Proverbs 24:23-26
23 These also are sayings of the wise.
Partiality in judging is not good.
24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
26 Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips.
One of the many consequences of “God and Truth” being kicked out of society is the refusal to deal with our own partiality and biases. Since we define tolerance in such unreasonable ways, anything that someone does is justified or rationalized, because they are biased towards that person, lifestyle, and culture. So rebuke or correction becomes taboo in society…

We all can relate to being biased and justifying ourselves and people’s ways we care about, whether that is towards our parents, spouse, children, or culture. Yet there has to be something that corrects wrongdoing, no matter how much affection we carry towards people and the things we do. Our partiality and biases breed divisions amongst people who do not carry the same justifications we do. So truth must be what binds diversity…

Practically speaking, it takes a lot of work to sift through the different barriers and ways people have. So we generally hang around people who “understand”, or who “get it” without having to explain ourselves and our ways. But how much is that lifestyle challenging your biases and the partiality we live with?

The passage reads that whoever gives an honest answer “kisses the lips”. Which in that culture and day was a sign of respect and homage towards a person. Christ as “The Truth” binds people in sincere respect, real love, and true acceptance in Himself. Biases and partiality really only include those who share the same sentiments we do, while dishonoring and dividing us amongst those who don’t…

In His Love, Ld