Earning the Right to Speak Truth

We talk a lot about bold faith.

We talk about taking a stand, speaking truth, making disciples, living unashamed.

But somewhere along the way, we created a version of bold faith that talks loud…

but doesn’t walk far.

I’m convinced now more than ever:

You have to earn the right to speak truth into someone’s life.

When Truth Becomes a Weapon Instead of an Invitation

Somewhere in our Christian culture, many of us developed this mindset:

“I know what’s best for this person. If they would just listen to me, they’d be fine.”

So we rush in with advice.

We throw Scripture at people like darts.

We point out their flaws with “love” that doesn’t feel like love at all.

What we forget is that behind every struggle is a story.

Behind every behavior is a battle.

Behind every decision is a wound, a fear, or a reason.

People don’t change because a stranger barked truth at them.

People change because someone walked with them long enough to care.

Jesus understood this.

Yes, He spoke truth.

Yes, He stood boldly.

But He also invested deeply.

He poured into three.

He discipled twelve.

And they reached the crowds

Is Our Church System Broken? I Think So.

I know this might sound bold… maybe even controversial… but it’s something we need to talk about:

Our system for church is broken.

We say we want people to know Jesus.

We say we want revival.

We say we want transformation.

But in our quest for truth, many churches create environments where the outsider feels like an interruption instead of a welcome guest.

I’ve visited churches all throughout my hometown.

And here’s the honest truth:

If I weren’t already a follower of Christ, I don’t know that I’d want to become one based on some of those experiences.

Because I walked in expecting love.

I walked in expecting warmth.

I walked in expecting what Jesus Himself embodied.

But what I felt was DISTANCE. COLDNESS. UNSPOKEN WALLS.

And if I, a believer, felt unwelcome…

how much more does the person who has never experienced Jesus feel?

How does a non-believer feel when they walk in and nobody but the paid staff talks to them?

We sit in our pews and say, “The world is going crazy.”

We complain that people are lost and hurting.

But we often talk about it only inside our groups, our cliques, our safe conversations…

while the people who need Jesus sit by themselves.

And that breaks my heart.

Bold Faith Doesn’t Hide in a Clique…

It Moves Toward People

Bold faith isn’t about being loud.

Bold faith isn’t about winning arguments.

Bold faith isn’t about calling out sin from a distance.

Bold faith is about walking across the room.

It’s about making the outsider feel like an insider.

It’s about saying, “You matter,” before saying, “Here’s what needs to change.”

It’s about earning the right to speak truth because you first chose to show love.

Truth without relationship feels like attack.

Truth with relationship feels like care.

One pushes people away.

The other draws them in.

Stop Expecting the Pastor to Do What You Were Called to Do

A pastor friend said something that still challenges me today:

“The Church is doing it wrong.”

He explained that the average churchgoer invites someone to church hoping the pastor will do the work. Teach them about Jesus, help them grow, lead them to truth.

God didn’t call the pastor to disciple the people you brought.

He called you.

Because you have the relationship.

You have the connection.

You earned the right to speak into their life.

Inviting someone to church is not the finish line.

It’s the starting point.

Bold faith keeps showing up.

Bold faith sits with them.

Bold faith invests.

Bold faith cares.

Bold faith walks the long road.

A Call to the Church, And to Us

If we want people to find Jesus…

If we want revival…

If we want transformation…

Then we have to stop being a church that talks about love and start being a church that shows it.

That means:

• Crossing the room

• Breaking out of our cliques

• Seeing the lonely person

• Hearing the unspoken stories

• Loving before correcting

• Understanding before pointing

• Welcoming before preaching

Because bold faith is not just inviting someone to church.

It’s walking with them long enough for them to believe you genuinely care.

Bold faith is not just declaring the truth.

It’s earning the right to speak it.

Bold faith is not just faith in God.

It’s faith that moves toward people, not away from them.

Let’s be the church that fixes what’s broken.

Let’s be the ones who welcome like Jesus.

Let’s be the ones who listen like Jesus.

Let’s be the ones who invest like Jesus.

Let’s be the ones who love before we speak.

The world is desperate for hope.

People are desperate for belonging.

And God has placed that responsibility, that calling, in our hands.

So let’s be bold.

Let’s be intentional.

Let’s be relational.

Let’s be different.

Let’s be the church that walks across the room.