" Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened ". - Winston S. Churchill
In any human society, citizens are expected to adhere to the "acceptable mode " of speech and behaviour .
This acceptable norm is that people should comply with this mode in their manner of speech and behaviour by being kind ,decent , reasonable, considerate, courteous and law-abiding .
Honesty and integrity are the virtues which would enable human beings to adhere to the required norms.
The Truth
This acceptable norm is that people should comply with this mode in their manner of speech and behaviour by being kind ,decent , reasonable, considerate, courteous and law-abiding .
Honesty and integrity are the virtues which would enable human beings to adhere to the required norms.
The Truth
The definition of the Truth should not be limited in its scope ; therefore a few words cannot adequately encompass the definition of what is truth .
Concisely ,Truth is that which corresponds to reality and it matches the object of the Truth.
Truth by its nature excludes all that is opposite to it ; therefore the opposite of truth are lies or falsehood , fraud , deception and everything that are not the actual descriptions of a person , a place or a thing.
Therefore , simply , speaking the TRUTH means " saying it as it is " .
Now, truth that is diluted , soft-padded, embellished or seasoned ceases to be the truth.
Now, truth that is diluted , soft-padded, embellished or seasoned ceases to be the truth.
Some people would say "The Truth is Relative ".
The Truth could be described as eccentric and arrogant utterances because of Truth's claims that it is absolutely unique.
The Truth could be described as eccentric and arrogant utterances because of Truth's claims that it is absolutely unique.
But is it arrogant for a maths teacher to insist on only one right answer to an arithmetic problem?
In arithmetic , 1+1 = 2 and forever it will be so.
In arithmetic , 1+1 = 2 and forever it will be so.
Or is it eccentric and arrogant for a locksmith to state that only one key will open a locked door ?
Truthful declarations though unusual , are backed with power and authority .
Truthful declarations though unusual , are backed with power and authority .
" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me". John 14 : 6 . ( NASB )
The Truth in order to declare itself accurately ; indeed, would seem arrogant and judgemental.
The Truth in order to declare itself accurately ; indeed, would seem arrogant and judgemental.
Truth could also be perceived as aggressive and judgemental as theTruth is declared.
" 7.Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10.The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly " .
John 10: 7-10 KJV.
People feel betrayed and hurt when they discover that they have been lied to ; but telling people the truth could be just as hurtful and unpalatable to the hearers as when they are lied to. Some people would even prefer not to hear the not the exact truth about themselves.
The Consequences of speaking the truth.
The Consequences of speaking the truth.
In every society there are indeed serious consequences for speaking the truth .
The most severe consequences would depend on the perceived "harm " which the spoken or written truth has caused.
The most severe consequences would depend on the perceived "harm " which the spoken or written truth has caused.
The truth is bitter,indeed .
Therefore many people chose to exhibit the cowardice of not speaking the truth.
For fear of serious reprisals , being "mum"(silent) or the words " I don't know " have become the preferred response of people when confronted with any request for them to speak the truth.
Therefore the majority of the human race who know the truth would not dare utter it ,or write about it at all ; or if they did , they would present the embellished and diluted version of the truth.
Therefore many people chose to exhibit the cowardice of not speaking the truth.
For fear of serious reprisals , being "mum"(silent) or the words " I don't know " have become the preferred response of people when confronted with any request for them to speak the truth.
Therefore the majority of the human race who know the truth would not dare utter it ,or write about it at all ; or if they did , they would present the embellished and diluted version of the truth.
In some homes , parents teach their kids from a tender age not to be " too forward , too out-spoken and never to be the one to "bell the cat" by declaring the truth always ".
The admonitions such as " Let other people speak it or write it ! But you keep quiet !" ; are the usual counsel from family and friends to those persons who want to tread where angels dread by revealing and speaking the truth about very sensitive matters.
