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一天早上，我的一位牧师朋友在他的会众面前站起来，大胆地发言。在过去的几周和几个月里，世界上发生了很多事情。他对自己必须说的话感到有些焦虑，但他知道这是真理，而且他知道必须说。

那天早上他所分享的是耶稣的好消息。这听起来可能很简单，也很令人期待，但有时分享这个信息并不容易。他提醒大家，他们需要像基督爱我们那样彼此相爱。他说，要做有神真理的人。不要恨别人。不要伤害他人。

为你知道是正确的事情大胆发言可能会让你害怕。哪怕它是正确的，它也可能不受欢迎。事实上，耶稣的福音往往不受欢迎。它可能显得愚蠢和反文化。耶稣本人也因此被钉死在十字架上，祂的许多跟随者也因此受到逼害，被下监，或被杀害。尽管大胆地说话会让人害怕，但真理是不能被隐藏的。

保罗在传扬神的话语，人们对他很不满。但神鼓励他只管讲，不要怕。

这种鼓励对今天的我们也是如此。当我们有机会说出福音的真理时，我们必须大胆地这样做。即使我们因此受到攻击，神也会与我们同在。

A pastor friend of mine got up in front of his congregation one morning and spoke boldly. A lot had been going on in the world during the previous weeks and months. He was a bit anxious about what he felt he had to say—but he knew it was the truth, and he knew it had to be said.

What he shared that morning was the good-news message of Jesus. That may sound simple and expected, but sometimes it is not easy to share that message. He reminded everyone that they needed to love one another as Christ loves us. Be people of truth—God’s truth—he said. Don’t hate others. Don’t hurt others.

Speaking out boldly for what you know is right can be frightening. Even if it is right, it might not be popular. In fact, the gospel message of Jesus often isn’t popular. It can seem foolish and countercultural. Jesus himself was crucified for it, and many of his followers were persecuted, put in jail, or killed for it as well. Even though speaking boldly can be frightening, the truth can’t be hidden.

Paul was preaching the Word of God, and people were upset with him. But God encouraged him to continue speaking and not to be afraid.

That same encouragement is for us today too. When we have the opportunity to speak the truth of the gospel, we must do so boldly. Even if we are attacked for it, God will be with us.