The Truth Shall Set You Free - GBC Bulletin Column #24

A few weeks ago, I testified at the trial of a local drug gang. The past few years have seen an increase in the dealing of illegal substances, largely centred on the cluster of betting shops near Turnpike Lane. For around two years now I have worked with local pressure groups to raise awareness of the problem, and have interacted with the police as to ways of curtailing it. One difficulty the authorities encountered in building their case was getting members of the public to testify in court. It seems that disgruntled residents were happy to blow steam at the police about the demise of their area at the hands of thuggish young men offering illegal highs, but were not as willing to take a more public stand. When it came time to replace the confidentiality of a phone call or email with the agreement to act as a witness, the lines grew silent. In this situation, and in many others, people’s fear of retaliatory attacks or some such unpleasantness was more powerful than their frustration at increased danger and the decline of their area.  When the day arrived, I was the only member of the public scheduled to witness for the prosecution.

To be honest, as the minutes of waiting to enter the courtroom stretched into hours, an uncomfortable nervousness developed in me. The precautions staff took even when leading me from one end of the building to another made me think more about the potential safety-hazards of what I had agreed to do. When I was finally summoned, I found myself standing before the judge, several legal teams, and most of the defendants. I stood before them and taking the Bible they presented to me in hand read the oath, “I swear by almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” That promise to speak the truth in God’s presence and that of the courtroom, changed everything. The burden of nervousness, discomfort, and fear was gone and I remembered afresh a bit of what it means for the truth to set us free.

Sometimes what we feel overshadows what is real. Our fear unites with our instinctive struggle to survive, and destructively collides with God’s requirement of his people to “act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Whatever one calls it - alarm, anxiety, apprehension, concern, consternation, disquiet, dread, foreboding, horror, nervousness, panic, terror, trepidation, unease, worry, or ‘the creeps’ – everyone knows to some degree that queasiness of the stomach, trembling of the fingers, acceleration of the heart-beat, and an inner voice whispering (or screaming) “Run!” It may be argued that there is a time and place to heed such mental warnings – indeed wisdom demands it and the Scriptures demonstrate it. The Spirit-empowered servants of God can be found running – David as he was hunted by Saul, Paul as he was lowered from the wall of Damascus in a basket (Acts 9:24-25, 2 Cor. 11:32-33) - and even the God-man Jesus hid himself (John 8:59)! There is, however, an important difference between running and hiding because you are in danger, and running and hiding from danger. The propensity within us all is to tend toward the latter.

Danger isn’t our only fear, or even our greatest fear. The perceived possibility of damage to relationships and reputation keeps many Christians from fully obeying Paul’s command to “each one of you speak the truth with his neighbour”, especially when rebuking inappropriate behaviour or sharing the gospel is involved. It’s not that they speak lies instead. They just don’t speak at all, at least about the things that matter.

Remember the words of Jesus: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Indeed, Proverbs 29:25 says that “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” If you believe in Christ and you are committed to the truth as it is in Jesus, you’ve no reason to be afraid of people or their disposition toward you or about anything else for that matter. Pray. Trust God. Bear witness. Testify. In Christ, you are no longer bound by the crippling fear of man and slavery to your feelings. The Truth has set you free. So speak it. 

This was printed in the worship bulletin of Grace Baptist Church (Wood Green) on 06/10/2013.