Truth and Love

Our pastor has been preaching out of the book of John.  In the first chapter of John, we are told that Jesus came in truth and in grace. Once again in the 13th chaper of John, we are told that we need both truth and love.  We have a bent towards one way over another. 

Me?  I'm a truth person. 

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I have always been a truth person.  I like knowing the right answer and the correct way to do things.  I like order.  And truth is orderly (at least in my brain it is).  So when something happens  to mess up that order, I need to fix it. 

By fixing it, sometimes I endanger relationships.  This is so weird because I am such a people person.  But if I had to choose truth over a relationship, no matter how much it hurt (and trust me, it hurts  a lot!), I would choose truth.  In fact, I am living this out right now.  I was hurt by someone and then accused by them.  With an overabundance of tears and crying, I have apologized and said my peace.  Now it's up to her to decide what she wants to do with that information.  I have done everything I possibly can without endangering my integrity.  And now, if she wants to accept the truth, then I welcome her.  But if she wants to ignore me and live in a state of unsettledness, then that's her issue. 

It's tearing me up.  But I refuse to back down from what I know. 

I am not saying I am right.  In fact, I wish I weren't so stubborn, but the problem is I don't think I am being stubborn.  In my mind, I will simply not compromise the truth of the situation. 

This is why I need love people surrounding me.  Actually, no, that is incorrect.  I need mostly love people surrounding me and a couple of truth people to put me in my place. 

I struggle with how to live these out together.  I have a very good friend who is so much a love person.  She sees the best in everyone and puts up with many people's tirades.  She listens and asks questions.  And when asked to support something not Biblical, she really struggles.  

Not because she thinks it right. Not at all.  She struggles because she wonders how to best show love to that person.  How can this relationship stay connected without compromising my choices.  I, on the other hand, think the truth cannot be comprised so I guess the relationship will be.  

She is someone I need to be around because she sees the person, not just the truth. 

I am someone she needs to be around because I see the truth, not just the person.

Separately, we are not following Jesus' example.  Together, truth and love are the perfect example of who God is.