As I have shared before, I like preaching and teaching that is direct. I love teaching that doesn’t beat around the bush but simply lays it out as truth, no matter how “harsh” it may seem. I want to be convicted and challenged at church by our pastor and by anything that I read. This is why I loved Debi Pearl’s book so much. She spanked me with her words! I needed it. I needed truth far more than I needed anything else. It woke me from my slumber and put me on the road to being a transformed wife.

Last week, I shared a post by Jayme Lawson who wrote a public apology to me on Facebook. I have received many private messages like hers over the years but never a public one. A conversation that went on in the comment section under her apology interested me. I think it will interest you too!

Mary-Ann: “I am following her as well. I read her posts when I get them on my Facebook. Sometimes, she does come across as legalistic and unloving to me as well. I know what she teaches is biblical and I agree with what she says, but I do find sometimes it comes across that way with her but maybe like you, it’s because I ‘grew up’ in a very legalistic church and was hurt deeply by it. I don’t know. All I know is that I do believe what she teaches. If any of that makes sense.”

Jayme Lawson responded: “Absolutely. I was a newspaper reporter. I’m a researcher… Facts writer, so I don’t seem to be as soft or feminine as others would like, but God transforms me more each day. We have to figure out the difference between Truth that convicts and being unloving. I learned to appreciate the delivery of people like Paul Washer because I needed that directness. But when we are first getting used to it, it seems harsh. I study about humility and gentleness to help my writing, and I have been studying the words of the prophets for example, to toughen me up when I read hard truths, so I don’t judge the delivery or personality or writing style, my preferences, but only the message in the writing. I had weaknesses, a softness, a fear of harshness, from childhood abuse, past hurts, a very soft heart, so I had to toughen myself up a LOT to hear what I needed to hear and not be instantly offended by the delivery. I haven’t read her page recently, but I hope she is still a true teacher and hope I can handle her directness better than years ago.”

Carry-Ann responded to Jayme: “Your words ring true for me. When we have a soft heart, it can come across as brusque or harsh. We need the truth and I believe those who come across as harsh, sometimes have to do it that way (they ARE doing it in love) to actually reach people. It’s the Word that convicts. I love Paul Washer. He’s one of my favorite preachers to listen to and it’s *because* of his preaching style that I enjoy it so much. I NEED it delivered like that because it IS so convicting. I don’t look at it as unloving at all, but more loving, because it is done with complete truth.”

Truth sounds harsh to those who hate truth or hate the conviction that truth brings. I LOVE truth. I love the conviction it brings. Yes, some have the gift of speaking truth in a soft and gentle way. Others have the gift of speaking truth in a direct and convicting way. Neither is better and neither is wrong. Some enjoy one way more and others enjoy the other way better. All I know is that Jesus and His Apostles sure were direct with truth and offended many even to the point that they crucified Christ and killed most of His Apostles. Don’t allow truth to ever offend you, women. Only be offended by Satan and sin.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Romans 12:9