Let's Be Honest Part 1

What’s the relationship between honesty and weakness? I’ll take it further: There’s a thing that happens when we are placed in a situation where we feel surprisingly exposed: In that moment, we can either be honest, or we can promote ourselves without revealing what may be perceived as “chink” in our armor. A flaw in our character. What is that? I think it’s a common thing where it seems that if we’re honest about our weaknesses, it’ll be exploited. We’ll be looked down upon. This “thing” makes us avoid confession. We avoid giving someone the ammunition to expose us.

Why this resistance?

I believe it’s because of embarrassment…or rather the avoidance of it.
I ponder this often but I’ve concluded that we’ve all bought into the idea that embarrassment must be avoided at all cost.
There’s a flip side to this – because of the unspoken lengths we’re committed to in avoiding embarrassment, we end up unconsciously playing up our comforts and abilities. Putting on airs… expressing our “got it togetherness”. Like most everyone, we, without a second thought, promote our “self” capabilities. Lest we be exposed and have to honestly admit to the state we're in and the help we need.

I think of these things often and I love that I see evidence of them in The Bible. God’s Word doesn’t hold back at revealing just how deeply intimate Our Father is with our inner-workings. I believe that digging up and exposing these deep things is what allows that ' peace that surpasses all understanding' to cascade across our lives without even the slightest ripple. Many of us have found various other ways around those uneasy feelings rather than embracing them and taking them before God. But until you’re willing to do something REALLY different, you’ll just keep trying the same kinds of ineffective things, differently.

Here’s The Word:

Psalm 35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

Here’s where the bible not only defines embarrassment, but also exposes our aversion to it. Most of the time we’ll simply read this and see the prayer that the enemy’s plans fail. But look deeper. You can even Google the definition of embarrass and see the words – ashamed, confused. See how he’s praying for something pretty bad on his pursuers. It’s like the ultimate turnabout – to be made to look ridiculous and foolish.

This is where it gets a little difficult. Sometimes we may not realize when it’s us who have embraced the wrong pursuits. When it’s us who deserve to have our plans fail. Us who need to be corrected by truth, even at the initial cost of our embarrassment. David prayed for the embarrassment of his pursuers, but it took Nathan the prophet, to show David his own …Nathan exposed David’s shame and dishonorable acts. How embarrassing do you think that was?

We have a choice. The real question is this: Where do you lean when you’re truth is exposed.

When truth comes, it will generally find us on one side or the other, ashamed and humbled or embarrassed and resistant. The right response for us as Christians is humility. But if we are more prone to have an unbalanced, unbiblical view of ourselves, we’ll be forced with trying to resist our feelings of shame or embarrassment. Honesty with ourselves creates a much better place to begin improving from a place of humility rather than reacting to what happens when we feel slighted or embarrassed and react by trying to defend ourselves or diminish the position of truth against us.

This is all about self reflection and being laid bare before God. So, let’s be honest. The Word of God, like Nathan the Prophet already knows. He’s already willing to show us. Not to dishonor us, but to clothe us with righteousness. As Christians, we need to lay down the red carpet for truth to have its full influence in our lives. No one starts out knowing all truth, and embracing a situation that exposes what you don't know should be received well and even rejoiced over, as you know have an opportunity to improve which also makes you a better help to friends who could use that truth as well. Don't let shame keep you stupid.

Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

In Him,
Cros