And today at church, the sermon was based on this text:
James 5:12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
While the pastor mentioned swearing in passing, his main thrust was on the importance of honesty. Without trying to reproduce the whole sermon (which can, in course of time, be found at the church's website anyway), these are some thoughts that I pondered.
Don't ask any question to which you can't bear to hear an honest answer. Such questions are completely pointless.
Recognise that there are broader classes of dishonesty - that is, misleading speech - than actual lies. Exaggerations (unless done as known hyperbole) are lies. But other forms include the "technically true statement" and "economy with the truth".
Recognise when you're practising evasive manoeuvres. And know why. Is it really because you think the truth would be unhelpful or unedifying to your hearers - or is it because them knowing the truth would be harmful to what you see as your interests?
A close-out point is the answer to the question, "How are you?" We know how people often give an answer like, "Good", "Fine", "Not too bad", etc. But what are some alternatives? Say the day's going badly, but for some reason you don't want to tell the other person how or why, or you don't want them to feel bad about it?
* Life's an adventure
* I won't complain
* The day/week/etc.'s had its challenges, but that's OK
* Things could be (a lot) worse
What do readers think?
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