At 53, I’ve learned that speaking the truth isn’t always the hard part — it’s how you speak it. As a Christian, I’m called to live in truth, but also in love. And that balance? It’s not easy.
You want to be honest. You want to honour God and not water things down. You want to take the Word of God seriously. But you also don’t want to wound someone’s spirit in the process. Sometimes silence feels safer. Sometimes, you speak up and regret. You worry about how you said it, or how it landed — even when you are sure you mean well.
You are particularly sad, hurt, wounded, when those you expect to understand you tell you to close an eye because the person sharing wrong information is “nice”.
I have always held the position that Christians must be even more careful in sharing information. If we are caught sharing fake news, pseudoscience, hoaxes, grandmother’s stories, we lose our credibility. Why will our friends and colleagues, and neighbours believe us when we talk about Jesus? They witness us sharing fake news as facts. So, when I see someone sharing falsehood as truth, I point it out.
There’s a tension between truth and tenderness. The world says, “Just say it like it is.” But Christ calls us to say it with grace. That means checking my pride. It means waiting, praying, listening before I speak. And when I do speak, I try to ask: is this helpful? Is it necessary? Am I saying this for their sake, or to feel right?
But let me be clear – the truth cannot be compromised. It’s not ours to edit. Truth doesn’t change to make people comfortable. If I soften it to avoid discomfort, I’m not helping anyone – I’m only protecting myself. Truth is a gift, not a weapon. And love means telling it, even when it’s hard.
I’ve failed more than once. But I keep trying. Because I believe truth doesn’t have to be harsh to be holy – but it must still be truth.
May the truth set us free.
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