When you speak the truth , you would become a marked person ; you would be hated , condemned and called names such as a "loose cannon and a loud-mouthed trouble-maker " Usually, the adherents to the truth incur wrath and they are seen not as heroes but as fools deserving social ostracism and elimination through imprisonment or even death !
Matthew 23:13.
Jesus laid His word bare to the Pharisees and Scribes , thereby incurring their wrath.
" But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Matthew 23:13.
John the Baptist incurred the wrath of Herod and Herodias for speaking the truth .
" For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.
18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
John the Baptist became marked for elimination and eventually he was arrested , imprisoned and beheaded for speaking the truth.
21. A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; 22and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”
23.And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.”
24.And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
25Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bringback his head.
And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, 28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
29When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 6: 18 -29
23.And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.”
24.And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
25Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bringback his head.
And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, 28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
29When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 6: 18 -29
The usual accusations against those persons who speak the truth are : "Why did he or she say it like that ?!".
"He /she could have said it in a nicer , kinder , gentler and more cautious way !".
"He /she could have said it in a nicer , kinder , gentler and more cautious way !".
This accusation confirms that those who oppose the declaration of the truth of any matter , know what the truth is; but they would rather hear it seasoned with salt or they would rather not hear the truth spoken or written by anyone at all !
How then do you season these truths below which some people find "offensive" and "politically incorrect " ?
How do you "not say it just like that ! " or say them in a kinder , nicer or more cautious way ? :
How then do you season these truths below which some people find "offensive" and "politically incorrect " ?
How do you "not say it just like that ! " or say them in a kinder , nicer or more cautious way ? :
" The soul that sinneth, it shall die ...!" Ezekiel 18:20 .
24."That is why I told you that you would die in your sins.
For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
25“Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.… John 8: 24 -25.
For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
25“Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.… John 8: 24 -25.
17. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
18. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned but whoever does not believe is already condemned because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil.… John 3 : 17-19.
" 1 and the Father are one ". John 10:30.
8 " We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.
9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me".
1 Timothy 1 : 8-11.
There are persons who would speak the truth not minding the consequences .
Such persons are a rare breed whose boldness are divinely -sourced.
They are men and women of integrity whose Rock and Stay is the Truth Himself.
John 10 : 27.
" Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
Isaiah 51:1.
Just as there persons who would speak the truth ; not minding the consequences ; there are also persons who are notorious for not needing any reason or any encouragement before they would lie at the drop of a hat .
1. The fearful persons who dread the consequences of speaking the truth such as Cowards who when faced with the truth would rather remain silent than speak the truth which they know .
The Coward's Mantra is " He who lies by keeping quiet , stays alive to lie another day !"
2. Sales persons and advertisers are notorious for peddling half-truths and for their embellishment of the actual facts regarding the actual quality and real value of their products which they are offering for sale .
The desirable end or purpose for this group of liars is their desire to close the deal for a lucrative sale .
For this group of deceivers , their mantra is "The end ( i.e.the sale) justifies the means! ".
Through deceptive packaging of products ,some advertisers and sales persons have even succeeded in selling snow to Eskimos !
When dealing with this group, a wise person's policy should be "Buys Beware!" .
3. Men { the male specie ) and Politicians are most likely not to speak the truth .
The general complaints against this group of liars is that the vows and promises made by Politicians to their electorate are similar to the vows and promises made by men to their girl- friends and wives .Their vows and promises are fickle and unreliable and as such they are subject to future "amendments".
Therefore , in order to avoid emotional shocks and disappointments in the immediate and distant future, promises and vows made by males and politicians should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Politicians in order to further their political ambitions, would deliberately choose to utter only "politically correct " words ; some of which they know are untrue and downright false promises to their electorates.
Therefore most Politicians believe that "political correctness" and not the actual facts or truth about their future intentions would please their electorates and that such falsehood would win them and their manifestos acceptance and many votes .
Some men believe that women do not deserve to be told the truth because according to such men , females prefer to hear not the truth from their men , but only the false promises and flattery which would make the women happy .
