Good news, delivered poorly, can make good news bad.
That’s what we see in the misguided ranting of the man with the megaphone. He might have the good intention of seeing people he considers bound set free. The concepts he’s talking about might have merit. But the hate with which he shouts makes his delivery of good news ungodly.
Interestingly, the opposite is true as well. There are wonderful things done by wonderful people who have nothing to do with God. Their willingness to live life with love and kindness are glimpses of the godly in the lives of those whom the religious would consider outside the tribe.
Truth is not enough.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, actually separated truth and love. He wrote of the need to speak truth in love. He recognized that speaking truth without loving is not enough. In fact, in his letter to the Corinthians, he took it a step farther, saying that “without love we are nothing.” Our words simply become a loud, harsh, meaningless gong. And it’s true. People walk by those men and their megaphones on the street the same way they would pass by a loud, ringing, buzzing gong.
The human spirit is created for love. That’s why the writer of Romans said that it’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance.
A louder megaphone or a greater level of shame will never accomplish what a momentary brush with God’s grace and love will accomplish.
Matthew writes that when Jesus looked at the crowds who had gathered to see him, he looked upon them with compassion. At the root of everything that Jesus said was a deep level of care for the people to whom he was speaking.
Jesus’ first priority was not to convince people. It was to love people.
And people could sense this deep love. They could stand near Jesus and—instead of being repulsed by his words—they were drawn into them.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There were people who were repulsed by Jesus. But they were the religious. They were those who thought they knew better. They were the ones who were convinced that they were right and needed to convince everyone else of the truth.
Those very people who are repulsed by the shouts of the street preachers are the very ones who were drawn to Jesus.
It’s my propensity to reject those men on the street, but you know what? The only thing that will change them is the only thing that will change us—love. If you’ve ever engaged in a conversation with them, you know it’s not “truth” that will change them. It’s not an argument that opens their mind to a different thought, idea or revelation. No, the thing that will change them is the only thing that will change any of us.
When we encounter God, change is irresistible.
The world doesn’t need more people who are willing to argue or shout or judge. The world needs people who are willing to live like Jesus, not just talk about him. The world is moving in a pretty great direction. People are thriving today more than they ever have before. And in the midst of our physical thriving and financial provision, there’s still a deep longing for meaning and purpose. That’s what life with God is about. It’s about living a more full life than ever before. It’s about stepping into a new place of thriving. And when people truly encounter the presence of God, that’s what happens.
It’s time we put down the megaphones and pick up our hearts. It’s time we care for people simply because they’re people.
Jesus didn’t have compassion for people because they agreed with him. He had compassion for them because he loved them.
We must embody the love of Jesus. We must care for people more than we care about being right. It’s time to see a radical revolution of compassion and care as we manifest the fruit of the spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Without these things, the “truth” is utterly meaningless. With them, the truth can change the world.
