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There is no question but that many of us differ on
matters of faith. When we differ on important biblical subjects is it
because someone is dishonest? Honesty is integrity, uprightness,
sincerity, truthfulness, and genuineness. Should we conclude that one
who evade issues and knowingly make false charges etc. to win an
argument is dishonest? I can’t see that it would do any good to charge
someone with being dishonest. Such would be judgmental based upon
nothing but opinion, and a dishonest person would not benefit from
being so rebuked.
For one to assert that he is honest is preposterous. The
more I hear one assert that he is open minded or honest the more
certain I am that he is not, but is actually only trying to convince
himself. You do not convince others that you are honest by telling them
you are. You do so by your words and actions. Get caught in a lie,
especially a deliberate lie, and you prove to others that you are
dishonest. Prove you are honest by facing the facts rather than
avoiding issues, and indicate a willingness to see other’s point of
view. Have a willingness to change in order to be right. An honest
person will admit error when he sees it and will turn from it. An
honest person will seek to appear honest before men as well as God. (2
Cor. 8:21) “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the
Lord, but also in the sight of men.”
Dishonest people are guilty of the things listed below:
(Prov. 6:16-19) “These six things doth the LORD
hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying
tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth
wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false
witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Honest people are people whose heart will receive the
word of God and grow. Contrariwise, dishonest people cannot receive the
word on some matters are not to their liking.
(Luke 8:15) “But that on the good ground are
they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep
it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
Is there Bible evidence that smart and honest men
differ? Maybe not. Maybe there are just a lot of dishonest people
studying the Bible. I prefer to think that prejudice is a form of
dishonesty that affects us all to some degree. And this prejudice,
along with the other things, are the culprits in our not seeing things
the same. The important thing is that we seek to recognize our
prejudices and deal with them. For one to fail to consider his own
prejudices and brush aside any possibility that he could be wrong is
dishonest.
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