When Man-Made Religion Gets in God’s Way

Theology
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You can be religious and still be far from God. The Pharisees demonstrated this. They constructed an entire edifice that appeared righteous on the outside but was hollow within. When Jesus came with the truth, they mocked Him. “The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things and ridiculed Him” ~Luke 16:14.

Fake religion will always resist true conviction. It loves comfort, but it hates correction. It builds walls the Lord never authorized and substitutes repentance with rituals. This is why Jesus said, “Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” ~John 3:19.

You cannot follow both the system and the Savior. “No one can serve two masters” ~Matthew 6:24. Saving faith doesn’t put rituals between you and the cross, it goes to the cross.

The good news is not about climbing your way to God; it’s about God stooping to you in Christ. There’s the difference between man-made religion and the faith of a follower of Jesus. One works hard to impress God, and the other humbly confesses, “I need Him.”

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” ~John 3:16.

“The Word of the Lord endures forever” ~1 Peter 1:25.

Why do you think people still cling to man-made religion instead of the truth of the gospel?

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@bdavidc
You asked:

Like you, I also witness, throughout our history, what has happened to the only creature made in the image of God. Since Genesis 4, mankind can be seen to be a lost wanderer, unable to find his creator, though try as he may. God is Spirit, and man’s lostness is due to spiritual blindness, a spiritual impairment for which no man-made cure exists. Man’s blindness is the result of a fatal worldwide plague, a plague that passes from generation to generation like a genetic marker, and so no one has escaped being infected; no, not one. The psychological effects of this plague are many; some still seek their creator in ineffective ways, while others rage violently against the one they suppose made them thus.

You and I have likewise been infected by this plague of sin, our minds and bodies still carry the telltale scars. But, for some reason, by no merit or goodness of our own, we have been shown grace, and with grace, the plague’s cure. You and I, blind in our lost rebellion, have been led, gently, by the hand, to the fountain of life, and we have bowed to drink of its life-giving sangre.

Now we have been given The Gift of Life, we have had our sight restored, Life has returned to our body, and grateful worship now flows from our soul. We now do not look on those still lost with any sense of superiority, ridicule, or personal indictment, but with compassion, love, and a strong desire to lovingly and gently lead them also to the fountain, and invite them to deeply drink.

Surely, as your post implies, there is plenty of blind leading the blind, doing the best they can, pursuing formulations that can bring no healing, or raging against the situation imagining that they have no creator. They are victims of a worldwide plague, and such were you and I. Why do I think people still cling to man-made religion instead of the truth of the gospel? Because no one comes to the fountain except by grace. As recipients of God’s grace, You and I must surely understand this deeply.

Jesus still says "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44

In Jesus
KP

P.S., I don’t think anything, least of all man-made religion, gets in God’s way, anymore than a dandilion stalk gets in the way of my mower. (smile)

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Because of ‘ pride ‘.

False religions always say ‘do this to please god’

Christianity is all about recieving from God his forgiveness and salvation.

False religion is about climbing up to God.

Christianity is about God reaching down to us.

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That was well said, and I agree that we were all once blind and dead in sin until God opened our eyes. You described grace well, it truly is God’s doing, not ours.

But I’ll add this: while grace is the reason any of us are saved, the gospel also confronts false religion directly. Jesus didn’t just call people to see their blindness; He called them to repent of it. The Pharisees, idol worshipers, and followers of man-made systems weren’t simply “doing their best,” they were in rebellion against truth. Grace doesn’t overlook that; it delivers us out of it.

You’re right that no one comes unless the Father draws them ~John 6:44, but that same drawing always leads to Jesus Christ, the only name by which we must be saved ~Acts 4:12. Grace doesn’t leave people in error; it pulls them out. So while compassion is essential, we can’t treat false religion as harmless or merely cultural. It’s spiritual blindness that must be met with truth and the call to come to the cross.

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You’ve nailed it, pride is the root cause of the adherence to man-made religion. Pride causes people to think they can earn God’s favor, perform enough rituals, or simply live “good enough” lives to get to God on their own. The gospel, though, reveals the opposite: we cannot climb up to God; instead, God came down to us in the person of Jesus Christ. “By grace you have been saved through faith… not of works, lest anyone should boast” ~ Ephesians 2:8-9.

A great example of this is Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-14. He wanted God’s healing, but he wanted it his way. When Elisha told him to wash in the Jordan seven times, Naaman became furious and nearly turned away in disgust. He wanted to “customize” God’s command to fit his own presuppositions. But as soon as he humbled himself and obeyed what God said, right where God said to do it, he was cleansed. This story is a vivid reminder that we can’t pick and choose how to obey the Lord. God will often tell us to go places we don’t necessarily want to go and do things that will destroy all vestiges of self-reliance, and that’s where faith is tested.

It’s not uncommon for those trapped in their religion to not see their need for God’s mercy. We can become so comfortable in the traditions we’ve created that comfort can become deadly when it deadens the heart to the truth. Jesus says, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” ~ Mark 12: 34, and yet, for many people, that’s as far as they’ll go. Pride keeps them from surrender and leads them to their doom. Pride sends people to hell, but humility brings them to grace.

The world doesn’t need more religion, it needs Jesus Himself. That will happen when hearts bow to His Word and no longer defend their own system. Real faith doesn’t argue with God, it obeys Him, even when it’s hard.

