Ep 138 // Speaking the Truth in Love…and Learning to Hear It Too: Practicing Charitable Orthodoxy

What if speaking the truth in love is only half the equation? What if real spiritual maturity also requires us to hear the truth in love? In this episode, Megan unpacks the concept of charitable orthodoxy — holding tightly to the core truths of our faith while relating to one another with humility, grace, and respect.

Key Takeaways

• What charitable orthodoxy is and why it matters for Christians today.
• The difference between truth without love (harshness) and love without truth (relativism).
• Why people often misinterpret what we say — but rarely misinterpret themselves.
• How Denver Seminary frames charitable orthodoxy as a posture of listening before speaking.
• The Grace & Truth Matrix from Gravity Leadership: Hang Out, Check Out, Call Out, Call In.
• Practical steps you can take to embody conviction and compassion in your relationships.

Key Quotes

• “People don’t always hear what we meant to say. They only hear it through their own lens.”
• “Charitable orthodoxy isn’t weakness. Being charitable is Kingdom strength.”
• “Giving truth in love takes courage. Receiving truth in love takes humility.”
• “Let’s be kind people who don’t just defend the truth, but dignify the person across from us by listening well.”

Journal + Reflection Questions

1. When was the last time you spoke truth without much love? What happened?
2. When was the last time you avoided speaking truth in order to “keep the peace”? Why?
3. How do people experience you — more grace-heavy, truth-heavy, or balanced?
4. What assumptions or biases might be coloring the way you hear others?
5. In which relationships is God inviting you to move from “calling out” to “calling in”?

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