Learning Meekness

“for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. “
(James 1:20 NKJV)

My father used to tell me that nobody ever wins an argument. His point was that the moment anger or passion takes hold of a conversation, everything said after that is just destructive. I believe I have proved his point on several occasions to the detriment of others and the embarrassment of myself, since receiving his advice. Anger in a conversation would rather take truth as a sword to destroy someone rather than an instrument of precise pruning. We might trim a hedge by cutting it down, but that would kill it.

For a Christian, truth coupled with anger is a sin. We think we are to go, and that we should, set that person straight. Most often we care not for someone until we care to rip them to shreds with the truth. Truth is precise and razor sharp, so great care and love must be coupled with truth in order to administer it properly. God is Truth…God is Love. Both. Not one or the other, but both at the same time.

This is what should be defining Christianity…

Here’s Manton on this:

Christianity, of all religions, is the meekest and most humble. It is founded upon the blood of Christ, who is a Lamb slain. It is consigned and sealed by the Spirit of Christ, who descended like a dove. Both are emblems of a meek and modest humility. And should a meek religion be defended by our violences, and the God of peace served with wrathful affections, and the madness of an evil nature bewray itself in the best cause? Christ’s warfare needeth not such carnal weapons; as Achish said, ’Have I need of mad men?’ 1 Sam. 21:15. So, hath Jesus Christ need of our passions and furies? Doth the God of heaven need  a tongue set on fire of hell? James 3:6.

~Thomas Manton (from his commentary on James)

Webster on Truth

You won’t find this definition of Truth in todays Webster’s Dictionary. Notice how God shows up. The gospel is even being preached, from a dictionary! Amen!

TRUTH, n.

1. Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. The truth of history constitutes its whole value. We rely on the truth of the scriptural prophecies.
My mouth shall speak truth. Prov 8.
Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. John 17.
2. True state of facts or things. The duty of a court of justice is to discover the truth. Witnesses are sworn to declare the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
3. Conformity of words to thoughts, which is called moral truth.  
Shall truth fail to keep her word?
4. Veracity; purity from falsehood; practice of speaking truth; habitual disposition to speak truth; as when we say, a man is a man of truth.
5. Correct opinion.
6. Fidelity; constancy.
The thoughts of past pleasure and truth.
7. Honesty; virtue.
It must appear
That malice bears down truth.
8. Exactness; conformity to rule.
Plows, to go true, depend much on the truth of the iron work. [Not in use.]
9. Real fact of just principle; real state of things. There are innumerable truths with which we are not acquainted.
10. Sincerity.
God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4.
11. The truth of God, is his veracity and faithfulness. Psa 71.
Or his revealed will.
I have walked in thy truth. Psa 26.
12. Jesus Christ is called the truth. John 14.
13. It is sometimes used by way of concession.
She said, truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crums– Mat 15.
That is, it is a truth; what you have said, I admit to be true.
In truth, in reality; in fact.
Of a truth, in reality; certainly.
To do truth, is to practice what God commands. John 3.

-Webster’s 1828 edition

If we can find the gospel in a dictionary, theres nowhere that it shouldn’t be.

Spurgeon On Contending For Truth

Can you guess who said this?????? Leave a comment to guess! I’m sure this will be pretty easy. I’ll reveal who it is by tomorrow night.

As good stewards, we must maintain the cause of truth against all comers. ‘Never get into religious controversies,’ says one; that is to say, being interpreted, ‘Be a Christian soldier, but let your sword rust in its scabbard, and sneak into Heaven like a coward.’ Such advice I cannot endorse. If God has called you by the truth, maintain the truth which has been the means of your salvation. We are not to be pugnacious, always contending for every crotchet of our own; but wherein we have learned the truth of the Holy Spirit, we are not tamely to see that standard torn down which our fathers upheld at the peril of their lives. This is an age in which truth must be maintained zealously, vehemently, continually. Playing fast and loose, as many do, believing this to-day and that to-morrow, is the sure mark of children of wrath; but having received the truth, to hold fast the very form of it, as Paul bids Timothy to do, is one of the duty of heirs of Heaven. Stand fast for truth, and may God give the victory to the faithful.

-C.H. Spurgeon, from his autobiography