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Brother @bdavidc
You said:

These personifications of “The Gospel” and “Grace” sound pious, (I like them) but are mostly just wordplay, as I read them. They only partially represent truth or reality, and they seem to be part of an intricate defense system that protects an assumed right to be a crusader; i.e. unnecessarily hostile and aggressive toward outsiders. Your response to me sounds like you are sidelining “compassion” with rhetoric, minimalizing the Christ-like gift of compassion, labeling patient passivity as ineffective sentimentality, while bolstering active confrontation of falsehood. I hear you.

While at the same time tacitly admitting:

What you present (to me) is a dichotomy.

On one side of the dichotomy,
all salvations depend wholly on God The Father. God accomplishes His salvific work through expressing the gifts of His Holy Spirit in His disciples, These Godly expressions are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. His true disciples are like Him, harmless as doves:

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16)

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15)

Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:25-26)

While living simple and exemplary lives of righteousness, God’s saints are persecuted, misunderstood, maligned, rejected, and even killed.
Ironically, the death of His humble and harmless saints actually accomplishes the righteousness of God.

On the other side of the dichotomy,
salvations depend on fully-committed saints who are “wise as serpents” and aggressively engaged with the culture. True evangelists are crusaders; unabashed, stalwart, unafraid of the opposition, ambitiously exposing error, openly pointing out sin, vocally accusing unbelievers of willful rebellion, aggressively confronting ungodliness, actively dissenting with untruths as they see them. But most of all, evangelistic crusaders are accusers of the brethren, exposing sloth, inactivity, passivity, and overly emphasizing the ineffectual characteristics of compassion, love, patience, gentleness, kindness, etc. These characteristics are “nice” and “comfortable” but don’t bring home the bacon into the kingdom.

Ironically, aggressive crusading tactical evangelism does not produce the righteousness of God.

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)

I don’t know where you are on the spectrum of this dichotomy, and I am not attempting to place you on it in any position. I am only pointing out the reality we find ourselves in, and asking you to prayerfully consider what you are depending on, God’s plan which will not fail, or man’s plan which surely will. God’s plan sometimes seems ineffective and myopic, God who not only allowed, but prescribed the death of His prophets, (Jer. 11:29) also prescribes our place as simple, harmless lambs being led to the slaughter, for His sake. (Ps 44:22, Rom 8:36)

I sincerely appreciate and applaud your outspoken devotion to Jesus, and to The Truth He represents. Our lives and testimony are designed to be lights to the world, the way we live and the things we say are designed to represent the most humble, meek, unassuming person who ever walked the earth. His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts. But as heaven is higher than the earth, so are His ways above our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts. I know you believe this too.

In Jesus

KP

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I respect your concern. But I don’t think Scripture ever intended for us to go silent or go unseen in the face of deception and untruth. The prophets of God were led like lambs to the slaughter. But they were not silent lambs. They spoke the truth boldly, even if it meant the loss of their lives. Jeremiah did not cower in the corner; He preached the message that God had given him to the point they threw him in a pit.

Jesus was “harmless” in motive but never passive in action. He would rebuke the Pharisees to their faces because their teaching was leading people astray. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing” ~Matthew 7:15. You can’t beware unless someone is warning you. Paul did this when he told the Ephesian elders that, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” ~Acts 20:27. He also warned them that “savage wolves will come in among you” ~Acts 20:29. This is not the plan of man but the plan of God for the protection of His flock.

At the same time, we must also understand that not every believer is equipped with the same role or personality. “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” ~1 Corinthians 12:4. Some are called to be gentle comforters; others are gifted to confront; some are planters, and others are waterers, but “God gives the increase” ~1 Corinthians 3:7. Gentleness, humility, and patience are marks of the believer, but boldness is as well. The same Spirit who produces gentleness and kindness in one believer produces courage and conviction in another.

Frankly, if we are honest, the church today errs on the side of silence far too much. So many are willing to teach about the love of God but are afraid to mention His holiness, justice, and call to repentance. This is how deception spreads through the church. Love without truth is sentimentality; truth without love is brutality. But Scripture calls us to both. Jesus didn’t come to make people feel warm and cozy in their sin; He came to call them out of it.

That’s why I am bold when necessary and not out of pride or anger but conviction. There are some called to comfort the brokenhearted, and others are called to confront the false, and both are needed in the body of Christ. Our aim isn’t to win arguments; our aim is to keep the message clear. The gospel message both saves and separates the light from the darkness. When many choose to remain silent for fear of being “too bold,” that silence becomes compromise.

Love doesn’t mean silence. Love means stepping in with truth, even when truth stings. You can’t call it love if you watch someone drown and never throw the rope.

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@bdavidc

Thanks for hearing me, and for considering what I wrote. I have carefully read your response, and I think I have a clearer understanding of your position regarding “being outspoken”. I appreciate that you took the time to respond, and to help me understand you a little better.

I do not think you actually understand me, or my position very well, evidenced by the following statement:

The reason I don’t think you understand my position is that I never mentioned or insinuated being silent, unseen, or cowering in the corner. Here it seems you are defending your position against someone other than me; a strawman against whom you are sure to prevail. I agree with your position that Christians are not called to be silent, unseen, nor are they instructed to “cower in the corner”. The fact that I am taking the time, and making the effort to write to you proves this much about my position.

