Lately, I’ve been thinking about why it is so hard to speak truth to power. And I don’t just mean political or corporate power, but the everyday kinds of power we face: in our communities, at work, in our families and even within ourselves. Why is it easier to stay quiet when we know something needs to be said?
I’ve been listening to a few interviews with Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson discussing their book, Original Sin. Their focus is Biden and co, but they discuss how, as a society, we often ignore the problems right in front of us. And that got me thinking. It’s easy to look away, to avoid confrontation, to let things slide, but what happens when we stop speaking up about the things that matter? (We know what happened in that instance.)
This isn’t a new way of avoidance.
A few years back, I did the training to lead the Difference Course from the Reconciling Leaders Network. It’s all about confronting the hard truths, especially in terms of justice, equality, and building communities that reflect God’s heart for all people. It highlights how tough it can be to speak the truth, not just to those in power, but to each other, and even to ourselves.
First, speaking truth to power is intimidating. I’m not just talking about big, world-changing moments. I mean the little ones—the times you see something wrong happening and choose not to speak up because you’re worried about the fallout.
We’re wired to avoid conflict, and it’s easier to stay silent than to risk upsetting the status quo. When we remain silent, we often allow injustice to continue unchecked. And, as hard as it is to speak out, staying quiet can feel like we’re complicit in something we know is wrong. The more we stay quiet, the more we convince ourselves that nothing can change.
Then there’s the pressure to conform. In my own life, I’ve felt pressure to conform to what others expect. (Shocking, but it is true, if you know me.) It’s easier to stay quiet and go with the flow. But I’ve realized that the more we stay silent, the further we drift from who we are and what we believe.
The Difference course drives this point home. It challenges us to move beyond passive acceptance and step into spaces where we can create real change. It’s not just about speaking truth, it’s about living it. It’s about acknowledging when something is wrong and choosing to speak out, even if it’s uncomfortable. And that’s often the hardest part.
Truth isn’t always convenient. Facing the truth means acknowledging that things aren’t the way they should be, and sometimes, that requires action. It’s the difference between being aware of a problem and taking action to deal with it.
And that’s what makes speaking truth to power so difficult. It’s not just about saying something hard—it’s about what happens afterward. If we speak out, we might have to do something. We might have to change something, confront someone, and/or face the consequences. And most of the time, that’s a lot easier to avoid.
Thinking back to the course material gave me some perspective. It’s not just about speaking the hard truth; it’s about being willing to embrace the challenge of change that comes with it. The course made me think more about the action that follows truth-telling, not as a burden, but as a responsibility we have to each other and to God.
It isn’t easy. But speaking truth to power is also incredibly important. The more we speak up, the more we can shift the culture around us. Speaking truth isn’t just about addressing problems; it’s about creating opportunities for growth, healing, and transformation.
People might not always like it. You might not always see immediate change. But the truth has power. It challenges us to live more authentically, to build communities that reflect justice and love, and not to be complicit in things that go against what we believe is right.
“The growth is worth the pinch.” If we don’t speak out, we end up perpetuating the systems and behaviours we know aren’t right. But when we do speak up, we create space for change. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the difference we need.
So here’s the challenge for me (and maybe for you too): It’s time to stop ignoring the issues that are staring us in the face. Speaking truth to power isn’t easy, but it’s necessary.
Even if it’s uncomfortable, even if it’s inconvenient, we need to start speaking the truth. Because that’s where real change begins.
First truth: if you’ve read this far, you’re a rockstar!
Cover image Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash