God’s people are to tell the truth always, even when they say they are going to do something.

Gossip may be truth, but still gossip

It is easy to justify gossip by saying, “Well, it was the truth!” This may be correct, but such things should not be said if our intent is to malign another instead of helping them. Our Lord pointed out that if we have a matter with a brother, we are to go to him directly (Matt. 18:15). Not everyone needs to know all the “ins and outs” of our personal lives. Telling every little detail might be truthful, but we need to make sure that we are speaking with purpose, not just to create a stir. There is far too much being uttered for a lack of understanding of this principle.

Beware of uttering “white” lies

Too often, people replace the truth with what they consider a “harmless” lie. If there is no obvious harm done by the falsehood, people become more comfortable deviating from truth. The problem is that our Lord makes no distinction between “harmless” lies and “malicious” ones. “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8). May we only speak truth as God’s children.

Chuck                                                                                        

If you read last week’s bulletin, we dealt with the text of I Corinthians 5. The church at Corinth was rebuked for not exercising church discipline. The church is to be pure and kept unspotted from the world (Eph. 5:25-27). Therefore, when a member of the church is walking in sin (unwilling to repent), that local body of saints must deal with it the Lord’s way.

Without repeating the whole article, Christians need to deal with these situations. It might seem cut and dry as to what should be done with a wayward member who acts like all is fine because Christians know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump (I Cor. 5:6). However, brethren are often tempted to neglect their duties. This is especially true when a member just walks away and leaves. If they are no longer around to leaven the whole lump, is the church still expected to exercise discipline?  Absolutely. Let’s take a closer look at this.

It may be technically true that you cannot really “withdraw” yourself from one who is no longer around, but discipline still needs to be taken. Consider Galatians 6:1. Paul wrote, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”  James pretty much said the same thing when he spoke of brethren that wander away and how faithful brethren should try to bring them back (James 5:19-20).

We need to see that fallen brethren need to be dealt with whether they act as if nothing is wrong or if they walk away and stop assembling. A member who walks away is sinning, and it would be wrong for a local church to ignore. But what is a church to do? They should do the very same thing as when someone sinfully walks among them.

If a person leaves a church, they have “withdrawn” themselves. However, the Bible speaks about “marking” or “noting those” who are walking disorderly. The Thessalonians were told, “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother,” (II Thess. 3:14-15). This is the same idea presented in Romans 16:17-18.

Our goal is to help the fallen return. This is true whether they recognize that they have fallen or not. If a brother walks away and calls me up and acts as if nothing has changed, he would be wrong. If I act as if nothing has changed other than not seeing him at church services, I am not fulfilling my duty of marking him to inspire the godly shame necessary for repentance.

Today’s Christians need to be particularly careful about making the wayward comfortable in their sin. Social media is called “social” for a reason. Still, we should never stop loving our fallen brethren. We should continue to pray for them and, as the II Thessalonian text above mentions, we should never treat them as an enemy. The wayward should be greeted cheerfully rather than being ignored. However, we need to be careful that we do not use social media to accidentally praise those walking in rebellion against God. 

A member of the church who no longer accepts what we teach might say, “You can’t withdraw from me, I withdraw from you.” Fine. But Christians still have the duty to try and bring them back. If they refuse to repent, we must note them and not keep company with them. This is true for all who go back into the pollutions of the world (II Pet. 2:20-22). As children of God, we must remember that sin is sin!

                                                                                                Chuck