"Truthing"

I wanted to look at a passage of Scripture I seem to come to quite often:

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ (Eph 4:14-15).

First, "as a result" ... of what? Well, the previous text tells us the purpose of the Church. She is designed to equip the saints, to build up the Body, to unify and mature believers. If this is done correctly, the result will follow.

What result? We are mature, not easily fooled by whatever doctrine comes along. As opposed to much of Christendom today, when the church does its job, we are primarily in agreement about truth, about doctrine, about God's real views. We won't fall prey to men who deceive and scheme, but will align ourselves with Christ.

Now, I'm sure you would admit that this sounds, well, really wonderful. Imagine a unified Christianity. Imagine not having to answer the challenge, "If your beliefs are true, why are there so many different ones?" We even have to answer the problem within Christianity when the Roman Catholics say, "See? If you would only submit to the Pope and drop all that 'sola scriptura' stuff, we could all be in agreement" (as if the Roman Catholic Church is all in agreement). Yes, I'd say it would be a good thing.

What, then, does Paul say is the outcome of being spiritually mature and being unified as a body of believers? He says that we would be "speaking the truth in love" as we grow deeper into Christ. That's what it says. Or is it? Did you know that it's not actually what it says? As it turns out, the phrase, "speaking the truth", is a single Greek word -- aletheuo. It is the verb form of alethes, "truth". Now, we primarily think of "truth" solely as a noun and essentially as an intellectual exercise, the recognition of that which conforms to reality. Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32). But He also said, "I am ... the Truth ..." (John 14:6). Here He constructs an image of truth that is not merely that which conforms to reality, but a person. In this sense, knowing the truth is not as much having knowledge of, but having a relationship with the truth.

In this way, When Paul writes that we are to be "speaking the truth in love", there is a much broader sense than "speaking" conveys. Sure, we are to be telling the truth. Beyond that, we are to be doing truth. We are to be living truth. We are to image truth in our lives. Paul says "I urge you, then, be imitators of me" (1 Cor 4:16). That is, "I have been 'truthing', and now I want you to do the same -- live out truth." The author of Hebrews says, " Remember your leaders ... and imitate their faith" (Heb 13:7). You see, they were "truthing" -- doing truth. You do it, too.

Biblically, truth isn't an idea or mere knowledge. It is something we do. And, returning to the beautiful idea of what it would be like if Christians were united, imagine the effect of Christians living truth rather than merely stating it and living something else. That would have a marvelous impact.