I’ve realized that when you speak out the truth it is often not well received. But placating someone is selfish and cowardly. As followers of Christ, we’re called to speak and stand up for the truth. At times that truth may be in the form of a rebuke. Conversely, the one who speaks it must be willing to hear it about himself. The truth should be given in humility and received in humility. But how it’s received all depends. Usually, not well.
It doesn’t always turn out well for people who “tell it like it is”. Steven got stoned, Paul was said to be beheaded in Rome, and tradition has it that Peter was boiled in oil. Most people don’t want to be told the truth. In fact, today, the truth has become the new hate speech. Flattery is much more preferred. People who flatter are usually the ones that others want to be around. However, there’s often deceit in flattery. The person who does a lot of flattering wants people to think good of him. Observe, “Nevertheless they flattered him with their mouth, and they lied with their tongues.” Ps 78:36
Paul tells us in Eph 4:25, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are members of one body.”
In Christianity, the purpose for speaking the truth should be to get someone to consider an area in their life that doesn’t line up with the Word so they can grow from it. However, we’re also admonished to speak the truth in love. Truth laced in love will be much easier to be received.
It may be true that flattery will get you everywhere, but then again, it’s really not about you.