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The Whole Truth
randal, Monday, 17. January 2005, 08:47
by J. Randal Matheny
As I sat at the snack bar, the unwelcome noise of the television descended from the high corner where it was bolted to the ceiling. "... I want the whole truth!" I snapped my head around to see a soap opera in progress, a severe older man twisting a woman's arm. The scene quickly lost my interest, but the phrase stuck with me. When, like the woman with the flow of blood, I fall at the feet of Jesus and tell him the whole truth, I discover his forgiveness and receive his blessing (Mark 5:33). With all the truth revealed by the Lord, I can walk as a child of the light and learn how to please the Lord (Ephesians 5:9). When I have the whole truth, I stand in good position to rebuke sharply those whose characters need it, "that they may be sound in the faith" (Titus 1:13). When I listen to the Spirit of truth who gave "all truth" to the apostles (who, with the prophets, gave us the New Testament), I can do like the Spirit does -- glorify Jesus (John 16:13-14). Of course, I should not throw pearls to pigs (Matthew 7:6) and tell someone the whole truth of a matter, when they will use that to separate me from the power of God (Judges 16:17-18). I want the whole truth, not half-truth(s), which are actually untruths, or lies. In the whole truth, there is no deception, no slants, no tendencies. Though we shouldn't make too much of it, there was even a word for complete knowledge of God and his truth: "epignosis." An example of the word is in 1 Timothy 2:4, where God wants "all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth" (YLT). God wants people to repent in order to come "to the [full] knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:25). Some have a bah-humbug attitude about the whole truth, the full truth, the complete truth, all truth. Perhaps they find something disconcerting in the whole truth. Something that doesn't tickle their ears. I want the whole truth. The truth that frees. Because life is no thirty-minute soap opera. It's for real. It's for eternity.
leila1, 2005.01.27, 16:41
The whole truth ?
2005.01.23
Who really knows it or looks for it? I believe that is only an illusion, because the real truth, in all of its aspects, it burns, it pins, it is impudent, it doesn't have half measures, it doesn't bear lies and cowardliness, it doesn't make proselytes, and so on…. I really would like that you looked for it "The real truth", so you could become my "Friend of the Heart" and know about me each little hidden truth. Today God, to be listened, He have to make the braggart. People, in their belief, they are all liars. Each person puts on some masks according to what it has to do and who has to meet. This is a truth estranging the persons one from the other. So God, today, He has to give himself different names to say HisTruth! I know what I'm saying, believe me…. Leila ... Link
randal, 2005.01.31, 20:03
So what makes you different from everybody else, that I should believe you? That's the catch, isn't it, Leila? So I think I'll just listen to the God whose Name is Truth.
Thanks anyway. Randal ... link
leila1, 2005.02.07, 17:53
Dear Randal,
I appreciated your answer: it is true, God is our only friend, but it happens to all the people also to need a terrestrial friends to share joy and pain, the hopes and the things that happen day by day .
A long time ago I have read your profile and I have been able to ascertain that also you as me are almost an autodidactic. Good, heart and mind are ready to run to the others. I still have not understood of the denomination you belong to : Orthodox, Baptist.. etc. Please, point it out to me, I will tell you why: I am looking for a pen -friend and, among all, you seem to be the most peaceful. I don't belong to any religion, but I would like to speak of God also out of the Bible area, in the sense of a context that embraces all of that is history of the universe and of the world. Does the idea suit to you? Leila ... link
randal, 2005.02.10, 13:10
Thanks
Hello, Leila, my apologies for the delay in responding. We're leaving this site for our own place: www.forthright.net . I hope you'll join us there.
Thanks for your kind comments about me. In terms of denomination, I and the other members of Forthright belong to the church that has no denomination, for it partakes of the nature of the unique body which Jesus built (Matthew 16:18). In the New Testament, there were no denominations, but only one church. By obeying the word of Christ only, we share that oneness with each other and with all those who are like-minded. This does mean the denominations cannot share with us in this unity, for they obey something more than the word of Jesus, have human leaders, hierarchies, councils, creeds, and manuals. While they themselves decry the division that exists in the larger Christian religious world, they are at the same time contributors to it. I'd be happy to exchange ideas with you. Might I suggest we use a forum format? So many of the emails I receive tend to get lost in the shuffle. We're discussing what to do about forums on the new site, so I'll invite you for now to the Bible Study Forum here: preachersfiles.com Signing up there is as easy as it is here. You can pop in the general discussion, and we can chat away there, and even count on a number of good friends there as well to join us. May you be blessed through the Word. Randal ... link
leila1, 2005.02.12, 16:26
Thank you Randal,
you know, I really couldn't understand which line the boys of Forthright were following, because when I read the people writing the columns and their answers, they seemed to be "one-sided" and very mind-closed: very beautiful letters have been eliminated, with very deep meaning, that could have been commented with spirit of study and sharing. I like Megan, which talks to her soul and her conscience; in my opinion, she says true things… I hope someone will invite her at the Forum. I have written a new article with which I will inaugurate my entrance to the Forum.
A sincere embrace and best wishes for a good Job. Leila ... link ... Comment |
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