My caution was not concerning being too vocal, or against being bold; I would never encourage a believer to take the easy road, to shrink-back (Heb 10:38), or to neglect being obedient. Your references to the confidence of O.T. prophets, Jesus confronting the Pharisees, and Paul claiming to have been bold with the Ephesians are well noted, and understood. There are many more examples you could have noted, but these suffice to make your point, and that without any objection.

I likewise appreciate your understanding of 1 Corinthians 12; that God has so designed the body to be comprised of many dissimilar members, and not every member has the same responsibility. This wisdom is warmly recieved by me and I thank you for mentioning it.

I likewise agree with your observations in your fourth paragraph. Many that fly the banner of Christianity seem to have little remembrance of the mission that the banner represents. I sincerely acknowledge, and appreciate that you are not among them.

I am simply reminding you that God has His mission, and he also has His method. We are employed into His mission, but are instructed to only use His method. Only God’s method accomplishes God’s mission. Just as there are those, as you pointed out, who have forgotten their mission, there are those who engage the mission with their own methods. There is a good reason, that before Paul listed the evidentiary fruit of The Holy Spirit, he listed the works of the flesh, among which are outbursts of wrath, contentions, selfish ambitions, and dissensions (Galatians 5:20). These methods are not God’s method. The caution is to be careful to not use man’s methods to try to accomplish God’s mission.

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. (1 Corinthians 1:20-29 )

You said:

I appreciate this very much. Just make sure you untie the anchor from the rope before you throw it to the drowning victim.

I appreciate the discussion

Peace in Jesus

KP

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I feel like we’ve already talked about this, but I’ll reiterate it. You respond to people the way you want to, and I don’t judge you for it. I answer to God for how I respond, not man. The Bible does not give me leeway to be “nice” or “accepting” of false teachers. I am to “mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them” ~Romans 16:17.

You can go your way, but please don’t challenge me as if obedience to that verse is un-Christlike. Jesus did not “accept” or “be nice” to false teachers; He called them out. Paul did not “turn the other cheek” when there were wolves in the church; he called them out by name. That is not “unkind” or “divisive”, that is love that sacrifices for the flock.

I do not do it to be proud or righteous or better than someone. I do it because the truth is important, and the gospel is far too precious to play soft with deception. The same Bible that tells us to be gentle also tells us to “rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” ~Titus 1:13.

So, you answer people in the way you are led. But as for me and my house, we will continue to answer people according to Scripture, not what’s comfortable. Love speaks the truth even when the truth wounds. Silence when confronted with lies is not humility, it’s disobedience.

Since this keeps coming up, let me ask you directly, where exactly do you think I’m responding wrong according to Scripture?

If I have said or done anything against the Word of God, then show me chapter and verse so we can look at the context and see if you have interpreted it rightly. But if you are merely saying that you don’t like my “tone” or “style” because it confronts false teaching directly, that is not the same as “wrong” according to the Bible.

Jesus, Paul, and the prophets all spoke hard truth against deception and it got them in hot water all the time for it. “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” ~Galatians 4:16.

I don’t care about general accusations or personal impressions. I want to test everything by the Word of God, not feelings. So if you think my words or actions contradict the pattern of Scripture, then show me where and be specific.

Otherwise, let’s just agree that we differ in style, but we don’t differ on duty, we both have a responsibility to speak truth in love, and not be afraid to declare the whole counsel of God.

Truth doesn’t sink people, it saves them. ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’ ~John 8:32. I’d rather throw a solid rope that pulls someone out than a soft one that leaves them drowning.

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@bdavidc

I really think I understand where you are coming from. I hear you, and I comprehend the points you are making. It is very clear.

I, however, have made several attempts to be heard, but so far, I don’t think I have been. Maybe I’m just not the one you will hear. The reason I think I’m not heard is because you keep defending yourself against things I have never said or implied.
i.e. Your response tells me you think I am suggesting that you should:

Or that I am suggesting you should:

Or that I am:

Or that I’m promoting silence:

It’s as if, without reading what I actually DID say, you just assume I must mean these things, even though I haven’t said them or implied them. This form of defensiveness does not contribute to productive conversation, and it tells me you haven’t heard me. I have brought this up before, but so far this problem has been ignored.

I would sincerely like to take you up on this request, I could point to several places even in your most recent post. But I am seeing clearly that I am not the person for this job. If I am not heard in the simple things, I’m certain I will not be heard in the more difficult. I think I will just let what I have said so far sit with you. If it eventually finds a home with you, that is The Lord, and if it never does, I accept that it is due to my poor communication skills.

Peace in Jesus, and in His beloved Body

KP

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You keep saying I haven’t heard you, but that’s not true. I have reviewed your entire text and provided direct answers to all your questions. The issue isn’t that I’m not hearing you, it’s that what you’re saying doesn’t line up with Scripture. I don’t build responses off assumptions or emotions; I build them off what the Bible says.

You said it’s as if I haven’t read what you “actually DID say” and that I’ve ignored your point. That’s not the true. I’ve quoted parts of it, and I’ve answered it. The problem isn’t that I’ve ignored you, it’s that you don’t accept my biblical answer because it doesn’t agree with your personal view

You claim I defend myself against statements which you never made but your repeated warnings about “methods of man” and “outbursts of wrath” and your description of confrontation as “crusading” or “aggressive” suggest that my method violates biblical teachings. I respond to the specific statements you have made rather than creating false assumptions.

