Speak Your Mind All the Time
- Category: Gospel Truth
- Date 16-10-2016
- 1299 views
A story is told of an official who came across information that was damaging to the company he worked for. He did not share the information because he feared that his boss might fire him for being the bearer of bad news. As he did not speak up, the information remained concealed and created a situation which almost ruined the company. When the matter was investigated, it was found that the official had known the truth before anyone else but kept it to himself. He was fired for not speaking up! His inaction resulted into the same thing which he had originally feared.
Many people believe that it is dangerous to speak their mind. They would think twice about the consequences of saying exactly what they believe is right, from the bottom of their hearts. In some cases, indeed, speaking your mind can easily attract a harsh response from your listeners, which you can avoid either by telling lies or by not speaking out at all. On the other hand, most of the dangers people try to avoid by dodging the truth are mere figments of imagination.
People who fear to speak their minds often feel that they can be safe by hiding the truth. They believe that telling lies or keeping quiet can bring some benefits or is a means self-preservation. The world is full of bad leaders who are always looking for spineless individuals to exploit in order to advance their wicked plans. It is the truthless characters who can easily become accomplices in the foul schemes of powerful persons. Fear of speaking the truth forces an individual to submit to the machinations of the devil; yet the truth should be upheld even at the point of death. During the prosecution of Jesus Christ, the high priest intimidatingly asked if he was the Messiah. “Jesus answered, ‘It is just as you say. I tell you more… you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God….” (Matthew 26:63-64).
There is a saying: ‘In a room where people unanimously maintain a conspiracy of silence, one word of truth sounds like a pistol shot’. Jesus could not shy away from the truth, no matter how harshly his listeners reacted. When an official slapped him, Jesus Christ asked, “If I said something wrong, testify against me. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” (John 18:23).
Ruth Crowley, a nurse and columnist in Chicago once said, “The naked truth is always better than the best dressed lie.” God is the source of all truths which, when He reveals it to His people, should be shared as it is, without fear or favour. Scriptures show that God challenged various men and women to speak the bitter, often unwelcome truth to the people it was intended for. An example is when David committed adultery, made Bathsheba pregnant, and ordered the killing of her husband, Uriah. As a king of Israel, David had the power to punish anyone severely but Prophet Nathan did not fear to condemn him for the crimes he had committed. He accused him of being immoral, careless and cruel (2 Samuel 12:2-7). Nathan’s brave criticism disarmed David and taught him to behave in a manner that befits an anointed leader.
Scripture also presents a case of a courageous family which stood for the truth even when they faced death. King Antiochus arrested a mother and her seven sons and tried to force them to eat pork but they disobeyed his orders. The boys were killed, one after another, with each making a speech before being tortured to death (Maccabees 7:1-42). However, the risk of death could not prevent them from speaking their mind about what they believed was right or wrong. Even when his six brothers had been murdered before his eyes, the youngest boy was equally defiant although the king dangled power and money in his face. He spoke out, “I do not obey the king’s order but the precepts of the law given by Moses…. Our brothers suffered a short time for the sake of eternal life…. I give up my body and my soul for the laws of my fathers, calling on God that he may at once have pity on our race, and that… you may come to confess that he is the only God” (Maccabees 7:30-37).
A Roman king, Julius Caesar, was killed by some of his trusted friends, the conspirators, who addressed an assembly of citizens at his funeral. In a touching speech, the leading conspirator, Marcus Brutus, explained that Julius Caesar deserved to die because he was a very bad leader: power-hungry, selfish, insensitive and oppressive. By the end of his address, all the people were convinced that Julius Caesar deserved to die. “We are blest that Rome is rid of him,” they chanted as they applauded the conspirators as heroes. The conspirators created such a hostile mood that the gathering would not listen to anyone who might praise the man they killed.
As an act of good will, they allowed Mark Antony, a great friend of the murdered king, to speak to the hostile crowd. They were very sure that everyone supported their cause. As Mark Antony started to talk, the crowd warned him against making negative utterances against Marcus Brutus, their newfound hero! Fearlessly, however, Mark Antony offered his honest assessment of Julius Caesar whom he described as compassionate to the needy, a devoted servant, prudent with national resources, a loving leader, humble and humane. The mourners were able to know the truth and turned against the conspirators, shouting, “They were villains, murderous…. We’ll burn the house of Brutus.” (Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene II). The truth always wins! To avoid the truth is to commit spiritual suicide.
Venansio Ahabwe is a lay Christian from the Archdiocese of Mbarara
By Venansio Ahabwe
Source: Gospel Truth, Leadership Magazine