Our American culture is very trendy. Videos trend. Toys like fidget spinners (or, in my day, Beanie Babies) trend. Even words trend – and I’m so thankful that “bae” has fallen from constant use. These days, there’s a phrase quickly gaining popularity: “Speak your truth.” When I googled the definition for “speak your truth,” I could only find one actual definition of it in an article from Huffington Post. The well-meaning author, who desired to empower others to be their best selves, wrote:
Speaking your truth means that you are true to what is TRUE for you in this moment, in this moment, and now in this moment. It is okay, if you change your mind. You can say yes. You can say no. You can decide to change. It is okay. But you must practice to know what is true for you.
Confusion
Some people use “speak your truth” to refer to their own experiences, but I don’t think most understand what they’re actually saying when they advocate living out this phrase. Truth, by definition, is being in accord with fact or reality. Just because I decide the sky is green doesn’t make it so. But that’s a relatively harmless assertion. The ramifications can be drastically worse.
“Speaking your truth” is intended to be true for all people, across all races, belief systems, and political affiliations. Logic tells us that if it can’t be true for all people, then it can’t be true at all. I feel quite certain that most, if not all, supporters of “speak your truth” would consider abuse to be wrong. However, some abusers are so delusional that they feel that their actions are justified. But – it’s “their truth.” What now? The two “truths” are in conflict.
Concern
There has to be some kind of standard. There has to be REAL truth, ABSOLUTE truth that is applicable across the board for everyone everywhere. Personally, I don’t want people, including myself, to be the definers of what truth is. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” So, our hearts, which “define our truth,” lie to us, are evil, and constantly change. That doesn’t sound like something I want to base truth on.
There is only one Person I know of whose heart is pure and whose truth I trust: the Lord God. His Word, the Bible, is absolute truth and the foundation for believers’ lives. Second Samuel 7:28 says, “And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true.” But, you may protest, “Jessie, it’s circular reasoning to use the Bible to prove the Bible!” You are correct! Many people have set out to disprove the Bible (such as Lee Strobel) only to come to a saving faith in the midst of their research. If we do our own research, we find that the geography, people, and events recorded in the Bible match up with other historical records, thus proving the Bible’s veracity.
What next?
During this “speak your truth” movement, let’s be sure to thoughtfully consider everything we hear and compare it with the truth of the Bible so we aren’t led astray. And, let’s remember that the advocates of “speak your truth” are people who want to positively impact others’ lives. That’s a good thing, something worthy of praise, not derision.
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” II Timothy 2:24-26
In Acts 17, Paul used an idol “to an unknown god” to build a bridge for telling the Athenians about Christ. With a little creativity, maybe we can use “speak your truth” to share the Gospel with others!
With a little creativity, we can use “speak your truth” to share the Gospel with others!
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff