Let me be transparent with you for a moment. I have made it a point during the years of my pastoral ministry to preach the whole counsel of God’s Word. That means I don’t skip the hard or sensitive parts, but in doing so, I have often opened myself up to criticism.
I’m not a fan of some of the letters, emails, or slander I’ve received for speaking the truth, but I have learned that I can live with it. It doesn’t happen constantly, and while it usually stings when it’s fresh, there’s a part of me that has started to see it as helpful.
What Is the Truth?
It reminds me that the gospel tends to offend before it heals. It humbles me and forces me to think about whether I could have phrased my words more precisely.
And it keeps me relying on Jesus for strength. If the Lord entrusts you with similar responsibilities, I’m confident He will use the things you experience to teach you similar truths.
John the Baptist regularly spoke the truth, even when it wasn’t popular to do so. Herodias, the wife of King Herod, took particular offense to John’s preaching because he regularly confronted the adulterous nature of their royal marriage.
Look at how John was treated by the royal authorities of his day, who didn’t appreciate what he had to say:
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist” (Mark 6:21-24).
As Herod gave a banquet to celebrate his own birthday, his niece, the daughter of Herodias, danced for Herod and his guests. She would have been a teenager at the time, and the implication is that this dance was inappropriate in nature, but it pleased these men of low character.
Herod offered her whatever she wanted in return, and as her mother suggested, she requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
Scripture tells us this actually grieved the king because he had taken a liking to John, but he couldn’t go back on his word because that would damage his authority, so he honored this vile request for John’s execution.
When I look at this, I can’t help but feel troubled by the disrespectful way John the Baptist was treated as his life was taken from him. To take his head and serve it on a platter was such a dark and disgusting act.
In some ways, it would have seemed better for John to die a more respectable death, but as the history of the church demonstrates, for many believers, the call to discipleship has also been a call to experience a disrespectful and humiliating death.
And I guess that shouldn’t shock us because that’s exactly what Jesus endured on our behalf. He was mocked, beaten, spat upon, and nailed to a criminal’s cross.
He died a humiliating and torturous death at the hands of wicked men in order to pay for the wickedness of those who didn’t even realize they needed Him.
There are consequences for speaking the truth. John experienced them for calling out the sexual sins of powerful people.
Jesus experienced them for revealing that He is God and has the capacity to forgive sin. You and I may experience consequences as well as our lives, and our words point people to Jesus, but that’s okay. We aren’t the first, and we won’t be the last.
Let me give you a few words of encouragement if you’re presently feeling pressure to be anything less than honest.
1. We Receive the Gift of a New Nature in Christ
We no longer need to subject ourselves to the desires of our old sinful nature, nor do we need to allow it to control us.
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices (Colossians 3:9).
2. Jesus Is the Truth
As His followers who walk in the truth, we’re encouraged to keep our tongues from wickedness. We’re also assured that our lives will be measurably better if we do so.
Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; (1 Peter 3:10).
3. You Are a New Creation
As one who is a new creation in Christ, you’re invited to utilize heavenly wisdom as you live your life.
The wisdom of God is sincere and does not practice deceit like the wisdom of this world is prone to do.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (James 3:17).
In the midst of a generation that resists the truth, be a truth-teller. Speak with honesty and integrity, and honor Christ with the words of your lips just as John the Baptist and generations of faithful believers before you have done.
For further reading:
4 Ways to Know if You Respect the Authority of Jesus in Your Life
How Does the Bible Teach Us to Handle Anxiety?
What Does the Bible Say about Controlling Your Anger?
What Is the Difference Between Absolute Truth and Relative Truth?
What Is the Difference Between ‘Your Truth’ and The Truth?
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John Stange is the Lead Pastor at Core Creek Community Church and a professor at Cairn University where he leads the Digital Media and Communication program. He also leads an online community called Platform Launchers where he helps people build message-based online platforms.
John has authored over 30 books and presently hosts several podcasts on the LifeAudio podcast network. His shows have been downloaded millions of times by listeners throughout the world.
You can learn more about John’s ministry, books, and podcasts at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.
