Monday, August 31, 2009

How Jesus is the Solution: Installment #1

Honesty

“…Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2:21-22)

A Jesus-following culture would be a place where people are taught that honesty truly is the best policy and where truth is more important than temporary gain.

Flying home from college one summer I sat next to a journalism major from another school. Upon learning my major (Bible and Religion) he made the comment, “That’s interesting, I’m in school to learn how to lie and you are in school to learn how to tell the truth.” I was flabbergasted! Isn't journalism supposed to be about reporting on true things?

But hasn’t this become pretty common? Those who lie well are rewarded handsomley for doing so. Politics, jurisprudence, marketing and sales, business (and even journalism!?) are industrees that often reward good liars.

Aristotle once said, “The smallest deviation from the truth will soon multiply a thousand fold.” Any country where people are taught to lie, and rewarded for doing it well, suffers greatly. People don’t know who to trust. People in helping professions fearfully watch their backs. Friends are double-crossed, destroying relationships. Marriages disintigrate scarring hearts for life. The weakminded are exploited. Trillions are spent on litigation, and it takes weeks to buy a house (not to mention you have to write a book with your own signiture.)

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Jesus Christ (Luke 16:10)

Please don’t take that step down the road toward dishonesty. Be honest even with the little things, even when no one will know the difference, with everyone you come in contact with - even and especially yourself.

Learn honesty from Jesus Christ.
Make our nation, and your family better.

Telling the truth is part of the solution.

Tell the truth.

(p.s. and vote for people who tell the truth.)