Being Almost Honest

I see it all the time… dishonest people in honest clothes. I am sure that you have also.

Now I am not getting all “sermony” here and begin railing on everyone about their truth factor – but the dishonesty that I view it startling. In fact it drives me nuts at times.

I am often in Pastoral settings where I am with other Pastors – you know... ordained guys and gals that are Holy Examples of God. Together we come to share ideas and share our lives. One would think that this would be the ultimate of all honest situations. Not true. I am afraid that is a serious misnomer to think that is where we are all the greatest examples of honesty.

Let me explain this harsh statement.

One pastor enters the room and another asks, “So how is it going?” The second Pastor replies quickly, “Great, great – just great!” Then he proceeds to tell the amazing things that have taken place around him. Personally he is dieing inside and wants to quit – but for the sake of image he is a LIAR. GREAT is not how he feels. But Pastors in front of other pastors – SHOULD BE GREAT.

We are afraid to open up and tell what we feel about what is happening. It is easier to leave a meeting and having lied a lot… then later get forgiveness from God…than to share how we are really feeling.

I see it all the time at church – people lie. Imagine – lying in church. Sure – it happens. We dress up like nice people and act like we think people in church should act – yet we die on the inside and will not be honest with each other. Why? Well because we learned it from a whole lot of other people that have stated it is okay to do so…in fact it is good to do so… even your Pastor does it on a regular basis… so you should too.

It is acceptable to lie today. TV advertisements do it all the time. Actors get paid to lie. Politicians – well everyone knows that they are liars and we vote them in if we think that their lying is better than the other liars on the stage with him. Oh – by the way – that is called a Debate in our times….

I want to tell the truth today. My leg hurts, my side hurts, and I am not in good shape. But I will be hanged if I am going to tell anyone that I am in trouble. No way I would rather lie…than die telling someone that I am in trouble. If I tell the doctor he will scold me and tell me it is my fault anyway… so rather than discuss it with this guy… I will tell him I am okay when he does the next Annual Physical.

A funny but sad fact is that I have attended more than one funeral with a dude laying in the casket – that simply refused to tell anyone that he was hurting or in trouble. That is the ultimate illustration of DUMB. As he lays there he got his wish – he has not one problem today. He is dead.

So my rant today is all about being honest. Okay… my test is coming in about two hours. I am walking into to another Pastoral Meeting with my cohorts to strut my stuff. The inevitable question will be asked… “So Murray how is it going at Northview?” Oh boy… I have about 120 minutes to get a good answer ready…..

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~