Will You Compromise Truth for Comfort?
Truth offends people.
Why? Because we often want to believe our own version to be the truth… squirming at the idea of submitting to someone else’s ideas of truth when it conflicts with what we believe (or want to believe) to be true. Or am I the only one?
And I’m pretty sure that has always been the case. I mean, look at how a lot of the authors of the Bible died… I’ll give you a hint—not old age nor medical issues/natural causes.
Truth rocks the boat. Truth challenges personal beliefs. Truth demands objectivity to replace subjectivity. Truth is singular & clear, versus muddied & varied. Truth can make you feel very much uncomfortable.
But we need it, don’t we?
Where Do We Draw the Line on Which Truth Is “Worth It”?
If a friend, for instance, knew from personal experience, that a café uses expired products that frequently make people sick for days & that friend just sat quietly, sipping on their untainted tea while they watched you consume said dangerous food or beverage—all in the name of letting you “have your truth” because you didn’t want to believe her— versus slapping that drink out of your hand… knowing you may have to be hospitalized for believing awry… would you consider that to be a good friend? I certainly wouldn’t.
The truth was still the truth. That drink would certainly make you incredibly ill, whether it seemed likely to you or not… whether or not it was a convenient truth. Truth is truth.
That is why we must share the truth. Because God knows everything, has perfect wisdom to use that knowledge perfectly… & we do not. And because we DO care about the people around us, whether they believe it or not… we must be willing to smack that dangerous drink out of their hand, if needed.
If We Water Down Truth & People Come Looking for Truth… They Won’t Find It
When I started my blog journey SIX years ago (how has it already been that long?!), I tried to write palatable stuff. I wanted to be “approachable” or “relatable” or not come off as some know-it-all, self-righteous person who says, “MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY.” I wanted to be likeable. I wanted to be liked. I “wanted more readers so I could help more people.”
But God got my attention pretty quickly with a truth bomb that washed over my heart on more than one occasion: “If you aren’t clear in telling the truth… what is the point of your blog? Those looking for the truth won’t find it & those who don’t care still won’t care.”
The message was received loud & clear—the truth may offend people, but people who are seeking the truth won’t find it here if I am not willing to be bold enough to share it.
Do You Believe God Means What He Says?
If we really believe God’s Word is TRUTH, we ought to want to share it. When culture & trends & everything around us is constantly shifting & changing, we crave wanting to feel like something in our life is steady & sure... that there is something out there that we KNOW we can always count on & be sure of. We want to know what really is true.
Bible teaching should not be watered down. We must not sugarcoat theology.
People killed truth-speakers talked about in the Bible, but said truth-speakers still found it worthy enough to share God’s Truth for the sake of anyone willing to accept it–even if their sharing it meant their DEATH.
Paul Was Ready to Die for the Sake of TRUTH
In fact, we even hear in the story told of Paul, that Paul understood that if God was calling him to it, God had a reason & that death was a small price to pay to share the truth of Jesus.
“Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:12-13)
Do we try to market God’s Word in a palatable way? Do we try to sugarcoat it to make it more appealing & relatable to the masses? Do we compromise the power of truth by trying to make more people want it?
God doesn’t need our help better marketing His Word. His Truth is sufficient as is.
Will it offend people? Yes, probably so. Will it make them mad? Quite possibly, yes. But is it worth sharing the Word of God (Truth) AS IS, trusting in the power of the TRUTH? YES, SO MUCH YES.
We Must Always Include Grace
Now, let’s take a step back & consider that the HOW is still very much important… but NOT in the sense of trying to make it more appealing.
Truth mixed with a healthy dose of GRACE is very much necessary. Truth as TRUTH, but with a healthy dose of JESUS thrown in there.
I understand it is a delicate balance. Lean too much on truth & you have legalistic, ever-beating-themselves-up Christians who struggle with self-righteousness. Lean too much on GRACE & you have those who brush off truth like it’s just a little extra flavor “if you want it.”
