The Truth Will not Set You Free

A married woman struggled for a long time with the thoughts and uncertainty of her husband cheating on her, even though he was still providing for his family. Although she knew that her marriage was in trouble, she could feel the dreaded grave of her once beautiful and blissful marriage from the subtle breeze of the cold war raging between her husband and her. Oh! She was determined to find out who the clown would be. Fortunately she took a leave off work in order to critically think daily of ways to obtain the truth from her husband.
 On evening after Mr X got back home one thing lead to another and they began urging and in the heat of the moment, she confronted her husband with her suspicions and accusations and demanded that he comes clean with it and not be a coward about it. “I want to know the truth! Just tell me the truth already!!!” she creamed at him. He looked her in the eyes and said “you know what, I will do just that! Yes I am cheating on you, yes I don’t want to be in this marriage anymore, yes I don’t fancy you anymore! And yes it’s your friend from the office! There you have it” he slams the door behind him and leaves the house.

Okay, just before we go further, I feel like I should address an issue for better understanding of this article. I am so sure that at some point in our lives we have heard or thought in our minds or acted in reaction to a situation or have even made this statement SAY THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE. I am not asking, I am only guessing.

Now I have an issue with this phrase or rather I have an issue with the context and manner this phrase has been used. It’s no news that the truth is very difficult to handle most times, it is that difficult that some people don’t even want to be told the truth because they can’t comprehend it, so will rather bask in the dysphoric web of lies. (The reason why they can’t comprehend is a topic for another day: I will be glad if you could share your thoughts as per a write-up to answer this, just send me an email) *smiles.* I apologise for that diversion, I hard to state that before I forget.

So, I stand corrected when I say the truth will not set you free. I am guessing that you are thinking “what is she saying?” right? 

Many people got or coined this particular phrase from the bible, of which some don’t know where in the bible, under what circumstance or context to which a similar phrase was mentioned (you will soon get to understand why I said “similar phrase”) I blame it on the fact that we probably started hearing the phrase since when we were kids, but have not really decided on our own to go back and try to understand what that Sunday school teacher was really trying to say to us then.

John 8 verse 30 – 36 (Amplified Version)
30 As He said these things, many believed in Him [trusted, relied on, and adhered to Him].
31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.
32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.
33 They answered Him; we are Abraham's offspring (descendants) and have never been in bondage to anybody. What do you mean by saying, you will be set free?
34 Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, whoever commits and practises sin is the slave of sin.
35 Now a slave does not remain in a household permanently (forever); the son [of the house] does remain forever.
36 So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.

Without trying to explain any further in details, what the bible says in the verse 32 (as highlighted above) is what it is and not “when you say the truth, the truth will set you free.” This is because the truth in that context was and is Jesus Christ. When we get to know and have a relationship with Jesus Christ, through studying his word, he sets us free from sin (hatred, abuse, addictions, anxiety, hurt etc.)

For confirmation; John 14 verse 6 says “Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.”

Haven clarified that, the story of Mr & Mrs X was just my case study, of course this applies to any offence and crime committed against and by you.

The question here will be what next? But going back to the story, some could ask why she even wanted to find out in the first place, after all he provided for the family.





My point of concentration is what brings me to ask, what will you do with the truth you have learnt? Some people say they need the truth to gain closure. When you hear that truth, does it really give that understanding of why that person did what he or she did? Does it really heal the heart? Does it really make you forget and throw in the towel? Does it really make you forgive that person? What does the truth turn you to? What could the truth make you do? What could you loose for taking that drastic decision after the truth is out? Do you want peace of mind after knowing the truth? To what extent would you go after hearing the truth to reconcile and make peace with that person? Do you want to remain that bitter man or woman the rest of your life and think because you moved out or stopped talking to that person, then you have solved the issue?


A quote by Gloria Steinem - "The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off"

Questions like this are what we should at least consider when we seek the truth. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for the truth, but we should understand that healing isn’t from the truth! In other words, closure and letting go isn’t found in the truth. You can know the truth and not act upon it to give you peace. This means that truth alone is never enough. In fact, the truth will make good or worsen an already bad situation, depending on the choices you make and the way you handle it. So choose and bear the consequences there after.

We all have some ugly truths we have learnt about the things and people that matter and mean more than a million words to us; I am just here to raise your awareness of the 2 side consequences of the truth. Doing something bad after hearing the truth doesn’t exactly make sense; it should be the other way round. The healing process of any kind of relationship starts with the truth + grace + action (you take). This means that we are doing something with the truth that we have, while considering what is right and applying grace to the situation in other to have peace in our minds. (The Holy Spirit can help with that, we can’t really do anything without him)

I think the truth is many things but not evil; It tests our patience. It helps us know ourselves better (you will be shocked at the things you are capable of doing when you find out the truth). It sets a base for reconciliation, it gives you the gift of choice (situations become nasty because of the choices we make) so don’t blame truth. It brings about peace. It brings about creativity. It takes us out of our comfort zone (It pushes us). It is painfully good. It brings about better communication (if handled well). It is difficult to accept. It makes you want to be a better person…

You can add to the list.

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And please send me an email of an article you would like us to publish

Love
Chidimma

  

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