Lessons in Critical Thinking (10 of 12)

“To Be Honest” means . . .

Perhaps there has been a time when you have been listening to someone for a few minutes and then they say something like, “Well, to be honest with you . . .” Or perhaps you have uttered these words. Have you ever wondered what the other person or even what you have implied by stating these words? Most people who make this statement are making this statement because they want the person who is listening to know that they are saying something which they believe is true and perhaps is important. But what is implied by these words? What is implied is that what has thus been said may be discounted as not necessarily being true because the same was not stated before those words were spoken. Again, this is what is implied.

Jesus says, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil” (Matthew 5:37 (ESV)). In other words, Jesus tells us that we are not to say anything except what is true, and we do that simply by saying “Yes” or “No.” It is only after we have shown others that our “Yes” does not necessarily mean “Yes” and that our “No” does not necessarily mean “No” that we feel compelled to speak in such a way, that is so as to weigh our words to be believed.

In all circumstances, as we live our lives, speaking the truth, always speaking the truth, even if that might mean speaking the truth in love (saying those difficult things that may need to be said), others will recognize that our “Yes” means “Yes” and our “No” means “No,” and we will not have to try to get them to believe us by saying, “To be honest with you . . .”

Critical thinking includes not only listening to how and what others say, but also to how and what we say. Our reputation depends on letting our “Yes” be “Yes” and our “No” be “No.” Jesus’ reputation depends on it as we bear His name as little Christs (Christians).