Chester, one more thing:
The Bible does discuss this issue you raise, about witnessing to people with love.
But the Bible keeps the two issues distinct.
The Bible does not make it complicated, and it does not swerve into any equivocation or confusion.
The Bible keeps these 2 issues separate, distinct, and simple... it keeps them parallel, but still distinct.. it does not melt them into a single concept.
The Bible says to speak the truth, and it says to do that in love.
God keeps these issue separate, distinct, and simple.
These are separate ideas, and God keeps them separated.
You'll find these same separations and distinctions throughout scripture.
To say a true thing is to say a true thing.
To say it well, or say it lovingly, is always a critical but DISTINCT matter.
..
Going one step further -> Love and Truth:
1. You CANNOT speak in "love" without also speaking truth... because to lie intrinsically means to fail at the "loving"
You could make an argument about little white lies, like "No honey, you look fine with purple hair."
But as a general rule, to be loving requires, inherently, the inclusion of truth.
2. You CAN however speak truth without speaking in "love", because true propositions are not contingent on love for their existence.
A true proposition is still true even if you don't speak it all, so it doesn't depend on your being "loving", it doesn't depend on you at all. A true statement doesn't depend on you being loving... it doesn't depend on you at all. A true statement is still true even if you disappear.
3. Please keep in mind, God always refers to these two things as separate and distinct.
They are both important, and they usually run parallel, but they are separate and distinct.
4. If God views them as separate and distinct, then so should we.
.
The Bible does discuss this issue you raise, about witnessing to people with love.
But the Bible keeps the two issues distinct.
The Bible does not make it complicated, and it does not swerve into any equivocation or confusion.
The Bible keeps these 2 issues separate, distinct, and simple... it keeps them parallel, but still distinct.. it does not melt them into a single concept.
The Bible says to speak the truth, and it says to do that in love.
God keeps these issue separate, distinct, and simple.
These are separate ideas, and God keeps them separated.
You'll find these same separations and distinctions throughout scripture.
To say a true thing is to say a true thing.
To say it well, or say it lovingly, is always a critical but DISTINCT matter.
..
Going one step further -> Love and Truth:
1. You CANNOT speak in "love" without also speaking truth... because to lie intrinsically means to fail at the "loving"
You could make an argument about little white lies, like "No honey, you look fine with purple hair."
But as a general rule, to be loving requires, inherently, the inclusion of truth.
2. You CAN however speak truth without speaking in "love", because true propositions are not contingent on love for their existence.
A true proposition is still true even if you don't speak it all, so it doesn't depend on your being "loving", it doesn't depend on you at all. A true statement doesn't depend on you being loving... it doesn't depend on you at all. A true statement is still true even if you disappear.
3. Please keep in mind, God always refers to these two things as separate and distinct.
They are both important, and they usually run parallel, but they are separate and distinct.
4. If God views them as separate and distinct, then so should we.
.