Majority of men actually believe that all women are gullible and that women are not intelligent enough to see through men's lies and fake promises of " everlasting love and faithfulness ".
4. Persons in positions of trust such as business partners, solicitors , doctors, bankers and economists are expected to lay out the true state of affairs to their partners and clients ; but these group of people sometimes prefer to shield the facts for their personal gains .
Lies have been preached from the pulpit by Clergymen ; who covered up their lies knowing that the majority of their audiences would believe anything they say which have the backing of scriptural reference to support such falsehood.
Consequences of not speaking the truth.
Just as there are consequences for not speaking the truth , also there are indeed consequences for concealing the truth and for remaining silent in the face of prevailing falsehood.
" None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
5They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
6Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands" . Isaiah 59 : 4 - 6.
Among those groups of persons who are most likely not to be willing to be forth coming with the truth are :1. The fearful persons who dread the consequences of speaking the truth such as Cowards who when faced with the truth would rather remain silent than speak the truth which they know .
The Coward's Mantra is " He who lies by keeping quiet , stays alive to lie another day !"
2. Sales persons and advertisers are notorious for peddling half-truths and for their embellishment of the actual facts regarding the actual quality and real value of their products which they are offering for sale .
The desirable end or purpose for this group of liars is their desire to close the deal for a lucrative sale .
For this group of deceivers , their mantra is "The end ( i.e.the sale) justifies the means! ".
Through deceptive packaging of products ,some advertisers and sales persons have even succeeded in selling snow to Eskimos !
When dealing with this group, a wise person's policy should be "Buys Beware!" .
3. Men { the male specie ) and Politicians are most likely not to speak the truth .
The general complaints against this group of liars is that the vows and promises made by Politicians to their electorate are similar to the vows and promises made by men to their girl- friends and wives .Their vows and promises are fickle and unreliable and as such they are subject to future "amendments".
Therefore , in order to avoid emotional shocks and disappointments in the immediate and distant future, promises and vows made by males and politicians should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Politicians in order to further their political ambitions, would deliberately choose to utter only "politically correct " words ; some of which they know are untrue and downright false promises to their electorates.
Therefore most Politicians believe that "political correctness" and not the actual facts or truth about their future intentions would please their electorates and that such falsehood would win them and their manifestos acceptance and many votes .
Some men believe that women do not deserve to be told the truth because according to such men , females prefer to hear not the truth from their men , but only the false promises and flattery which would make the women happy .
Majority of men actually believe that all women are gullible and that women are not intelligent enough to see through men's lies and fake promises of " everlasting love and faithfulness ".
4. Persons in positions of trust such as business partners, solicitors , doctors, bankers and economists are expected to lay out the true state of affairs to their partners and clients ; but these group of people sometimes prefer to shield the facts for their personal gains .
Lies have been preached from the pulpit by Clergymen ; who covered up their lies knowing that the majority of their audiences would believe anything they say which have the backing of scriptural reference to support such falsehood.
Consequences of not speaking the truth.
Just as there are consequences for not speaking the truth , also there are indeed consequences for concealing the truth and for remaining silent in the face of prevailing falsehood.
In every facets of human lives , the truth will eventually be revealed and it will always prevail.
If falsehood had a head-start of 100 miles before the truth,the truth would catch up with the lie and over take it.
Lies are like a web. Once inside it , the more you struggle to get out of your lies , the more lies you fabricate and the more entangled you become in the web of lies.
"Your sins will find you out "
Lies are like a web. Once inside it , the more you struggle to get out of your lies , the more lies you fabricate and the more entangled you become in the web of lies.
"Your sins will find you out "
The Gospel of Jesus is the Truth
7." In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8. which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
9. making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
7." In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8. which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
9. making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
10. As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11.In
him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according
to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of
his will,
12.so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
12.so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
13. In
him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy
Spirit,
14 . who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory ".
Ephesians 1: 7 - 14.
This blog is an extract from the book "Just Say It ? "
by Tina Edgal David.
by Tina Edgal David.
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