In Accordance With the Truth

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel,” Paul writes to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:8). Paul is urging Timothy to stay centered on the truth of the gospel even when the world around him is full of compromise, confusion, and mixed motives. He reminds Timothy that the gospel is not chained, even when Paul himself is. The truth of Jesus, his life, death, and resurrection, stands above all human systems, politics, and personalities.

Paul also tells Timothy to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved… rightly handling the word of truth” (v. 15). That phrase—rightly handling the word of truth—calls us to a higher standard. It means that our loyalty must always lie with the truth of the gospel, not with our preferred group, ideology, or tribe.

In our own time, this is no small challenge. We live in an era where political identity often outweighs Christian identity. Many Christians will excuse the behavior of the political party they align with, saying things like, “Well, they’re good people who just made a mistake,” or “I know he’s a terrible person, but look at all the good he’s doing.”

But that kind of reasoning is a dangerous distortion of the truth. It’s an example of what Paul warned against, a faith built on “irreverent babble” and “wrangling over words” that lead people away from God’s truth (vv. 14–16). When we excuse wrongdoing because it benefits our side, we are no longer serving Christ—we are serving power, comfort, or fear.

Remember, Evil people are capable of doing good things, and good people are capable of doing evil. Neither statement excuses evil. One of our vows as Christians is to resist all evil, no matter where or from whom it comes. That vow to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves is not conditional. It’s not, “unless it helps my team” or “unless the person doing it has done some good elsewhere.” The truth of the gospel doesn’t bend around our political opinions. It doesn’t take sides the way we do.

When Paul calls us to be “in accordance with the truth,” he is calling us to a consistent, courageous discipleship. Following Jesus means we don’t excuse sin in ourselves or others, no matter how convenient it might be. It means we speak truth even when it costs us influence, comfort, or belonging.

To live “in accordance with the truth” is to remember that our ultimate allegiance is to Christ, not to a politician, not to a party, not even to our own sense of being right. The gospel isn’t about defending our tribe. It’s about revealing the character of Jesus in how we live, speak, and treat others.

So, when we are tempted to excuse evil because it comes from “our side,” let’s remember Paul’s words: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

May our witness be marked not by partisan loyalty, but by gospel integrity.

In God’s Grip,

Pastor Chuck Church

Closing Prayer

Gracious and Holy God,
You are the truth that sets us free and the light that exposes all falsehood. Forgive us when we twist the truth to fit our own comfort or defend those we favor. Give us courage to resist evil in every form, no matter who commits it. Keep our hearts anchored in Your gospel and our minds fixed on Jesus Christ, who is our standard of love and righteousness. Help us to live and speak in accordance with the truth, so that our lives may bring honor to Your name.
In the name of Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.