# Chain: Speaking The Truth > *The truth of God's Love must be spoken, plainly and in love* **The argument it traces:** Silence before error is itself a failure, so the truth must be spoken → what holds the speaker back is fear for reputation and the desire for recognition → it is spoken best as one's own experience, plainly and in love, with calm resolution rather than argument or anger → the occasions and the words are asked of God → many will turn away and some will hear, and the cost is accepted **5** messages · **3** supporting · main statement not yet chosen --- ## Foundation ### 2018-09-30 - [[2018-09-30 Time to Speak the Truth|Time to Speak the Truth]] The argument developed, given to a circle discussing how to reach people who do not share its experience, with the instrument's own example of standing up to pray in a crowd. The call, "it is time to stand up and make your statements, beloved souls, in loving ways, in ways that are wise and that reach others. It is not time to be meek in your approach. Yet, humility is important"; the register, "plainly, simply, powerfully," and "strong and forthright, clear and insistent"; the cost of silence named as a sin, "a sin of omission, but a sin nonetheless," since "silence in the presence of error is an acceptance of error"; the cost of speaking accepted, "Though the minds of many will reject your words and may turn away, there are those who will hear you"; help for the words, "If, my beloveds, you are in this position to speak and cannot find the words, ask us here for our help"; and Jesus as the example, "He spoke the truth despite the angry reactions of his elders, those in power... He could not compromise and would not." ## Elaboration ### 2016-08-17 - [[2016-08-17 The Minds of Men Hunger for the Reality that Words Create but the Soul Hungers for Love|The Minds of Men Hunger for the Reality that Words Create but the Soul Hungers for Love]] What holds the speaker back and how to speak instead. The obstacle named in two parts, "it is fear and it is a desire for recognition, these two opposite conditions which do inhibit the teaching of the Divine Love," opened by his own case, "When this truth came to me I was afraid of it, afraid for my reputation. I wanted to keep it a secret." The remedy is to speak from one's own experience rather than make a claim on others, "not saying, 'This is the Truth' but, 'This is my Truth, this is how I have perceived this journey'," since "it is not for you to ensure that their interpretation is correct," and to let love carry it, "It matters how you say it, how Love infuses all that you say." ### 2016-12-02 - [[2016-12-02 The World Needs Your Prayers|The World Needs Your Prayers]] The truth asked for out loud and gently, "it is for you to shout out this truth to the world, to give this truth to the world, not in an insistent way but in a gentle way," with the occasions prayed for rather than forced, "Pray for those opportunities to come to you," and the cost of speaking accepted, "this may cause division in the world but there needs to be a voice crying for truth and love in the world." Read with [[2016-09-04 Continue in Your Service|2016-09-04-af-augustine]], "Do not argue with others," and [[2018-09-30 Time to Speak the Truth|2018-09-30-af-augustine]], "silence in the presence of error is an acceptance of error": together they bracket the question from both sides, neither argument nor silence. ### 2018-11-05 - [[2018-11-05 Speak Up for Truth and Change|Speak Up for Truth and Change]] The claim about how change happens at all, "How else is change accomplished in your world? It is that individuals stand up and speak the truth no matter the consequences or reactions from those around them," with the manner given in Jesus, who "merely stated the truth with calm resolution," and "did not raise his voice in anger and frustration." He asks for persistence, "to not give up ever but to carry on," and for words fitted to the hearer, "to speak the truth as you know it in words that those you speak to will accept," and offers his own life as the example, "I did not do so by being reluctant, ambivalent, nor to shy away from the challenge." ## Testimony ### 2015-08-20 - [[2015-08-20 Express the Truth to Others - Padgett Talks of Why This Is So Important|Express the Truth to Others: Padgett Talks of Why This Is So Important]] The medium of the foundational messages on his own fear of speaking: "I was afraid of what others thought of me. I was fearful for my career, my reputation, my standing in the community because to hold up the Truth in this way is unusual. Eyebrows were raised, thoughts of judgment in many. Yet I persisted, and I must confess that my fears held me back to some degree. I did not want others to truly know what I was doing." From that he draws the call, "Can you walk boldly and say, Dear brothers and sisters, I have something that may change your life, a simple Truth so profound that it can change everything?", with the cost and the return named together, "many will turn away from you, will reject the gift that you have to give, but many will turn towards you and say yes, I am interested." --- ## Also touches on this *These messages restate or echo the idea rather than carry it forward, so they sit alongside the thread rather than in it.* - **2016-04-12** [[2016-04-12 Lesson on the Falsity of the Vicarious Atonement and the Unsure Nature of Written Truth|Lesson on the Falsity of the Vicarious Atonement and the Unsure Nature of Written Truth]] (witness) - Where restraint ends, "there are times when a gross error, when those around you speak blatant error and express profound negativity, in these times you must confront error. In these times you must speak truth." The same passage carries the boundary of the [[Chains/Judgment To Love|Judgment To Love]] Elaboration above. - **2016-09-04** [[2016-09-04 Continue in Your Service|Continue in Your Service]] (witness) - The restraint side of the question, "Do not argue with others. Be sure of the Love. Do not express contrary opinions, but be sure in the love." The same passage is the [[Chains/Simplicity Of The Path|Simplicity Of The Path]] witness above; recorded here so the thread's evidence can be found from both ends. - **2016-11-06** [[2016-11-06 Be Disciples of the Truth|Be Disciples of the Truth]] (witness) - "Each of you must stand up and be counted, each must speak these truths where the opportunity and God's guiding hand brings you forth in this world." The call stated, with the occasions left to God's guidance.