How Would You Respond?
I like to think of it like this:
Imagine living in a town where perfection is the only way to survive. But no one is perfect. So, people try to hide it… they try to pretend… they try to be as “good” as they can… but whenever they come before the King, He seems to see straight through you… & one by one, people fail & are faced with the death penalty for their crimes. But then, the King does something quite strange. He offers up His Son to take on the punishment for YOUR crimes. And the Son ACCEPTS this WILLINGLY, despite how severely agonizing & painful the due punishment is expected to be. And there, you watch, as this Son suffers on your behalf & dies to cover the debt that YOU owed the King. You drop to the floor in sobs. You just watched someone die for you to pay your debt so that you could live. And now the King says ALL your wrongs are forgiven you: past, present, AND future… “go & sin no more.” Do you go on living how you want? Or do you live every day in remembrance of this Son Who gave everything so that you could live shame-free?
How would you choose to live in response to His sacrifice on your behalf? Guess what? That’s what Jesus did for us. (Isaiah 53)
Trust God More Than You Trust Yourself
Knowing that God sees what you don’t see… that God is God & you are not… & understanding that this reality is the BEGINNING of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10)
You are paid in full, but now with the clear realization that the paid debt came with a cost—And shame on us if we ever disregard or minimize this cost that Jesus paid so that we can live it up however we want, in opposition to & disregard for GOD’s TRUTH.
When God tells us TRUTH, it is not to just lord over us like some dictator sick with power, wanting you to submit so that He can feel “powerful.” He already knows He IS powerful & sent Jesus to pay for where you didn’t measure up… so clearly it isn’t for such reasons.
No. God knows about that “beverage in your hand that will make you incredibly ill” that is ready to hurt you beyond what you believe or understand… & with His TRUTH, He is willing to slap that cup right out of your hand. God sees what we can’t. God knows what we don’t know.
His TRUTH is not opinion or “His side.” It’s all based on His GOD-ness. He doesn’t have to guess. He doesn’t have to hope He’s right—He knows.
Truth Unashamed
And shame on us if we ever think we need to “better market” the Word of God FOR Him.
If people came to you looking for life-giving truth… would they find it?
Or would you craving to be palatable leave them still searching & further placated to live as they please, ever-numbing their desire to know actual, real TRUTH?
Or do you unashamedly share truth, but forget to mention that Jesus already paid in full for their inability to ever measure up to complete perfection? GRACE.
TRUTH plus GRACE. Don’t ever neglect or water-down one to promote the other.
Dilute truth & the weight of grace (& Jesus’ sacrifice) is minimized.
Minimize grace & truth seems an unbearable burden.
You must have them together—ALWAYS.
Shine HOPE by living truth unashamed… by trusting God above yourself… & by never forgetting to pour it all over with an abundance of grace that Jesus gave His life (& rose victorious over it) to provide for us. Truth unashamed.
Coming Next Week
Join me every Monday morning, EST, for more encouragement right here on my blog/website @ www.MichelleHydeOnline.com.
Share with friends & family… & SUBSCRIBE by “Joining My Tribe,” so you never miss a week!
As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
This blog/website has been running for SIX years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
If you would like to learn more of my story, check out the “About Me” tab. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” tab, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox (make sure to check your other inbox folders), along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
The Elva Rose Bracelet (EAST ASIA)
The Elva Rose Bracelet is helping women leave brothels in East Asia! The multicolored jasper stone beaded bracelet includes square 18k gold-plated accent beads and one round gold bead for a stunning look! Easy to dress up or down for daily wear, the Elva Rose Bracelet is the perfect autumn-toned bracelet to add to your bracelet stack.
***Purchase the Elva Rose Bracelet, using the “Shop Here” link below, to create jobs supporting sex-trafficking survivors in East Asia with safe housing, health care, trauma counseling, job skills training, and dignified income.***
How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
