Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. – Galatians 4:16-20

“The truth? You can’t handle the truth.” Jack Nicholson’s line from the 1992 film, A Few Good Men, is one of the most memorable movie quotes of all time.

Not many people can handle the truth, but the Apostle Paul was certainly unafraid to speak plainly to the people he cared for in the Galatian churches:

“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

The Galatians were being drawn away from the truth of the Gospel. How? These new teachers were full of flattering words to tickle the ears, but the lasting impact of their false gospel was slavery, not freedom.

Paul is passionate about the Gospel! Take a look at the emotion he expresses in Galatians 4: 19-20.

Paul is perplexed…astonished…dumbfounded…taken aback…flabbergasted.

Have you ever felt the hurt of someone falling prey to a lie? How could they be so gullible? deceived?

The question for each of us is – am I willing to tell the truth even when it hurts?