You said, “Just make sure you untie the anchor from the rope before you throw it to the drowning victim.” The truth is, Scripture is the rope, it’s the only thing that saves. The anchor is the sin and falsehood people refuse to let go of. If that offends someone, it’s not because of my tone; it’s because light exposes darkness ~John 3:19–20.

The Bible doesn’t tell me to be silent or passive toward deception. It says, “Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” ~Titus 1:13, and, “Mark those who cause divisions contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them” ~Romans 16:17. That’s not arrogance, that’s obedience. Jesus rebuked false teachers to their faces. Paul named them. The prophets warned the people openly. That’s not man’s method, that’s God’s.

So yes, I’ve heard you. But hearing doesn’t mean agreeing with what doesn’t match the Word. You call my conviction “defensiveness,” but Scripture calls it contending for the faith ~Jude 1:3. What I’m doing isn’t about tone, it’s about truth.

Like I said before, if you can show me, chapter and verse, where I’ve gone against what the Bible says, I’ll accept that correction right away. But if your disagreement comes from personal comfort or human preference, that’s not biblical authority, that’s opinion.

You said, “I am not the person for this job… If I am not heard in the simple things, I’m certain I will not be heard in the more difficult.” You’re right about that. I will not follow opinion over Scripture. If you can’t show your point directly from the Word of God, then you’re not the one to correct me. I stand on what is written, not how someone feels about it.

And for the record, this all started because you said I was being too confrontational. You called it “crusading,” “aggressive,” and “hostile.” This entire discussion began there. I did not attack you, I responded to that accusation with Scripture. The Bible says we are to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” ~2 Timothy 4:2.

So let’s just be honest. You have an issue with confrontation, not because it’s unbiblical, but because it makes people uncomfortable. Truth always does. Jesus confronted lies, Paul confronted error, and I will too. That’s not aggression, that’s obedience. If that bothers you, go argue with the Word, not with me.

“Let God be true, but every man a liar” ~Romans 3:4.

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A word of caution here @bdavidc

  1. Ephesians 4:15
    ἀληθεύοντες δὲ ἐν ἀγάπῃ αὐξήσωμεν εἰς αὐτὸν τὰ πάντα (alētheuontes de en agapē auxēsōmen eis auton ta panta) — “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, Christ.”
    Verb: alētheuō (to speak or live truthfully). This verb implies more than verbal truth-telling. It is truth embodied, not merely declared. The participle alētheuontes shows continual action, the believer must keep speaking and living truth in love.
    Context: Paul contrasts childish instability with mature unity in Christ. The love (agapē) here governs both tone and intention, ensuring that truth never becomes weaponized.
    Cross-reference: 2 Timothy 2:24–25 where the servant of the Lord must correct opponents in gentleness (en prautēti).

  2. 2 Corinthians 5:14–15
    ἡ γὰρ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ συνέχει ἡμᾶς (hē gar agapē tou Christou synechei hēmas) — “For the love of Christ compels us.”
    Verb: synechō (to press, constrain, or control). Paul uses it in the present tense to express the continual inner pressure of divine love. It means that his gospel preaching is not driven by guilt or duty but by the constraining force of Christ’s own love displayed at the cross.
    Context: The Corinthians questioned Paul’s motives. He answers that his ministry is animated by Christ’s self-giving death and resurrection.
    Cross-reference: Galatians 2:20 — “The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

  3. 1 Thessalonians 2:7–8
    ἐγενήθημεν ἤπιοι ἐν μέσῳ ὑμῶν (egenēthēmen ēpioi en mesō hymōn) — “We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.”
    Verbs: egenēthēmen (we became) and thalpō (to cherish, to keep warm).
    Context: Paul contrasts his gentle conduct with manipulative teachers. The imagery of maternal care shows how gospel proclamation must flow from affection. He continues, “So, being affectionately desirous of you (homeiromenoi), we were ready to share not only the gospel (euangelion) but our own lives.”
    Cross-reference: Philippians 1:8 — “For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

  4. 2 Timothy 4:2
    κήρυξον τὸν λόγον (kēruxon ton logon) — “Preach the word.”
    Verb: kērussō (to herald, proclaim publicly). It denotes an official proclamation by one sent with authority. The preacher does not offer opinions but announces divine truth.
    Context: Paul exhorts Timothy to preach with readiness, endurance, and patience (makrothumia), correcting, rebuking, and exhorting in season and out.
    Connection to love: Verse 5 shows that this ministry involves endurance for the sake of salvation, not dominance. The herald’s heart must mirror the Shepherd’s compassion.

  5. Colossians 4:6
    ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι, ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος (ho logos hymōn pantote en chariti, halati ērtumenos) — “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.”
    Verb: ērtumenos (perfect participle of artuō, to season, make savory).
    Context: The perfect tense shows ongoing effect, our speech is to remain characterized by grace’s flavor.
    Application: Evangelism must not be harsh or manipulative but graciously seasoned, reflecting divine kindness (Romans 2:4).

