The dictionary defines truth as a verifiable and indisputable fact. Fact is also something known to have happened or existed, according to the Cambridge Dictionary. Many have paid needlessly with their lives for what they peddled as the truth about themselves or others. Others have weaponized their opponents against them for revealing some facts or truths to their detriment. The ill-advised zeal of “saying it as it must be said” or running amok with some facts they deem the truth has blown away several opportunities for people to make a lasting impact in their households, workplaces, political spheres, and Christian lives. The definition of “truth” even gets more involving per biblical standards since there is someone the Bible calls the Truth. Isn’t the Truth truly true? What are some of the popular lies told about truth? And how does the truth differ from the facts in the light of God’s word? These are some of the questions the article seeks to discuss and recommend ways of achieving intended goals anytime the truth needs to confront any life situation.
Truth is as critical as its presentation, so it’s a lie to think that once you lay your hands on the truth per your estimation, you can run riot with it. Plato once said, “No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.” So, the presentation of truth needs a certain amount of tact if corporate goals are to be met. A quote attributed to Voltaire says, “Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said.”
In John chapter 4, Jesus had an encounter with the Samaritan woman whose relationship or marriage life was nothing to write home about. She virtually hopped from one person’s husband to the other, and when Jesus met her, she was with the sixth man, another woman’s husband (John 4:18). The fact was that she was a certified husband snatcher. However, what do you think would have happened if Jesus started attacking her on that lifestyle of hers? After all, that was the truth. She would have ignored Him or put up very defensive and unwelcoming posturing in their deliberations. She could have also attacked Him with all manner of unprintable words because the Samaritans had no business with the Jews in those days. Presenting the truth misguidedly only amounts to speaking to the fact of a matter and not necessarily speaking the truth.
However, the glorious end of Jesus’ engagement with the woman, who won her community for Christ and became His ambassador, is a lesson for all who are fortunate to discern the truth and have the opportunity to share it to God’s glory. It is a lie that truth can be presented anyhow for desired objectives to be met. Similarly, in the case of Rahab and the two Jewish spies in Joshua chapter 2, it was factual that Rahab hid them in her ceiling against her King’s command, but the truth was that God had given their land to Israel. It was, therefore, immaterial for her to stick to the facts or otherwise.
Again, it was an undeniable fact that the two Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1:19-22 allowed the Israeli male borns to live against the orders they received from King Pharaoh. However, the truth was that God detests the termination of human lives. Therefore, the response they chose to give Pharaoh for disobeying his wicked orders was also immaterial at the time. God was their ultimate, and so must He be to all who have decided to campaign for nothing but the truth.
When you obey man’s laws at the expense of God, you have not necessarily been truthful. You have disobeyed God because He is the standard and measure of truth. God is the custodian of the word “truth” because Jesus did not only say He was the way, but He also said He is the Truth. It was also a fact that Jesus healed a blind man, but the truth was that he was not supposed to tell anyone. The truth must, therefore, be presented in the light of God’s word and precepts because He is the truth.
Truth doesn’t derive its strength from one’s convictions. It is, therefore, a lie to think that once your convictions suggest you’re right, you can present your truths anyhow. You may be wrong or can be misled after all by your emotions. Truth is absolute and not necessarily relative, but for believers, it is contingent on God’s word. The yardstick is, therefore, God’s word both in content and by way of its presentation.
Another lie about truth is when people think there’s nothing wrong in breaking confidential news once that is the truth. When you break confidence, you have not spoken the truth but have become a gossip. “The oath of secrecy is the term used for the duty of clergy and church officers not to report, or comment on, facts and events of a confidential nature that they have come to know in the exercise of their office.” In Mark 9:9-10, Jesus warned His disciples not to tell anyone about the transfiguration until He had risen from the dead. Was it not true that He was transfigured at the full glare of Peter, James, and John? It was. But why would Almighty Jesus decide to manage information like He did when on planet Earth?
