Hate speech or tough love?

We live in a touchy-feeling culture, where just about anything and everything that is said risks offending people. If a Christian were to speak out against sin, it would be labeled as hate speech. There's a constant fear many people have of being triggered when they hear something that disagrees with them.

But, notice below some of the things Jesus said to people during his earthly ministry:

Matt 8:22 Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. (that sounds RUDE)

Matt 12:34 O generation of vipers. (that's NOT NICE)

Matt 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (sounds SARCASTIC to me)

Matt 23 Ye fools and blind…. Ye serpents. (Jesus is NAME-CALLING)

Mark 7:6 …hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. (Jesus got to the BOTTOM LINE very quickly)

John 2:16 …make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. (Jesus called them out and EXPOSED their sin)

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. (Jesus is OFFENDING people)

Jesus spent a good part of His earthly ministry saying things that many people perceived to be rude, sarcastic, and offensive. Yet, Jesus never sinned. Instead, Jesus knew exactly what truth needed to be said, and the tone it was to be said in.

Jesus wasn't concerned about how the people would receive what He said, He was concerned with obeying the will of His heavenly Father. He delivered hard-truth, when it was needed.

Now, more than ever, hard-truth is needed. But beware, you'll be labeled by the religious Pharisees and not having any love, and they will call what you say hate-speech.

Remember, you're not being hateful, if you're giving truth in love. And most times the hard-truth that is needed, is given with tough-love.