  6. 1 Corinthians 13:1–2
    ἐὰν ταῖς γλώσσαις τῶν ἀνθρώπων λαλῶ (ean tais glōssais tōn anthrōpōn lalō) — “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong.” Yes?
    Verb: lalō (to speak). The apostle dismantles eloquence devoid of love. No amount of rhetorical or miraculous ability legitimizes ministry without agapē.
    Context: Placed between chapters 12 and 14 on spiritual gifts, this chapter roots proclamation and power in love’s essence.
    Cross-reference: John 13:34–35 where the mark of true discipleship is love, not speech or power.

  7. Romans 12:9–10
    ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος (hē agapē anypokritos) — “Let love be without hypocrisy.”
    Verb: Implicit imperative, be genuine in love.
    Context: Paul’s exhortations for service show that love purifies motive. The preacher who proclaims Christ must do so without self-interest, fame-seeking, or manipulation.

  8. Philippians 1:15–18
    Paul acknowledges some preach (kērussousin) Christ from envy (phthonos) and strife (eris), others from good will (eudokia).
    Key verbs: kērussō again, but with differing motives.
    Context: The contrast shows that even correct doctrine can be preached with a corrupt heart. Yet Paul rejoices because Christ is still proclaimed, though he clearly implies that love remains the divine standard.

The verbs kērussō (to proclaim), euangelizō (to announce good news), and martureō (to bear witness) each gain moral weight when governed by agapē. To preach without love is to turn divine heraldry into noise. True gospel proclamation is cruciform, its tone mirrors the self-emptying (kenōsis) of Christ in Philippians 2:5–8. The preacher’s heart must bleed with the same love that bled on the cross. Thus the gospel is not merely declared, it is embodied.

More on this, but space will not permit.

J.

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Scripture teaches that truth and love are never in conflict. Both come from God and both are commanded. Ephesians 4:15 says to “speak the truth in love”, the Greek word alētheuontes means to continually walk and speak truthfully. It doesn’t mean softening the message; it means living honestly while proclaiming what is true. Love (agapē) governs motive, not silence. Paul told Timothy to “preach the word; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” ~2 Timothy 4:2. The same Spirit who tells us to speak in love also commands correction.

When truth is spoken by the Spirit, it exposes error. That’s why Scripture says, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” ~Ephesians 5:11. The word elegchō (reprove) means to expose, convict, or show fault. It is an act of love because it aims to restore. Love that hides truth is not love at all. The Lord Himself said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” ~Revelation 3:19. His love corrects.

You referenced gentleness, and that’s right when the situation calls for it. But gentleness (prautēs) doesn’t mean avoidance — it means power under control. Paul said correction must be done in meekness so that repentance may follow ~2 Timothy 2:25, yet he also told Titus to “rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” ~Titus 1:13. The Spirit gives discernment to know when each is needed. Both are the result of love in action.

Christ’s love (agapē) is not sentimental. It is sacrificial. It is confrontational toward sin. He called the Pharisees “blind guides” and “whitewashed tombs” ~Matthew 23: 24–27, not because He did not love them, but because He was love walking in truth. The gospel is always going to call for repentance, not comfort. Love without truth is deceit. Truth without love is condemnation. But God commands both truth and love. Both are in balance when we obey Scripture.

Therefore, speaking truth firmly is not a lack of love. It is not “unloving.” It is obedience to God’s Word. The Word itself says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” ~Proverbs 27:6. Genuine love warns. Genuine love corrects. Genuine love is designed to lead to repentance. That is the balance God provides, not man’s standard of what is “nice” but His standard of what is true.

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For @Johann @KPuff

You two pretend you have some special authority over how I should witness to people. But Scripture doesn’t give you that authority. “Who are you to judge another man’s servant? To his own Master he stands or falls” ~Romans 14:4. I answer to God for how I speak His truth, not to you.

You’re complaining about method instead of message. I’ve spoken the truth of Scripture, and you’re critiquing the tone. That’s not correction; that’s preference. The Bible says, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet” ~Isaiah 58:1. That’s what I’m doing.

This isn’t love; this is control. My boldness disrupts complacency, and some people just don’t like that. But truth isn’t measured by comfort; it’s measured by God’s Word. “If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” ~Galatians 1:10.

I will continue to speak the truth the way Scripture commands, not the way people prefer.

If you’re going to accuse me of speaking without love, or not speaking truth, then tell me where I’ve done that. Quote me. And from Scripture, prove to me that what I said was unbiblical. If you can’t do that, then what you’re offering is not correction; it’s just opinion.

I have quoted the Word of God in support of what I have said. So if you believe I’m wrong, then show me from the Bible. But if you’re offended by my tone or my boldness, that’s not a biblical problem, it’s a comfort problem. “Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” ~Titus 1:13. That’s not unloving, that’s obedience.

So be specific. If I have said something contrary to the Word, point it out. If you can’t do that, then don’t make vague accusations. Scripture is the standard, not feelings, not assumptions, and not preference.

It seems the real issue here isn’t whether I have love, it’s that my definition of love is biblical, not emotional. The Word of God defines love as action rooted in truth, not silence for the sake of comfort. “Open rebuke is better than secret love” ~Proverbs 27:5.

When Scripture commands us to “speak the truth in love” ~Ephesians 4:15, it doesn’t mean watering down truth so it feels softer. It means that truth and love work together, love motivates the message, and truth gives it weight. Jesus confronted sin because He loved people enough to call them to repentance. Paul rebuked error so others could be sound in the faith ~Titus 1:13.

