When the truth hurts...

Today: Mark 6-7

Have you ever had someone tell you the truth--like REALLY tell you the truth?

Particularly if it's about something that's not right about you or your life, the truth is not always easy to hear. You can choose to be angry. You can choose to cry. You can try to ignore it. But you can't deny the fact that you heard.

When this has happened to me, I've had different responses. Sometimes, I'm really angry at the person speaking the truth. But usually, I am more angry at myself. I know the truth is right and so is the person who speaks it. And I HATE not being right. :)

I also know that people who tell me the truth are the same people who REALLY love me. And as much as I could try to shake off what they say, I don't want to let go of their love...their willingness to speak the truth is part of how they love me. In those cases, the truth binds us closer together.

I was a bit surprised to learn in this passage that Herod experienced something similar with John the Baptist. Take a look:

Herod was the one who had ordered the arrest of John,

put him in chains,

and sent him to prison at the nagging of Herodias,

his brother Philip's wife.

For John had provoked Herod

by naming his relationship with Herodias

"adultery."

Herodias, smoldering with hate,

wanted to kill him,

but didn't dare because

Herod was in awe of John.

Convinced that he was a holy man,

he gave him special treatment.

Whenever he listened to him

he was miserable with guilt -

and yet he couldn't stay away.
Something in John kept pulling him back.

What's really sad about this situation is the fact that Herod eventually ordered John the Baptist's beheading. Although part of him KNEW John spoke the truth, he tried to ignore it--allowing the seductive voice of a woman to take precedence over a voice that spoke truth. (Note to guys--this too can happen to you. Note to women--Use your influential power carefully.)

I think there's something interesting in this example for all of us. Telling the truth can be a risk (John paid for it with his life). But if we really care about others, telling the truth (good things, too!) is essential.

I've heard people talk about "telling the truth in love" and I get what they're saying...it's about having the right approach and motivation, choosing words carefully, etc. But I think it's time we started to believe that, "telling the truth is love."

Tomorrow: Mark 8-9