A friend asked if love is also essential–or perhaps even more foundational–to unity than truth. Truth cannot be limited to propositions. The telos of truth is not intellectualization, but rather the outworking of its nature in works. Truth acts.
There are churches that thrive in truth-telling. They develop a charismatic following because of their abundant claims against certain teachers. While there is a legitimate role for the condemnation of false teaching, the under-shepherd who prides in truth while not loving his flock fails to proclaim true truth (to use Schaeffer’s language).
Jesus was not only a defender of Yahweh’s orthodoxy, He was also a tender and caring shepherd.
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