The Bible says that we must learn how to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15). In a serious discussion, it is not just 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 you say that is important, but 𝗛𝗢𝗪 you say it – meaning that your attitude, disposition, motive, tone, and choice of words, are just as important as the content of your words. You can say something aggressively or graciously. You can say it with a pinch of self-righteousness or with genuine humility. Whether it is sharing the truth of the gospel, discussing a theological doctrine, addressing a wrong (or even a sin), we must all learn to be as loving as we can in the way we speak.

The 4 Ps we need to have (before engaging in a serious conversation) are: a 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡, the 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙, clear 𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗘, and we must be 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗗 for the truth.

In any discussion that is uncomfortable, remember the “𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲” or “𝗢𝗿𝗲𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵”. You start with the positive, then get to the “filling” (which is the main issue of the conversation), and you end with the positive again. Always seek to speak the truth, but do it with as much love of God as you can muster in your heart. It is by your love that the world will know you are Jesus’ disciple.