When Did Truth and Love Get a Divorce?

Truth and Love once had a beautiful marriage. According to much of the conversation happening around us today, doesn't it appear the two have filed for divorce?

I'm amazed by the number of contemporary comments that seem to see truth and love as objects in opposition to one another. It seems that we are now taught you can either love someone, or you can tell them the truth. Rarely, if ever, can you accomplish both. This is especially the case if the truth isn't pleasant.

I think many think the divorce papers were filed clear back in John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Somehow, Christ being full of grace and truth has become the story of two cosmic forces warring inside of the body of the Son of God. It's been perceived as the truth kept Him from being overly gracious, and the grace kept Him from being overly truth oriented. However, grace and truth still appear happily married in this passage. Christ was full of both, not balancing one another out, but both being fully manifested in His being. It was/is possible for grace and truth to coexist.

And while it may just be my personality and perspective coming out, it appears to me that most not only see love and truth as divorced, but love is the noble divorcee, while truth is the one no one chooses to associate with. Truth has become the creepy member of the divorce. The one who is the most to blame for the breakup. We're embarrassed by it and don't want people to know how much we used to love being around it.

The church is responsible to show the world that truth and love are still married. It's our job to share, not only that the two coexist, but that they are as strongly united as ever!