http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTFpPGTUvI0
Oh, if we could be so honest! (See video above for those viewing in RSS)
Talking with a client this past week revealed how many people still think that perfect honesty is not the best policy.
I disagree.
I think we’ve culturally moved to a place where being transparent is one of the highest values in terms of social media and that it’s far too easy to spot a fake now. Although there’s always a line of being wise and discerning with what we blog and tweet about the point is that whatever we do decide to publish we should be honest about.
In other spheres it’s really more for your audience than for yourself, but as Christians I think it’s the other way around; being honest is part of what we do, let’s stay above reproach in all things.
Peter_P says
Honesty has always been the best policy!
I LOVE that video!
Thanks!
Joyce Harback says
He's targeting his market and saving himself time. You know exactly what kind of after-sales customer service he's going to provide. Seems an odd and rather long stretch to find a spiritual application here.
Every blog, Christian or not, is a censored snapshot, and rightly so. That doesn't mean one is being dishonest. Those who frequently air dirty laundry or open their emotional trench coat are seeking therapy, not transformation. Christian blogs would be more effective if the authors took more time to be honest in God's presence than online.
Kyle Reed says
I like that last line: "Christian blogs would be more effective if the authors took more time to be honest in God's presence than online. "
For some reason it is easier for me to be honest on the blog then with God.
It is funny though how we think we know people because of their blog, when really they are just giving us a snap shot of who they are and it can be pretty censored.
austinklee says
I don't think its hard to make the leap to spiritual application. The presentation of his message was so straight-forward and honest that for a minute I wanted to buy a stained, used trailer from him.
The leap to church is not so hard. How difficult have we made it to understand what we are about? Why can't our churches be that straight-forward? How have we as a church distorted the Gospel message making people guess at what our core message is?
Why can't our goal as church communicators be the same as the used trailer seller?
"These are mobile homes, not mansions. They come in two pieces. If that's what you're lookin' for; that's what I got."
"This is a Church, we don't pretend to be perfect. We believe Jesus died to save us from our sin. If that's what you're lookin' for; that's what we got."
Leap made. Not so hard.
dannyjbixby says
+1
Kyle Reed says
Good point here.
My push back would be, how honest can we be though? I know if I was completely honest about my feelings and thoughts that people would be hurt, surprised, etc…I guess where I need to draw the line is honesty about myself and not honesty about other people or things (maybe I just answer my own question).
I have always been a guy that called a spade a spade, and so sometimes I don't have the best filter. But I am honest about things.
How honest is to honest?
dannyjbixby says
No honest is too honest. Some honest can be too harsh. But I don't think we're really dealing with levels of honesty, you seem to be talking about levels of harshness.
We always need to mix in grace with our honesty. It doesn't help to be full of honesty and be a harsh tool about it. That's equally as 'unChristlike' as having no honesty at all.
Honestly & gentleness/kindness/etc are not mutually exclusive.
Mike Ellis says
I'd give this post 3 thumbs up I I had a 3rd hand. See I'm being honest. I don't have a 3rd hand.
dannyjbixby says
This video is amazing. There's a good chance that we'll be stealing it for a sermon illustration.
Transparency is definitely one of the highest values in social media.
Transparency or authenticity should be one of the highest values in our churches too.
It's one of the highest values of those we're trying to 'reach'…..they can smell a phony faster than a Digg troll.