"Meanness"

This world has lots of meanness,

And we all know it’s true,

We should think and pray about it,

What should Christians do.

We can whoop and spur like cowboys,

And if they try to buck,

Ear ‘em down and wear ‘em out,

And if we’re throwed, bad luck.

But I’m doubtin’ if that strategy,

Is really what is best,

‘Cause that might make ‘em run away,

If we put it to the test.

Maybe we just rope ‘em,

And dally off just right,

And drag ‘em back into the pen,

And keep that slack pulled tight.

But they might not like it,

If we’re forcin’ ‘em that way,

Guess no one likes a draggin’,

If you get what I say.

What if we try to toll ‘em,

And offer ‘em some treats,

Entice ‘em into followin’,

And fill their mouths with sweets.

But maybe not that either,

‘Cause sure as sure can be,

They’ll find out it ain’t easy,

There’s a price to livin’ free.

So maybe we just think about,

The way that Jesus did,

Reachin’ out to sinners,

And not ‘fore they got rid,

Of all of their dysfunction,

He loved ‘em like they were,

And then gave them the gospel truth,

No matter him or her.

Paul would later say it,

We speak the truth in love,

That’s the only way to grow,

When push comes down to shove.

Yes, the world is full of meanness,

The darkness is so strong,

Just shine the light of truth in love,

They might see that they’re wrong.

“…we will speak the truth in love…” (Ephesians 4:15, NLT)

Maybe the biggest challenge we have is learning to communicate effectively with other human beings. The public debate has gotten so demeaning, that Christians are better off not getting entangled in it. But when the opportunity arises, what’s the best way to share what God has done for us? Jesus was able to connect successfully with people who needed help, even “notorious sinners,” without compromise. It was all about speaking the truth in love. If we speak truth without love, everyone’s turned off. If we speak love without truth, no one life really changes. It takes both. May we learn how to do it well, with God’s help.

Lord, teach us to speak the truth in love, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Herman Walker, hermanwalker.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Herman, and God bless you.