FEMINIZATION OF THE EVANGELICAL MAN: MEN MORE INTERESTED IN NICE THAN TRUTH

These toy-soldiers carry what I call "a velvet covered sword."  It's lightweight, easy to wield, isn't designed for battle, takes little strength to lift it, looks inviting, and won't cut too deep for fear of offending too greatly.  It's like reading the ESV or NASB; and then one day you pickup up a copy of The Message thinking that it too is a Bible; when all that it is, is just a velvet covered sword. 

Speak the Truth in Love
To "speak the truth in love" beloved does not mean to be non-confrontational, passive, soft, or simply 'nice'.  No question, Christ-like love is the godly compassion behind speaking the truth in an uncompromised and unadulterated way.  

As Paul said in warning of false teachers to Timothy and the church at Ephesus,

"the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."  -1 Timothy 1:5

"Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." -Acts 20:26-32

It is out of this unmerited, undeserved, self-sacrificial, unfailing agape love that comes the courage and the boldness to contend for the faith, to instruct in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict, to preach the Word in season and out of season, to guard the trust, and to defend the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is precisely because of this love for the Lord and for the truth, men of God have and will unwaveringly say,

"I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."  -Acts 20:24

Ephesians 4:15 in context is that standing for the truth of Scripture as central to ministry within the local church guards against people being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning and by craftiness in deceitful schemes; and against the savage wolves that propagate such error.  

The result:

"we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

And that is a most loving thing to do.

It's always fascinating to me that those who fancy themselves the most kind, the most gracious, the most sensitive, and the most endearing are usually the same ones who are most critical against those who champion the faith, yet seldom champion it themselves. Once again, we do need to speak the truth in love beloved –  but speak the truth we must.  We need to always ask the Lord prayerfully, that He gives us the grace-filled balance of courage and compassion; the prophet's piercing voice and the prophet's burning tears; the boldness of a Lion and the benevolence of a Lamb.

But in our day, postmodern evangelicalism would have us place tone above truth, demeanor above doctrine, feelings before faith, and embrace the comfort of the retreat rather than the campaign of the battlefield.

Where Are All the Men of God Today?