There’s a very sound logic as to why we must not haphazardly tell people our plans, visions, and dreams due to the hatred and jealousy they usually stir in the hearts of weak minds and callous hearts. Joseph fully disclosed his dreams as a growing young man to his family members, but the more he told them those truths, the more they hated him. But for God’s intervention through Judah, he would have been slaughtered like a fowl by his brothers (Genesis 37:2-5). Of the seventeen people in Jacob’s household, only Jacob and his wife could contain the exciting truths in Joseph’s dreams. That works to just a little over 11% of the household population. Therefore, presenting the truth still requires a certain amount of circumspection, which has nothing to do with peddling falsehood. The Holy Book has many lessons for those who share their dreams and visions anyhow and anywhere without circumspection because they want to be truthful. Some will sound encouraging and supportive when personal dreams are shared. But others would thwart consciously or unconsciously the fulfillment of such dreams.
The devil is so limited in power when compared to God to the extent that he often takes his clues for launching attacks from our shared dreams or careless talk. The devil engaged Eve in the Garden of Eden for a conversation, and when Eve chose the full disclosure path, they were enticed to sin against God. Eve, therefore, didn’t have any business or courtesies to answer the questions the serpent first asked, let alone entertain more interaction with the devil (Genesis 3:1-5). In Proverbs 17:27-28, a fool is even mistaken to be wise if he keeps silent. Esther in the Citadel of Susa could also have revealed her true identity as a Jew during the early stages of the pageantry. After all, that was the truth. However, her cousin Mordecai had warned her never to disclose it at the time. She wholeheartedly obeyed Mordecai, so it was not too consequential her responses to questions regarding her nationality. As long as she concealed her Jewish identity, the best for her and God’s will for her life (Esther 2:10, 19-20). In a letter to Francois-Joachim de Pierre, Cardinal de Bernis on April 23, 1764, Voltaire said, “There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all times.”
One other myth about truth is that everyone dislikes it and will, therefore, do everything to stifle it. King Herod still liked John the Baptist, although he boldly told him the truth he didn’t want to hear (Mark 6:20). Although some, for want of their interest, may appear allergic and fight it, their instincts, conscience, and inner being secretly admire the truth. Ironically and contrary to popular beliefs, the Bible says in Proverbs 16:13 that kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth. This means, for want of their selfish desires, they may not necessarily like you because of your truthful stands; they will, however, give you your value.
Before attacking Ramoth Gilead, 400 prophets in Israel had all prophesied victory for King Ahab and Israel. Yet Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, who had visited the King then, was still unconvinced and wanted more spiritual consultations. Ahab sent for Micaiah, who initially did not want to hear his prophecy since he didn’t believe he was going to say anything his itching ear wanted to hear. Jehoshaphat insisted it would be good to listen to him as well. It is, therefore, a lie that people always do not want to have anything to do with the truth.
“When he arrived, the king asked him, ‘Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead or not?’ ‘Attack and be victorious,’ he answered, ‘for the LORD will give it into the king’s hand.’ The king said to him, ‘How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?’ Then Micaiah answered, ‘I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’” (1 Kings 22:15-17). From the above text, in that spiritually intimidating presence of 400 prophets singing the same chorus, Micaiah initially tested King Ahab by affirming what the other prophets had already told him. However, as powerful and attractive as the truth always stands, the King is unconvinced but pleads with Micaiah to say to him nothing but the truth. At this, Micaiah told him the truth and the fallout of the pending war, which was not in the King’s favor. Although Ahab insisted on fighting that battle, every word Micaiah spoke came to pass, and the King of Israel died in that battle. Even though many may not have the wherewithal to accept the truth, they would still want to hear it anyway. The truth is presented to the glory of God and for the betterment of society and not just for the sake of presenting facts. To speak the truth as a believer, get the facts correct, mirror them in the light of God’s word, and present them without any intent to deceive anyone. It can, therefore, be safely concluded that truth is absolute to the extent of God’s word because Jesus is the Truth.
Stay blessed.
Written by Apostle James Orhin Agyin
