Honesty is Jehovah’s Policy (Update)

Honesty is the best policy. This is the adage that many people have valued for years. In our employment, we are expected to be honest. To be dishonest would be an offense that could lead to punishment, including dismissal from employment. How many of us want to deal with fraudulent people in commerce? No one at all! Why? Because we recognize that honesty plays a major role in dependability, faithfulness, and love.  Lying in every instance is a sin, and because of that, we must avoid lying at any time. 

Lying is Sinful

Occasionally, there are members of the Lord’s church who lie to one another. This takes varying forms. Some brethren will overtly lie. This can be premeditated or compulsive. The intent is what makes it such. This would be the case if a brother or sister seeks to defraud another. Lying is condemned in such a clear fashion that it seems almost elementary, regardless of one's maturity in Christ. However, the events of Acts 5:1-11, particularly verse 4, tell us that Ananias (and Saphira) conceived in their hearts to lie and did without regard to the fact that they were not just lying to men but to God. 

A Partial Truth: Use Only When Necessary

At other times, some members may tell partial truths to avoid conflict or to not hurt someone's feelings.  Not revealing all of a story is not inherently sinful (cf. 1 Sam 16:1-5). Yet, the church is the family of God. We are brethren. Why then do we tell each other half-truths if a whole truth is necessary? Why can we not find the courage to tell each other the truth about what it is we are thinking? Conflict can be a good thing if we can agree to open up the Scriptures and find God’s answer to whatever disagreement or misunderstanding we have. Part of maturing in the Lord is finding that sometimes what we have been taught or accepted as truth was nothing more than an opinion or tradition of man. Regardless of the cause of disagreement or hurt, we need to be mature enough to talk to each other about it.  David wrote, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).  

Is it Offensive or Sinful?

If one has sinned against you, the Lord has provided the proper procedure for handling it. I encourage each of you to read how the offending brother is to be approached (Matthew 18:15-20).  We also need to recognize that it must be clearly defined as sin. One can indeed offend a brother and not be guilty of sin. Preachers and teachers alike sometimes say things that might be offensive to the alien sinner and even some brethren. However, the prophets, including the Lord Christ Jesus, said things that were offensive but did not sin. So first ask yourself, does the Bible say this is a sin or am I simply making a mountain out of a mole hill? Also, consider if something was said to you out of love for me? The closest of friends and loved ones say the most difficult truths for our good. 

Lying, bearing false witness, is sinful without exception, and thus we must approach them the Biblical way. Our motivation in confrontation is to win our brother. We need to know how to work things out as much as we can. Sometimes we are going to disagree, but that is no reason to be disagreeable, and certainly not a reason to lie to one another. If you are offended by another brother, talk to that brother first, not the elders, and certainly do not run from your problems. 

Honesty is More Than Not Lying

This type of honesty requires fellowship with one another to be effective. We must know each other, pray for each other, and be involved in each other's lives. If we want to enjoy the benefit of people who desire to love us truly, authentically, and honestly, we have to reciprocate that. We simply have to stick together and not give in to the temptation to run when things are tough. The only one who can separate you from our God and His people is you. Life is hard at times, we have to trust Jehovah our God and the pattern He has placed in His Word. 

Unfortunately, individuals have not stuck it out.  Some have not liked what the Bible says about something. They will then search and try to find a “church” that teaches what they want to hear.  Others are quick to let an offense cause them to run to “greener pastures”. There are many “church shoppers” at all times of the year. One great asset to the body of Christ is that we are determined to tell the truth. However, that truth must not be limited to what we teach doctrinally; it must be reflected in all of our speech. Doubtlessly, the honesty of God’s people would build up each congregation. 

The church of Christ is by definition the collection of those who are faithful in all things. We are described in the original Greek text as the ekklesia- the called out ones. We are called out of the world to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4). Part of that newness is putting away the actions of the old man. We will no longer lie, and especially not to the brethren. It is written, “lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings” Colossians 3:9. Let us determine today and henceforth to love God and one another authentically, truthfully, in all purity and mercy. 

This article is an updated version of a previous article on this website.