“For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth.” 2 Corinthians 13:8 NLT
There is a saying, I admit, that I often use. “The truth is somewhere in the middle.” I use it because in most cases it turns out to be true. Take any news story today which has two sides to it as they report it. It lands somewhere in the middle of the two reported stories. Each reporter and/or advocate slant their bias towards their version of the truth, usually a half-truth. They are partially true, but when the whole truth is revealed, their half-truth turns out not to be true. Still, some people hold on to their perspective of the truth even though it is flawed and misleading. This may seem harmless and a just a matter of opinion, but in a life-or-death situation this will be disastrous.
The apostle Paul was adamant of the truth, especially when it came to the truth of the gospel. They are no half-truths in the gospel. The truth is Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn.14:6 nlt) That is the whole truth revealed. Those who sugar coat the gospel with charitable deeds, being a good person, obeying the law, being kind to others, and tolerate of other religions who claim alternative ways to heaven and eternal life are doing more than spreading half-truths, but propagating a false gospel. A life-or-death situation cannot succumb to half-truths.
Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth.” (2Cor.13:8 nlt) Paul made sure the Corinthians knew he was always speaking the truth in everything he taught them. Even when he was reprimanding them, it was always the truth. Paul did not mince words to sound less forceful. They needed to hear what Paul was telling them for their own good. We are not doing any favors to those who do not know the true way of salvation by sugar coating the gospel with half-truths. It this case, ‘the truth is never somewhere in the middle.’
Word for the Soul 