Having good communication is crucial in the Christian life, and it is a skill that must be learned. Today, Dr. Greg Gifford begins by looking at a key principle of God-honoring communication: speaking the truth in love.
Words Matter
Why do the words we say matter so much? Matthew 12:33 states, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit” (LSB). Just as a tree is known by its fruit, who we are is revealed by our words and actions. The words we choose to say are reflective of our hearts and what we ultimately worship. As believers, our desire should be for our words to reflect a heart that loves the LORD. Therefore, when it comes to communication, our number one goal should be to bring glory and honor to Christ Jesus.
Speak the Truth in Love
Ephesians 4:15 commands the believer to speak the truth in love. Speaking the truth in love has two main focuses.
- Speak the truth in love. In communication, we are commanded to speak. When there is a disagreement, tension, or misunderstanding, we are never to become completely silent. It is never justifiable to give the silent treatment or a cold shoulder. Shutting down and becoming distant is not a biblical response when it comes to effective and loving communication. We must be willing to have hard conversations, admonishing and encouraging one another.
- Speak the truth in love. As believers, we should be known as people who speak the truth, for no God-honoring
communication can come from falsehood. The command to speak the truth rules out all forms of embellishing, victimizing oneself, telling half-truths, or being evasive. In communication, we should speak the truth, do it in love, and trust the LORD with the result of the conversation.
This blog post captures the essence of Dr. Greg Gifford’s series on God-honoring communication. You may click on the video above to hear more insightful details about how we can pursue Christ, build relationships, and safeguard against conflict through the skills of communication. Dr. Gifford is the Chair of the Undergraduate School of Biblical Counseling as well as a Biblical Counseling Professor for The Master’s University traditional on-campus program.