So no, I’m not lacking love. I’m simply refusing to redefine it. Love that hides truth is not love at all. My concern is not tone, it’s obedience. If what I say lines up with Scripture, it stands. If it doesn’t, then show me chapter and verse. But if the problem is just that the truth makes people uncomfortable, then the issue isn’t me, it’s the heart’s response to God’s Word.

“Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” ~Galatians 4:16.

15

I hear what you are saying @bdavidc question is, do you “hear” me?

Truth and love are not opposites but divine companions.
You are correct that Ephesians 4:15 commands believers to ἀληθεύοντες ἐν ἀγάπῃ (alētheuontes en agapē), “speaking or living truthfully in love.” The participle ἀληθεύοντες (present active participle from alētheuō) implies continuous action, a lifestyle of truthfulness. It means truth that shapes conduct, not just conversation. The prepositional phrase ἐν ἀγάπῃ (in love) identifies the sphere or atmosphere in which that truth must operate. Grammatically, the participle depends on the main verb αὐξήσωμεν (“we may grow”) showing that maturity in Christ flows from the union of truth and love, never from one without the other.

So, biblically, truth and love are inseparable because they proceed from the same divine nature. Yet the syntax demands that truth be spoken in love, not simply spoken. Love governs the spirit and motive, ensuring that rebuke does not become cruelty.

  1. Reproof and correction are commanded, but with restraint and discernment.
    You cited 2 Timothy 4:2, κήρυξον τὸν λόγον… ἔλεγξον, ἐπιτίμησον, παρακάλεσον, ἐν πάσῃ μακροθυμίᾳ καὶ διδαχῇ (kēruxon ton logon… elegxon, epitimēson, parakaleson, en pasē makrothymia kai didachē). Each verb here is aorist imperative, conveying urgency:

κήρυξον, proclaim the Word authoritatively as a herald.

ἔλεγξον- reprove or expose error (elegchō, to convict).

ἐπιτίμησον- rebuke or warn with authority.

παρακάλεσον- exhort or encourage.

But note the modifying phrase ἐν πάσῃ μακροθυμίᾳ καὶ διδαχῇ- “with all patience and teaching.” Makrothymia (long-suffering) is from makros (long) and thymos (temper). Grammatically it functions as a dative of manner: it specifies the spirit in which correction must occur. Therefore, Scripture commands correction, yes, but through enduring patience and sound instruction, not irritation or verbal force.

  1. Reproof is meant for restoration, not humiliation.
    In Ephesians 5:11, καὶ μὴ συγκοινωνεῖτε τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις τοῦ σκότους, μᾶλλον δὲ ἐλέγχετε (kai mē synkoinōneite tois ergois tois akarpois tou skotous, mallon de elegchete), Paul says “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” The verb ἐλέγχετε (elegchete, present active imperative) means “keep exposing, keep bringing to light.” It shares its semantic range with the Hebrew יָכַח (yakach, to prove, argue, reprove), often used in covenant lawsuit contexts (Isaiah 1:18). Both words carry forensic weight, the purpose is to bring sin into light so repentance may follow. Thus, true elegchō is restorative, never punitive.

The Lord Jesus used the same principle in Revelation 3:19: ἐγὼ ὅσους ἐὰν φιλῶ, ἐλέγχω καὶ παιδεύω (egō hosous ean philō, elegchō kai paideuō)- “As many as I love, I reprove and discipline.” The verbs here are present, expressing continual loving correction. Christ’s elegchō flows from philō (affectionate love), not irritation or pride.

  1. Gentleness (πραΰτης, prautēs) is not weakness but restrained power.
    In 2 Timothy 2:25, Paul commands the Lord’s servant to correct ἐν πραΰτητι παιδεύοντα τοὺς ἀντιδιατιθεμένους (en prautēti paideuonta tous antidiatithemenous)- “in gentleness instructing those who oppose.” The participle παιδεύοντα (from paideuō, to train or educate) shows that correction aims at instruction, not condemnation. The goal is repentance (mēpote dōē autois ho Theos metanoian, “that God may perhaps grant them repentance”). Gentleness here is a dative of means: gentleness is the instrument through which truth penetrates.

Titus 1:13 balances this by commanding, ἔλεγχε αὐτοὺς ἀποτόμως (elenche autous apotomōs), “rebuke them sharply.” The adverb apotomōs means decisively, not rudely. It derives from apotemnō (to cut off). It implies decisive correction that stops false teaching at its root, but still with redemptive purpose, “that they may be sound (hygiainōsin) in the faith.”

  1. Judging others must follow Christ’s standard, not human zeal.
    In Matthew 7:1–5, Christ says, μὴ κρίνετε, ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε (mē krinete, hina mē krithēte), “do not judge, lest you be judged.” The verb krinō means to separate, decide, or condemn. The present imperative with mē here forbids continual judgmental behavior. Yet the same chapter (verse 15) commands prosechete apo tōn pseudoprophētōn (“beware of false prophets”), which requires discernment (diakrisis). Therefore, Scripture does not forbid moral evaluation but condemns hypocritical judgment. The syntax distinguishes between discernment (anakrinō, 1 Corinthians 2:15) and condemnation (krinō, Romans 14:10). The difference is motive, one seeks truth, the other superiority.

