It is often difficult to see ourselves as others do. It is so easy to deceive ourselves by thinking we say one thing when in actuality we have communicated quite differently.
There have been a couple of examples I have observed lately that illustrate this.
But first, recognize we all want to think of ourselves as frank and forthright. I have never heard someone say, "Now I just don't like to tell it like it is. I would rather be evasive and avoid any disagreement." We have been taught honesty is the best policy. Yet when is the last time you heard someone in authority genuinely answer, "I do no know the answer to that." So many times they feel obligated to have all the answers and begin to send out a smokescreen of an answer to hide their ignorance.
Recently a politician was asked in a debate, "Tell me, how do you create a job?" The question obviously caught him off guard and rather than admit he did not have a satisfactory answer he rambled on for a long time trying to hide his ignorance and instead displayed it.
On another occasion a different politician answered frankly his beliefs about homosexuality. He said he believed children would be happier if they grew up, were married and raised a family. He further said he did not believe schools or the media should teach or represent homosexuality as an equally attractive option in life to heterosexuality. All this to the detriment of his electability.
What I hope to illustrate is that we too can become evasive with our answers about important issues if we are not careful. Probably we are not intimidated by the electorate or the media. But we might be by our neighbors or co-workers or employers.
When Jesus teaches us to confess Him before men in order for Him to confess us before His Father, He is telling us to wear our faith openly. (Mat. 10:32,33) By the way, He had just told them in verse 28 not to fear men, but fear God.
When the Apostles were threatened for preaching Christ they did not offer excuses or explanations. They proudly stood by their teaching. (Acts 4:19,20)
When Paul was arrested because he taught Christ had replaced Moses as the deliverer of the people he defended his conversion and the things he had spoken among them. (Acts 22)
These faithful men were not evasive or ambiguous. They were forthright about their convictions. I ask you, is it wiser to hide our beliefs to get along with men or to speak out boldly and please the God of heaven who created us, redeemed us through His Son and will reward us with heaven when we have faithfully completed our walk on earth? (2 Tim. 4:7,8)
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