Speaking the Truth in Love

If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
(1 Corinthians 13:1)

I had the chance to speak with someone, a while back, who had begun complaining about their situation. I first tried to recommend potential ways to solve the complaint, but these were all rebuffed. Instead of lovingly finding a way to change the subject or even correct the situation, I became frustrated and attacked with my sword. I cited Numbers 11:18-20, which while appropriate in some cicumstances, was not appropriate here. So I have finally made an appology.

Now the other side of speaking the Truth in love is also difficult, and something that I need to work on. The common example, is if you see that someone is driving toward a cliff, you shouldn't wave to them and say; "Have a nice day, all roads lead safely to a happy destiantion." No, in love you should try to get their attention and warn them off of that wide straight road that leads to destruction.

I know someone who goes to a Unity church. The Unity Church teaches the wide road. What was once a Bible-believing and teaching organization has become "seeker friendly". But just how friendly is it to the seeker, when you tell them that they need to find their own way? Is it friendly to join together in a group to all drive off the same cliff, together?

5 Basic Unity Principles

1. There is only one Presence and one Power active as the universe and as my life, God the Good.
2. Our essence is of God; therefore, we are inherently good. This God essence was fully expressed in Jesus, the Christ.
3. We are co-creators with God, creating reality through thoughts held in mind.
4. Through prayer and meditation, we align our heart-mind with god. Denials and affirmations are tools we use.
5. Through thoughts, words and actions, we live the Truth we know.

What God says about these 5 principles

1. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
   (Isaiah 6:3) (and many others)
2. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
   (John 3:16-19)
3. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
   (Genesis 1:1)
   
   And the LORD answered Job out of the tempest and said: Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, for I will question you; and you teach Me.
   Where were you when I founded the earth? Declare if you know understanding.
   Who has set its dimensions, for you know? Or who has stretched a line on it?
   On what were its bases sunk? Or who cast its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
   Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst out; it came forth from the womb?
   When I made the clouds to clothe it, and darkness its navel-band; and I broke My limit on it and set bars and doors; and I said, You shall come to here, but no further; and here your proud waves shall be set?
   Have you commanded the morning from your days, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the wings of the earth; that the wicked might be shaken out of it? It is turned like clay under a seal; and they stand out like a garment. And their light is withheld from the wicked, and the high arm shall be broken.
   Have you gone to the springs of the sea; or have you walked in searching of the deep?
   Have death's gates been opened to you; or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Declare, if you know it all!
   Where is this, the way light dwells; and where is the place of darkness, that you should take it to its boundary, and that you should perceive the paths to its house?
   You know, for then you were born, and the number of your days is great.
   Have you entered into the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of distress for the day of battle and war?
   How is it, the way the light is distributed; and how does the east wind spread itself on the earth?
   Who has cut a channel for the flood; or a way for the thunderclaps, to make it rain on the earth where no man is, a wilderness and no man in it; to satisfy the waste and desolation, and to cause the source of grass to sprout? Is there a father for the rain? Or who has given birth to the drops of dew? From whose womb comes forth the ice; and the frost of the heavens, who fathered it; the waters hidden like stone, and the face of the deep is captured?
   Can you bind the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion? Can you bring out the constellations in their season; or can you guide the Bear with its sons?
   Do you know the limits of the heavens; can you establish their rulership on the earth?
   Can you lift your voice to the clouds, so that floods of water may cover you?
   Can you send lightnings, that they may go and say to you, Here we are?
   Who has put wisdom in the inward parts; or who has given understanding to the mind? Who can by wisdom number the clouds or who can lay down the jars of the heavens, when the dust is melted into hardness, and the clods cling fast together?
   Will you hunt the prey for the lion, or fill the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in dens, and sit in the cover of their hiding place? Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God and wander about without food? Do you know the time when the wild goats of the rock bear? Do you observe the calving of deer? Can you tell the months they fulfill; or do you know the time for their bearing, when they crouch and bring forth; they send out their pangs? Their sons are strong; they multiply with grain; they go forth and do not return to them.
   Who has sent out the wild ass free, or who has loosened the bands of the wild ass? To whom I have assigned the desert for his home, and the salt land for his dwellings? He laughs at the roar of the city; he does not hear the driver's shouts; he seeks out mountains for his pasture; and he searches after every green thing.
   Will the wild ox consent to be your servant, or spend the night by your feed-trough? Can you tie the wild ox in the furrow with his rope? Or will he harrow the valleys for you? Will you trust him because his strength is great; or will you leave your labor to him? Or will you have faith in him, that he will return your seed, and gather it to your grain-floor?
   The wing of the ostriches flap joyously, though not like the stork's pinions for flight. For she leaves her eggs to the earth, and lets them warm on the dust; and forgets that a foot may crush it, or the beast of the field may trample it; she treats her young roughly, as if they are not hers; for her labor is vanity without fear; because God has made her forget wisdom; and He has not given to her a share in understanding. At the time she lifts up on high, she laughs at the horse and its rider.
   Have you given the horse its strength: have you clothed its neck with a mane? Can you make him leap like a locust; the majesty of his snorting is terrifying? He paws in the valley and he rejoices in his strength; he goes out to meet the weapons; he mocks at fear and is not terrified; and he does not turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin. He swallows the ground with quivering and trembling, and he does not stand still for the sound of the ram's horn. When the ram's horn sounds, he says, Aha! And he smells the battle from a distance, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
   Does the hawk soar from your understanding? Will he spread his wings toward the south? Or does the eagle mount up at your mouth, and make his nest on high? He lives and stays on the rock, on the crag of the rock and the stronghold. From there he seeks food; his eyes see afar off. And his young brood also sucks up blood; and where the pierced ones are, there he is.
   (Job 38-39)
4. So says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.
   (Isaiah 48:17)
   Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, I am the Light of the world. The one following Me will in no way walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.
   (John 8:12)
   Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
   (John 14:6)
5. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone believing, both to Jew first, and to Greek; for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; even as it has been written, "But the just shall live by faith." Hab. 2:4 For God's wrath is revealed from Heaven on all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, holding the truth in unrighteousness, because the thing known of God is clearly known within them, for God revealed it to them.
   (Romans 1:16-19)