  2. The measure is Christ’s own pattern of correction.
    Christ’s rebukes in Matthew 23 were judicial, not personal. His verbs οὐαί (woe) and τυφλοί (blind) are prophetic indictments, mirroring Old Testament covenant lawsuits. He did not vent irritation; He executed righteous judgment as the sinless Judge. The same Lord who rebuked the Pharisees also wept over Jerusalem (eklausen ep’ autēn, Luke 19:41). Perfect truth was clothed in perfect love.

  3. The principle of balance.
    Truth without love (alētheia chōris agapēs) condemns. Love without truth deceives. The New Testament syntax always joins them as coordinate expressions, never as alternatives. ἀληθεύοντες ἐν ἀγάπῃ in Ephesians 4:15 is the divine balance, participial truth governed by prepositional love.

J.

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It would seem, brother @bdavidc, that you are quick to admonish others within the body of Christ, yet unwilling to receive correction yourself. Scripture warns against this kind of imbalance. Proverbs 9:8 says, “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” A teachable heart receives correction as a mark of wisdom, not weakness. Proverbs 12:1 adds, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

Paul reminds the Galatians that mutual correction is an act of love within the church, not hostility: “Brothers, if anyone is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). Refusing correction is not spiritual strength but pride. James says plainly, “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19).

True love in the body of Christ is reciprocal. We are called to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), not only when giving correction but also when receiving it. If you can rebuke others yet will not be corrected yourself, you are placing yourself above the very Word that commands humility. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” The sharpening works both ways.

Therefore, brother, if correction is offered in love, do not harden your heart. “He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding” (Proverbs 15:32). To walk in the Spirit is to walk in humility, ready both to admonish and to be admonished, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

Yes?

J.

17

You quote all the verses about correction but don’t live by them. You say I need to “receive correction” but have failed to show me what I said that is contrary to the Scripture. Correction without proof is not correction; it is opinion. The Bible doesn’t say to rebuke people because of how you feel; it says to “test all things; hold fast that which is good” ~1 Thessalonians 5:21.

You label me unteachable, but I have said from the beginning if you can show me, chapter and verse, where I have sinned against the Bible I will receive that correction right now. You preach humility and practice assumption; that is hypocrisy.

Galatians 6: 1 says correction is for someone “overtaken in a fault.” So tell me what fault have I sinned against according to the Scripture? Not according to your comfort level according to the Scripture. You quote iron sharpening iron but iron does not sharpen wood. If what you bring is not truth, grounded in the Word, it will not sharpen anything. The Word is the standard, not personal interpretations or tone.

Proverbs 9: 8 says “Rebuke not a scorner, lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” A wise man loves correction when it is biblical. What you are dishing out is not correction; it is control. You want me to bow to your opinion instead of the authority of God’s Word and that is not going to happen.

Until you can show me, with Scripture in context, where I have violated the Word of God, your “correction” has no value. You preach humility but ignore your own pride. That is the imbalance.

“Let God be true, but every man a liar.” ~Romans 3:4

18

You’re trying to “correct” me when I haven’t spoken against Scripture. That’s not correction — that’s contradiction. The Bible says correction is for those “overtaken in a fault” ~Galatians 6:1. Show me the fault, chapter and verse. If you can’t, then what you’re doing isn’t biblical correction — it’s opinion dressed up as spirituality.

You quote verses about patience and love but twist them to make truth sound like it must be softened. That’s not what the Word teaches. Ephesians 4:15 says, “speaking the truth in love” (ἀληθεύοντες ἐν ἀγάπῃ, alētheuontes en agapē). That means living truthfully, not lowering the volume. Love doesn’t dilute truth — it delivers it.

You also misuse 2 Timothy 4:2. Paul told Timothy to “reprove (ἔλεγξον), rebuke (ἐπιτίμησον), exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” The command is to confront error, not manage tone. Makrothymia (longsuffering) means endurance under opposition, not weakness in message. Timothy was told to stand firm when people “will not endure sound doctrine” (v.3). That’s what I’m doing.

And your use of Matthew 7:1 is out of context. Jesus condemned hypocritical judgment, not righteous discernment. The same chapter commands believers to “beware of false prophets” (v.15). You can’t obey that without judging doctrine. Scripture commands, “Judge righteous judgment” ~John 7:24 and “He that is spiritual judges all things” ~1 Corinthians 2:15.

You quote gentleness (πραΰτης, prautēs) like it means silence, but it doesn’t. It means controlled strength — power guided by truth, not hidden by fear. Paul rebuked Peter publicly ~Galatians 2:11 and still walked in the Spirit. Jesus displayed prautēs when He drove out the money changers.

Titus 1:13 says to “rebuke them sharply (ἀποτόμως, apotomōs), that they may be sound in the faith.” That’s not arrogance; that’s obedience. Scripture never tells us to hide the truth under diplomacy.

You’re wrong because you’re judging tone instead of testing truth. If what I’ve said aligns with the written Word, then your “rebuke” is rebellion against that Word. Correction is valid only when the Word is violated — not when someone simply dislikes the way it’s preached.

“Let God be true, but every man a liar” ~Romans 3:4.

So if I’ve said something unbiblical, show it from the Bible. But if all you have is your opinion about tone, then you’re not defending truth — you’re resisting it.

