Love Without Truth Is Not Love

Brokenhearted in the Bush -

On Good Friday, April 18^th, we were in the small village of Antokrom, about 5 miles outside Dadieso, in the Western Region of Ghana. We had just established a church there two nights before. While preparing for an evening worship service, we had some extra time before sunset, to expand our evangelism efforts, so we ventured outside the village and into the bush. We traversed some pathways and traveled through a coco farm leading to a small homestead. As we approached the home, we announced our arrival. A family member, the eldest daughter, greeted us. The mother was in the family coco farm working, so the daughter sent for her. This family was just one of many coco farming families in the area.

After being seated on benches and welcomed, we stated our mission. When we began sharing the Gospel with them, we sensed a resistance, so I began asking questions. I asked them first if and where they attended church, and the daughter responded, “SDA” or Seventh Day Adventist.  I then asked them what the SDA teaches, and again the daughter responded, “They teach if you follow the Ten Commandments, and don’t do things like adultery, you would be holy and go to heaven”!!! What I heard shook me and my heart broke. The mother, who had arrived from the farm and sat down with us, mentioned that they once belonged to the Methodist Church. She said her husband died a year ago leaving her with the children, the farm, and all the burdens that accompany it. She said shortly after her husband’s death, she developed a severe eye infection and was not able to see. She went on to say that no one from the Methodist church visited her or offered any acts of compassion to help her through this devastating period in her life. During that same time, the people from SDA came by and showed love and kindness to her and her family.

This widow and mother of a large family, then made a decision to leave the Methodist church and join the SDA church.  My heart was even more shaken. This family has unknowingly been deceived by the enemy and their minds were set. They did not understand the scriptures. They listened to a person they assumed was trustworthy and Godly, who then misled them in the lies of the enemy. Satan had them in his lair!

 

“Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8

 

After our conversation went on for another five minutes or so, the mother abruptly got up and became involved in other things. We spoke with the daughter briefly on the love of God through Jesus Christ and the truth of the Gospel message. It was apparent however, that this family had already made their decision and wanted what they perceived as love at any cost, even if it was not based on truth. We were well aware that this family had shut us out and would have nothing of our message, so we asked their permission to depart.

They did not want to hear the truth. They would cling to their own version. Pontius Pilot said to Jesus in John 18:38, “What is truth?” This encounter was a sad realization that in this homestead, they did not know the answer, but instead in their ignorance, clung to the lie. Sadly, this is not uncommon in many areas we have visited. Isolation from Biblical spiritual authority has left these areas vulnerable to the lies and snares of the enemy. Many of these small detached churches, out-of-the-way and with no accountability in their teachings, have put people in eternal peril. This chance meeting showed me the importance of love in truth and truth in love. You see, the Methodist church drove away this woman and her family, not with words, but with a lack of love and compassion. The SDA church lured this family in, with what this spiritually vulnerable mother perceived as love; a love that lacked truth, a counterfeit. Love without truth is not love.
The pitfalls of love without truth, and truth without love, can be eternally devastating! Real love must be married to truth.

 

“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” – 2 John 3

 

As I have experienced on the mission field, there are those, who in humility, gladly receive the message; and there are those who through deception and lies, and the false teachings of others, reject the message. They are sheep without a shepherd and do not know who leads them. There are those who want their own way, and will say that if you truly love them, you will give them what they want and let them do what they want.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus, through His experiences, showed us what to expect. Times have not changed. People have not changed. Even so, Truth has not changed and God’s word endures forever. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. – Hebrews 13:8

- Papa John