Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” ––John 14:6-7 ESV

“Take it easy.” “Be careful who you trust.” “Don’t let them see you sweat.” Lots of phrases describe our culture’s measured approach toward blunt honesty and truth. We’re told to play our cards close to our chest, to not let others see behind the calm exterior.

While we need to be careful what we share and with whom, the default position for God’s man is on the side of full disclosure. In a world that doesn’t typically show its true face, we worship a Man who does. Jesus never held back, withheld hard details, or skirted the truth. When asked who He was, He didn’t pull punches: “The Jews answered him, ‘Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?’ ‘I am not possessed by a demon,’ said Jesus, ‘but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death’” (John 8:48-51). It was this kind of blunt truth that made the Pharisees want to execute Jesus.

How often are we 100% honest with people? I have a good friend who leads a men’s group, and lately it’s been hard for him. He recently asked me, “Kenny, out of the 20 or so guys in the group I co-lead, three are living with their girlfriends, and a few others are sleeping with the women they’re dating. How honest should I be with these guys?” For the most part, these men are committed believers, according to my friend. I told him what I would tell you: 1) if these guys are truly following Jesus, the Holy Spirit is already convicting them about what they are doing; 2) by being honest and telling them that what they are doing is not pleasing to God, you aren’t condemning them. You are simply stating the truth of God’s Word (see 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 with a clear delineation from Paul about the importance of abstaining from sex before marriage). And 3) by loving them and not rejecting them—but instead walking alongside them—you will continue to influence them and their future decisions.

Honest doesn’t mean cruel. This is very important: We don’t wield the truth like a weapon—there’s way too much of that happening in our culture today. Paul frames it brilliantly: “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). God’s men speak truth born of the wisdom gained by spending time with the Father; we frame everything we do and say by what and how Jesus used truth—to admonish, correct, and most importantly, to preach the Father’s love.

Father, help me boldly tell the truth and do so in a way that honors You. 

Every Man Ministries