“Do you solemnly swear (affirm) to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
While it may no longer be mandatory in every courtroom, this promise of truth is traditionally affirmed with left hand placed on a book, right hand raised. The same book used to swear U. S. presidents into office.
The book remains closed, yet held as a mighty writing considered worthy to swear and affirm by. The Bible. The Holy Scriptures. God’s truth to inspire man’s truth.
Why we need God’s help in truth.
The Bible describes truth as a fundamental characteristic of God, the creator of all things including truth. Biblical truth is defined as that which is from God, born of God. Jesus, born of God, declared, “I am the truth” (John 14:6). God cannot tell a lie. Lies originate from the enemy and the world system the enemy controls. But. God. Is. Truth. He is the giver of truth.
Why we need God’s help in love.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave his son…” (John 3:16). Giving comes through loving. God so earnestly and extravagantly loved that it caused Him to give life through His Son. Born of God, Jesus declared, “I am the life” (John 14:6). God. Is. Love. He is the giver of love.
God being merciful, saw fit to bring us to Himself—to the truth and love. They cannot be separated. The way to God’s love is through truth. The way to God’s truth is through love. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Truth testifies of God’s inescapable love.
During cultural and moral controversies, we hear and see many proclamations of men’s version of truth.
“Love the sinner, hate the sin.” A phrase not found in the Bible and not said by Christ. (References to slight variances of this phrase are associated with St. Augustine and Mohandas Gandhi.)
There is biblical truth in loving fellow human beings. We are commanded to love those in agreement with us and those who disagree (even love our enemies), disliking sin when it is found in ourselves or in others.
Hate was never meant for people. Not hate-crimes. Not violence. Not bloodshed. Not bitterness or un-forgiveness. Hate is only meant for one. Loathe the enemy. Satan is the father of lies, the truth is not found in him, and he deceives each of us of the truth. Yes, dislike sin on all accounts but hate the deceiver.
A far-reaching deception looms over current culture.
The truth is God loves me, a sinner. The same loving truth sheds light on my sin and my need for justification—for a God to make me right in front of Him.
If I am serving and worshipping a God who is loving, yet not equally full of truth, then I am to be pitied. If there is no truth from a higher power, then life becomes futile and we are all doomed.
In the supreme court ruling on same-sex marriage, celebration ensued with #LoveWins. But since love and truth cannot be separated, neither can win alone.
Love does not turn away from the truth.
Truth + Love = Christ
Not once in Jesus ministry or life did he compromise truth in order to love. Not one time. He equally loved and equally shared the truth. We love people while we equally share the truth with them—the whole truth.
The truth is how we truly love. The way God loves. God’s love and truth brought us to Him. Love and truth is what will bring others to Him. When the cross won, truth and love won. #truth&lovetogetherwin
In any rulings the courts of our land decree, and wherever the moral pendulum in our culture swings at any given time in history, truth is only found in God. There’s no other truth.
In separating truth and love, the very message of the gospel is lost. Sure, there’s a wrong way to do just about anything. And there’s a truthful way to love fully, found in the Holy Scriptures.
Love the sinner, hate the sin are only words. Love and take a stand for truth, that’s action.
God promises are built on truth and love. Where do these promises take place? In God’s court. A system built on the Bible. A book that should never remained closed as with a ceremonial swearing in. Hands are meant to open the cover, reading words of love bringing truth into our souls and lives.
Truth applies to marriage (between one man and one woman) and every aspect of life. On the Bible, I solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.
The evidence is overwhelmingly convincing. It’s an open and shut case. The marriage of truth and love. A holy union instituted by God.
Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate (Mark 10:9).
