With all the hype and media attention the two major political conventions will soon be history. Then campaigning will increase until the elections in November. Certainly questions that voters may seek to answer are, "What can I believe"? "Do I think a particular candidate will follow through on campaign promises?" Will voting for the candidate of my choice support my Christian convictions?" Do I expect candidates for high offices to be truthful?

A news item I recall from several years ago dealt with the sunken Russian Submarine and the sailors trapped within. Were Russian Government officials truthful regarding this matter? When did it sink? If they had reported honestly and requested assistance from the Americans or British earlier is it possible that many lives could have been saved? Were their secrets more important than 118 human lives? Is truth dependent on what you think people should hear? Persons belonging to some ideologies and cults would tell us that what they are taught is true, even when it conflicts with the truth.

Several years ago the Iowa Department of Natural Resources drafted a permit that would allow Archer Daniel Midland Company to increase emissions at its Cedar Rapids corn processing plant, despite the charge of an agency engineer that issuing the permit would break the law and threaten the environment. From what I read, Engineer Carl Youngquist said that he could not in good conscience draft the permit as requested by his superiors. He withdrew from the project and wrote, "To draw up the permit would not only be compromising my principles and engineering ethic, but would be breaking the law. ... Honesty is honesty, law is law, and ethics are ethics. If more [people abided by them the world would be a better place."

I don't personally know Youngquist, but I certainly agree with what he said about honesty. These situations bring to my mind the question that Pilate asked Jesus before the crowd asked for Jesus to be crucified. "What is truth?" That is the question I would like to deal with this morning as we consider the discipline of truthfulness.

I. Matter of Speech

Often, and rightly so, when we think of truth we think of words, the words we speak, and the words other speak. Do you and I tell the truth? Do we say what we know to be factual? Do we accurately speak? Is that which we report reality? Do we speak from authority?

It was a matter of speech as Satan distorted the truth and caused Adam and Eve to doubt what God said. The tragic result was the first sin recorded in the Bible.

The Ten Commandment address the subject of truthful words. We nay think primarily of "You shall not lie," or "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. If we wish to state this commandment positively we could say "You shall always speak truthfully about others." We might also think of truthfulness as a matter of speech in honoring our father and mother and in not taking the name of the Lord in vain. What about the first commandment? "Have no other gods before Me." To obey this we worship the one true God. True words about God are significant to our worship.

Recall the words of Jesus to the woman at the well in John 4:24. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Think about the words you speak to God in prayer. Are you praying honestly? What about praying the Lord's Prayer? Do you truthfully pray those words? Do you live to hallow God's name? Do you really want God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? That means we want nothing that will not please God. Do you honestly want God to forgive you in the manner you forgive others? Or do you really want more forgiveness than you give? Especially if you don't forgive and if you hold grudges? We could certainly continue, but let's think about some other aspects of speech in worship. What about the hymns and choruses we sing? Do we really honestly love Jesus or just sing the words,

I believe it is good advice to quit saying things you do not mean, including the words to a hymn such as, "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord."

Regarding words in the discipline of truthfulness Albert Day suggests:
    "Stop all flattery - not sincere appreciation, but flattery! You will be able to save two egos - your own and the other person's.
    "If you cannot get what you want except by deceiving others as to your real intention, then go without.
    "Do nothing that you have to conceal - Our representatives in Washington and perhaps we too would do well to heed such suggestions."

In dealing with the question, "What is truth" it is a matter of speech to be sure, but it is more than words. It is also a manner of life.

II. Manner of Life

Go back in your mind with me to the conversation between Jesus and Pilate. Jesus had been asked, "Are you King of the Jews?" In turn Jesus answered with a question about why he was asking. The Pilate asked what He had done so that His own people brought Him to Pilate. Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world, etc.

Therefore Pilate said, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this I have been born and for this I have come into this world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." It was then that Pilate asked, "What is truth?"

Yes truth is a matter of speech, but it is more than words. It is a manner of life. Jesus was described in John 1 as the word, the living word that came into the world, the divine logos (Greek for word). John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Later, recorded in John 8:31-32 Jesus Himself said, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

The words of Jesus are truth. If we are really followers of Jesus we will spend time reading and meditating on God's word, thereby coming to know the truth about Jesus - the only one who can truly make us free because He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.

The discipline of truthfulness is a manner of life - the manner of Jesus' life being imitated by those who have really trusted Christ as their personal Savior and are seeking to yield to the Holy Spirit who bears witness to the truth.

If we would truly follow Jesus we must seek to avoid deception and hypocrisy in words and deeds. When we do sin we must repent and not continue to live a lie, but live the truth. With God, with family, with coworkers, neighbors, customers, clients, social contacts. Are we honest about our sin and therefore our need for God who is truth? Are we honest about recognizing our dependence upon Him?

Conclusion:

Closing thought by Dave Weinbaum.

"Being truthful, when you know it will cost you, is the true test of honesty."

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