The phrase speaking truth to power is all the rage right now. But it’s actually an ancient phrase – originating all the way back with the Greeks. Their word for the idea was “parrhesia” which meant you not only need to speak the truth and speak it freely but also you were obligated to speak truth for the common good. The idea of truth power is found in the writings of Ghandi. He called it satyagraha which “truth force.” It was meant to serve as a non violent way to resist oppressive governments. Speaking truth was powerful because it would bring change.
But truly the idea of speaking truth to power comes from God. Truth when spoken with the right motive and tone brings change. Our truth speaking is described by Paul as “speak the truth in love.”
Godly love speaks truth. But it doesn’t just specify truth out of meanness and it doesn’t speak the truth in hateful, rude, and harsh ways. Nope. Our love speaks truth in love.
Why? Because we are trying to grow and become more like Christ is Lord and example. We speak truth to bring about change but we do so with love as our primary motive and with love as the primary tone.
Speaking the truth in love doesn’t mean we won’t have to say uncomfortable things. It doesn’t mean that sometimes we won’t need to be direct or blunt or forthright. But what it does mean is that when we speak the truth we are not rude, mean spirited, gleeful at being right, hateful, or uncaring and unkind.
Speaking the truth in love is rooted in our God speaks to us through the Scriptures. God tells us the truth. Sometimes those truths are uncomfortable but His tone and His approach is always kind and caring. It is always rooted in His love for us. Why does He speak the truth to us this way? Because He loves us and actually WANTS us to listen and change. He wants us to think about what He is saying and consider it. He wants us to see the benefit in the truth and act on it accordingly.
When we speak truth without love, it is often rude, off putting, and mean spirited. It is also not rooted IN love which means we are not really wanting our bearer to truly think about what we’ve said so they can change but instead we just want to be right and point out their wrongness. This form of speaking truth does NOT bring change and does NOT bring people to God.
So, how does godly love act? It speaks the truth but it speaks the truth in love because we are rooted in Christ and seek to be more like Him. It speaks the truth in love because instead of wanting to revel in someone’s mistakes it seeks to truly help someone change and come to God.
Speak the truth but speak it in love! #LoveActs
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