Photo by Caleb Oquendo
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
The Christian life is not easy. Jesus never said it would be. Nor do the Gospels claim it to be so. Throughout the life of a Christian, their heart will always be a battlefield where faith and doubt, joy and sorrow, triumph and failure push and pull against each other. Yet, Christians are called to persist, to endure the tumult that will become omnipresent in their hearts. Christians, too, are called to honesty to reveal that this is the case for all Christians. Despite the promise of life everlasting and the soul undying, there will be doubts and sadness that hound their heels until God calls them to their side or the Kingdom of Heaven descends upon the Earth. Why though? Why are Christians commanded to be honest? Honesty is not just a virtue. It is the foundation upon which evangelism stands. Without honesty, how can one ever reveal the mysteries of Christ and the promise of God? How can one face the Lord and claim upon their heart that they did all they could without honesty?
Setting the Truth Free
The arc of Christianity is that of truth. God is the truth. Jesus proclaimed this truth thusly when he conducted his ministry upon this Earth. Thus, to be a Christian is to live in alignment with the truth. In short, honesty is key to being a Christian. Yet, honesty in this context not only means being in alignment with what is true but also acknowledging that one always falls short on something, admitting that one depends on God is not shameful, and saying that there is only God’s grace.
Photo by Tara Winstead
Speak the truth in love, as the Apostle Paul says in one of his letters to the Ephesians.
Setting the Truth Free: Finding Yourself
To personally grow, one needs honesty. If you cannot be honest with yourself, how can you determine that there is even a need to grow? Yet, people must grow to become better. And as such, people must be honest with themselves. Those who can’t find a reason to grow or an opportunity for it are lying to themselves and limiting the possibility of what they can do. If you walk in delusion, how can you follow in the stead of Christ? It is the honest who see the path that God has laid out for them and, in turn, find success.
Setting the Truth Free: Finding Others
When you begin to be honest with yourself, you are signaling to the world that you are able to be honest with others as well. Remember that as honesty is the foundation of evangelism, it is also the foundation for connecting with others. How can one evangelize if they are not honest with themselves or others? As such, when we are honest with others, we create a space for mutual trust and respect. Genuine connection can only blossom when there is open communication and vulnerability. These latter two are the roots with which love gathers strength. So, always strive to speak the truth about yourself, the world, and about others.
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How to Be an Honest Christian
Where does one begin to be honest, then? Simple. Speak the truth. Speak it in love. What does this mean? This means that you are obliged to share your faith with others. It is the honesty that we blend into our personal stories that allow for a powerful testimony of God’s grace to be given to the world. When we share our stories of His love, we are being honest. And in being honest, we are inviting others to write their own stories and to join us in faith.
The impulse to share our stories with others and to help grow the Kingdom of God on this earth is a natural desire in being Christian. We want to be heard. We want God to be heard. However, this can only truly work if one commits to honesty.
Be honest with yourself, with others and with the world. Help others in bridging the gap between them and God.
Building Bridges Made in His Image by Yareni Beltran is a story of Christian faith. Grab a copy of the book by clicking the link above.
