{"id":41712,"date":"2025-04-17T15:26:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T22:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=41712"},"modified":"2025-04-17T15:26:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T22:26:13","slug":"truth-matters-and-so-does-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/truth-matters-and-so-does-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Truth Matters and So Does Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWhy do I need to wear those?\u201d I protested to my dad. I was about six years old, and he insisted I wear white tights before church. His reasoning? \u201cThey\u2019ll help keep you warm in the subzero temperatures,\u201d I remember scoffing\u2014did he really think that thin layer of nylon would make a difference? Even then, his answer didn\u2019t satisfy me. It was not a good enough answer to my \u201cwhy.\u201d<\/p>\n

For as long as I can remember, I\u2019ve been driven to understand the \u201cwhy\u201d behind what I do or believe. When it comes to modern ideologies, I find myself asking: What is the \u201cwhy\u201d behind this belief? Does it align with the Truth of Scripture? What are the implications for others\u2019 perspectives? What is the most loving and fruitful way to pursue this goal?<\/em><\/p>\n

Each ideology and belief must be carefully filtered through Scripture. I deeply value the dignity of marginalized groups, human rights, equity, and environmental stewardship. Personal experiences of discrimination shape these convictions due to my gender, race, or nationality. Perhaps more impactful has been observing and defending against injustice toward others. I also have learned to appreciate the depth and wisdom of traditional, community-centered cultures. This has been influenced by my conservative upbringing and living among a traditionally nomadic, Islamic society.<\/p>\n

My convictions are rooted in a Biblical worldview. All ideologies, social, political, spiritual, or cultural, must be filtered through Scripture. What does the Bible say about the principle at hand? What about the methods used to pursue it? How do my beliefs and convictions affect the people on the \u201cother\u201d who may disagree or experience it differently?<\/em><\/p>\n

It often feels like society demands that we choose sides: progressive or traditionalist, feminist or patriarchal, liberal or conservative. I believe we are each on a journey that is shaped by culture, growth, experience, and, for Christians, the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Through dialogue, feedback, and Scripture-centered reflection, I often find elements of truth on both \u201csides.\u201d I want to remain a lifelong learner, engage in dialogue, and be willing to learn from people on all sides.<\/p>\n

Beliefs Confirmed: Emotional Reaction Over Truth and Reason<\/strong><\/p>\n

In\u00a0The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense<\/em>, Dr. Gad Saad confirmed my beliefs that society has increasingly prioritized reactive emotions over critical thinking and reason. In his introduction, Saad describes \u201cparasitic pathogens of the human mind\u201d as belief systems and attitudes that \u201cparasitize one\u2019s ability to think properly.\u201d[1]<\/a>He argues that modern universities, once committed to cultivating critical thought, now \u201ccoddle\u201d students\u2019 emotions.[2]<\/a> In postmodernism, objective truth is rejected, and self-identity takes precedence over logic or shared facts. Saad believes that intellectual diversity is being replaced by political correctness.[3]<\/a> He calls on readers to use reason, speak out, and defend core values. I agree we need to think critically, pursue truth, and protect our ability to reason.<\/p>\n

As a Christian, I believe this ultimately points to the Truth that sets people free\u2014Jesus Christ, who called himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life.[4]<\/a> In Ephesians, Paul exhorts believers to grow in maturity, resist deceptive teachings, and \u201cspeak the truth in love.\u201d[5]<\/a> This is where Saad and I disagree. While we may agree on the importance of truth and reason, I believe truth must be communicated with love. Christians are called to engage minds\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0hearts\u2014to think deeply, speak boldly, and love unconditionally.<\/p>\n

Beliefs Challenged: Truth Without Love<\/strong><\/p>\n

What challenged me in Saad\u2019s book was not what he said, but\u00a0how<\/em>\u00a0he said it. His strong, often harsh language left little room for nuance or compassion. Paul Leslie, in a review of the book, notes that Saad encourages the \u201cunfettered use of our intelligence and reason to reveal or get closer to the truth.\u201d[6]<\/a> Saad urges readers to believe in the power of their voice[7]<\/a> and not to be concerned if judging or offending others.[8]<\/a> This approach seems to prioritize intellectual victory over human connection. While this bold position may empower some to share their voices, it risks putting others on the defensive instead of fostering open dialogue. When truth lacks kindness, it can alienate rather than invite.<\/p>\n

In contrast, Christians are called to communicate Truth in a courageous and loving way. In\u00a0War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication<\/em>, Dr. Paul Tripp reminds believers that the goal of speech is not to win arguments but to reflect Christ and pursue restoration. Tripp writes:<\/p>\n

The middle way of love is not about being nice or benignly tolerant of those we see doing wrong. Love is active! God wants us to be his agents of rescue when we see another\u2019s sin. He calls us to judge our neighbor fairly and to rebuke each other in a way that is frank and clear.[9]<\/a><\/p>\n

As followers of Jesus, we\u2019re called to speak truth in a way that points to Christ, not just our convictions and beliefs. By God\u2019s grace, may we \u201c[speak] as gentle, humble agents of restoration, as burden-bearers committed to live by Christ\u2019s rule of love.\u201d[10]<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

[1]<\/a> Gad Saad, The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense<\/em> (Washington, D.C: Regnery Publishing, 2020), 17.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Ibid, 27.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Ibid, 92.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> John 14:6.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> See Ephesians 4:9-14.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Paul Leslie, \u201c\u2018The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense\u2019 by Gad Saad \u2014 The Book Review,\u201d The Paul Leslie Hour<\/em> (blog), November 20, 2021, https:\/\/www.thepaulleslie.com\/the-parasitic-mind-how-infectious-ideas-are-killing-common-sense-by-gad-saad-the-book-review\/.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Saad, The Parasitic Mind, <\/em>173.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Ibid, 174.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Paul David Tripp, War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles<\/em>, Resources for Changing Lives (Phillipsburg, N.J: P&R Pub, 2000), Chapter 10.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> Ibid, Chapter 12.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u201cWhy do I need to wear those?\u201d I protested to my dad. I was about six years old, and he insisted I wear white tights before church. His reasoning? \u201cThey\u2019ll help keep you warm in the subzero temperatures,\u201d I remember scoffing\u2014did he really think that thin layer of nylon would make a difference? Even then, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":206,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3463,2967],"class_list":["post-41712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-saad","tag-dlgp03","cohort-dlgp03"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/206"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41712"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41713,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41712\/revisions\/41713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}