Speak Truth No Matter the Cost
“When Jeremiah had come to the dungeon cells and remained there many days, King Zedekiah sent for him disables memory feature and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house and said, ‘Is there any word from the Lord?’ Jeremiah said, ‘There is.’ Then he said, ‘You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.’” Jeremiah 37:16-17
Locked in a dark dungeon, Jeremiah could have softened his message to gain favor. Imprisoned for his bold proclamations, he faced King Zedekiah, who was desperate for a comforting word from God. Yet, when asked if there was any divine message, Jeremiah stood firm and spoke the hard truth: judgment was coming, and the king would fall into enemy hands. This unpopular message cost him his freedom and nearly his life. Jeremiah’s unwavering faithfulness calls us to a vital truth: we need believers today who, like him, will speak truth to power, no matter the cost.
In our time, many feel pressured to straddle the middle ground, trying to please everyone but ultimately satisfying no one. The Apostle Paul warned of this in 2 Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Are we tempted to dilute God’s Word to avoid offense? Or do we strive to be faithful, proclaiming what God has said to honor the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)?
Jeremiah’s courage challenges us to proclaim God’s Word without compromise, not just in private but in the public square. Like Jeremiah confronting kings or John the Baptist calling out Herod’s sin—both hated and killed for challenging lies and embraced evils—we must stand boldly yet lovingly for truth.
The world often rejects not only moral truths but the Gospel’s exclusivity. Jesus declared He is the only way (John 14:6), calling us to turn from self-rule, trust in His death for our sins, and follow Him as Savior and Lord. This message offends because it demands surrender, but it remains the good news that brings freedom.
Reflecting on Jeremiah’s steadfastness, I thought of Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10, 2025, for his convictions and his boldness in speaking truth, not only privately but publicly, including on college campuses where twisted ideologies often sway young minds. This tragedy underscores the high cost of proclaiming biblical principles in hostile settings. Kirk’s death also sparked a wave of slander, sadly even from some Christians, which brings to mind the reflections of Pastor Matt Hand.
Though Pastor Hand knew of Kirk but was not a close follower, he took it upon himself to research Kirk’s words and legacy after his death. After reviewing hours of Kirk’s speeches and testimonies from diverse friends—men and women of varied ethnicities, sexual orientations, and political views—Hand concluded that Kirk embodied none of the “isms” his critics accused him of. Instead, Kirk was frequently misquoted, decontextualized, or libeled, often saying the opposite of what adversaries claimed. Hand found that Kirk loved and respected others, even when he disagreed on principle, and sincerely desired for them to know Christ.
Charlie's wife, Erika, an accomplished athlete, entrepreneur, business owner, investor, CEO, speaker, wife, and mother, stood as a testament to his support for strong, capable women, contrary to critics’ caricatures. Hand was particularly troubled by Christians who repeated false accusations without investigation, reminding us that bearing false witness violates one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16). We must first remove the logs from our own eyes (Matthew 7:5) before judging others. Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44), deceives even believers. We must not twist Scripture to fit our party’s platform but let God’s Word guide us to discern truth from lies, good from evil (Hebrews 5:14).
When persecution comes—whether hatred, exclusion, or reviling—Jesus calls us to rejoice: “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23).
Our courage is fueled by knowing the love of Jesus and living with eternity in view. As Daniel D. Henderson writes in Glorious Finish, “The finish line of faith is not measured by the applause of people or the accumulation of temporary gains. It’s measured by standing before Jesus and hearing, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ (Matthew 25:21).”
Jesus gave everything for us. His cause is worth living and dying for. May we, in the power of the Spirit, speak truth lovingly in public and in private, anchored in Christ’s love and the promise of eternal reward.
Locked in a dark dungeon, Jeremiah could have softened his message to gain favor. Imprisoned for his bold proclamations, he faced King Zedekiah, who was desperate for a comforting word from God. Yet, when asked if there was any divine message, Jeremiah stood firm and spoke the hard truth: judgment was coming, and the king would fall into enemy hands. This unpopular message cost him his freedom and nearly his life. Jeremiah’s unwavering faithfulness calls us to a vital truth: we need believers today who, like him, will speak truth to power, no matter the cost.
In our time, many feel pressured to straddle the middle ground, trying to please everyone but ultimately satisfying no one. The Apostle Paul warned of this in 2 Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Are we tempted to dilute God’s Word to avoid offense? Or do we strive to be faithful, proclaiming what God has said to honor the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)?
Jeremiah’s courage challenges us to proclaim God’s Word without compromise, not just in private but in the public square. Like Jeremiah confronting kings or John the Baptist calling out Herod’s sin—both hated and killed for challenging lies and embraced evils—we must stand boldly yet lovingly for truth.
The world often rejects not only moral truths but the Gospel’s exclusivity. Jesus declared He is the only way (John 14:6), calling us to turn from self-rule, trust in His death for our sins, and follow Him as Savior and Lord. This message offends because it demands surrender, but it remains the good news that brings freedom.
Reflecting on Jeremiah’s steadfastness, I thought of Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10, 2025, for his convictions and his boldness in speaking truth, not only privately but publicly, including on college campuses where twisted ideologies often sway young minds. This tragedy underscores the high cost of proclaiming biblical principles in hostile settings. Kirk’s death also sparked a wave of slander, sadly even from some Christians, which brings to mind the reflections of Pastor Matt Hand.
Though Pastor Hand knew of Kirk but was not a close follower, he took it upon himself to research Kirk’s words and legacy after his death. After reviewing hours of Kirk’s speeches and testimonies from diverse friends—men and women of varied ethnicities, sexual orientations, and political views—Hand concluded that Kirk embodied none of the “isms” his critics accused him of. Instead, Kirk was frequently misquoted, decontextualized, or libeled, often saying the opposite of what adversaries claimed. Hand found that Kirk loved and respected others, even when he disagreed on principle, and sincerely desired for them to know Christ.
Charlie's wife, Erika, an accomplished athlete, entrepreneur, business owner, investor, CEO, speaker, wife, and mother, stood as a testament to his support for strong, capable women, contrary to critics’ caricatures. Hand was particularly troubled by Christians who repeated false accusations without investigation, reminding us that bearing false witness violates one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16). We must first remove the logs from our own eyes (Matthew 7:5) before judging others. Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44), deceives even believers. We must not twist Scripture to fit our party’s platform but let God’s Word guide us to discern truth from lies, good from evil (Hebrews 5:14).
When persecution comes—whether hatred, exclusion, or reviling—Jesus calls us to rejoice: “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23).
Our courage is fueled by knowing the love of Jesus and living with eternity in view. As Daniel D. Henderson writes in Glorious Finish, “The finish line of faith is not measured by the applause of people or the accumulation of temporary gains. It’s measured by standing before Jesus and hearing, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ (Matthew 25:21).”
Jesus gave everything for us. His cause is worth living and dying for. May we, in the power of the Spirit, speak truth lovingly in public and in private, anchored in Christ’s love and the promise of eternal reward.