19

Brother @bdavidc, correction (epanorthōsis, ἐπανόρθωσις, 2 Timothy 3:16) is not limited to false doctrine. The word means restoration to uprightness and applies to tone, conduct, and attitude as well as content. Galatians 6:1 says correction is for those “overtaken in a fault,” yet the word prolēmphthē (προλημφθῇ) means “caught beforehand” or “surprised by.” It speaks of spiritual lapse, not public heresy. The command katartizete (restore) is present active imperative, continuous action, showing correction is a constant duty in love.

You cite Ephesians 4:15, “speaking the truth in love” (alētheuontes en agapē). The verb alētheuō means to live truthfully in character and speech. Paul’s context is the church’s maturity and unity (vv. 12–16). Truth in love builds up, not tears down. Verse 16 says the body “builds itself up in love,” showing that correction void of love violates the very passage you use. Truth and love are inseparable; to divide them is to distort both.

Regarding 2 Timothy 4:2, yes, Paul wrote, “reprove (elegxon), rebuke (epitimēson), exhort (parakaleson) with all longsuffering and teaching.” But en pasē makrothymia kai didachē modifies every verb. Makrothymia (longsuffering) means patient endurance toward people, not weakness in message. Didachē (teaching) defines the tone, truth explained, not shouted. Timothy was not told to dominate but to shepherd through doctrine.

You cite Matthew 7 and claim “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24) allows public condemnation. Yet krinō in these texts means to evaluate, not to condemn. Jesus forbade hypokritēs judgment, holding others to a standard one refuses to bear. Righteous judgment is humble discernment, never self-exaltation. 1 Corinthians 2:15’s anakrinei panta (“discerns all things”) refers to spiritual discernment of truth, not to harsh policing of brethren.

Yes, prautēs (gentleness) means controlled strength, but it always carries meekness of spirit (Galatians 5:23). Paul rebuked Peter publicly in Galatians 2:11 because Peter’s conduct denied gospel truth. The verb antestēn (ἀντέστην, “I opposed”) indicates firm resistance, not personal insult. Paul corrected the hypocrisy, not Peter’s tone. To use that moment as license for hostility is to misuse the text.

Titus 1:13’s “rebuke them sharply” (apotomōs, ἀποτόμως) concerns false teachers corrupting households (v. 11). The same letter commands, “Speak evil of no one, be gentle (epieikeis), show perfect courtesy to all” (Titus 3:2).

Sharp rebuke belongs to wolves, not to brothers. Context defines audience; you apply the wrong one.

You claim I “judge tone instead of testing truth,” yet tone reveals heart. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Paul required not only “sound doctrine” but also “sound speech that cannot be condemned” (Titus 2:8). Correct theology with corrupt tone still disobeys the Word, for “the servant of the Lord must not strive (machesthai), but be gentle (ēpion), patient, instructing in meekness (prautēs) those who oppose” (2 Timothy 2:24–25). That is not opinion; it is command.

Romans 3:4, “Let God be true and every man a liar,” exalts divine authority, not self-defense. When used to silence accountability, it becomes self-justification, the very pride Scripture condemns.

Brother, your insistence that correction is only for heresy misses the fuller biblical command. Scripture reproves both doctrine and demeanor. The same Spirit who commands elegchō (rebuke) also commands agapē (love) and prautēs (gentleness). The Word measures both what we say and how we say it. Paul told the Colossians, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). The grace comes first; the salt preserves it.

Christ Himself is our pattern. He rebuked hypocrites sharply yet restored the fallen gently. He wept over Jerusalem while warning of judgment. Truth and love met perfectly in Him. We cannot claim to speak for Christ while divorcing His truth from His tenderness.

“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Correction without humility is pride wearing Scripture’s robes. The one who cannot receive admonition proves he has not yet mastered obedience. “He who ignores correction despises himself, but he who listens gains understanding” (Proverbs 15:32).

Let us both walk by this standard, the Word, not temperament. If you claim to defend truth, then embody it with the spirit of Christ. Strength without humility is not power; it is noise. True boldness is cruciform, it speaks firmly but bleeds love.

Shalom.

J.

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Thanx @Johann

I maintain that “tone”, “demeanor”, or “attitude” which always accompany sound doctrine are also biblical, and portray godly or fleshly qualities. Not only what we say, but how we say it demonstrate the spirit within us. Here are some Biblical passages that show unequivocally that deportment is biblical, and therefore important.

Gal 5:22–23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Phil 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Col 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

2 Tim 2:24–25 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,

Titus 3:2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Matt 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Prov 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Eph 4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

James 1:19–21 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Prov 25:15 By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

Isa 40:11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.

2 Cor 10:1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Prov 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

1 Thess 2:7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

1 Tim 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Ps 18:35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.

Isa 42:2–3 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.

Ps 147:6 The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.

Zeph 2:3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord’s anger.

1 Cor 4:21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Ps 25:9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.

James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

Prov 12:18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.

2 Sam 22:36 “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.

Ps 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Num 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

Isa 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Ps 149:4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

Prov 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

1 Pet 3:4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Rom 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

2 Cor 6:6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,

I’m probably missing some, but you get the idea. A quiet, gentle humble, kind spirit is testimonial of Jesus, who did not shrink back from proclaiming the whole truth, but was, by his own admission, “gentle and lowly in heart”. We should fulfill His mission to speak the truth, by His method, in gentleness, humility, and kindness, trusting that The Lord will accomplish His will through our testimony.

KP

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