Yes or No

The world today does not have thick skin. Everyone is so sensitive that they become offended, vexed, and hurt by the littlest thing. One cannot simply answer anything. If you are invited to an event or gathering, the answer can't be honest. The response usually look like this, "Thank you for the invitation, I cannot attend because my child is sick or I am so busy with this and this, I don't want you to think I don't want to come but I just cant'." When the true answer that the person avoids saying is, "I really don't want to come, no, I don't want to go." You can't say this, especially in Church circles these days because it could hurt someone's feelings nad if you do there may be a intervention or inquisition into why you wouldn't want to be with that person. Ugh.

The truth is that Jesus Christ spoke against this manipulative, word dancing that people do. In his day people made oaths, "I will by the Scriptures, by the Temple, and so forth." They would swear by holy things to let everyone know they would keep their word. But there is problem with this. If you have to swear and make this fantastic vows, it means that your word is not good enough, that you have a history of not keeping your word and so you have to add something to make people believe you this time. There is a seen in Ridley Scott's Robinhood, where King John says, "I swear such a document (Magna Carta) shall be write, on my mother's life I swear this." Of course, He doesn't keep His word, although as politician and monarch He only swore to have one written, not to ratify it.

Jesus said, "All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37). He says earlier to not make oaths, but to simply say yes or no to someone. In context Jesus was dealing with religious leaders who like King John would swear by the altar and temple and break their oath, but if they swore by money on the altar they would keep their word. He was confronting Mammon, and worship of money over the Immortal God, but I believe as often when Jesus speaks there a duo, trio, and many more meanings and teachings in his words.

I take literally, that this teaching from Christ tells us to simply tell people yes or no. Unfortunately, the church and many Christians manipulate and make people unable to say a simple yes or no. Out of fear of hurting someone's feelings or offending them, we say things like, "I would really like to attend, but I can't." But the truth is "I don't want to attend, and I won't or no." We have actually cultivated a culture of lying in the church. You can't just tell someone no and they not be offended or they assail your boundary like a child and you have to keep saying no over and over.

This is a problem in the world too, but I address the church because it definitely shouldn't be going on in the church. I am weary of having to sugar coat an answer because the people are so insecure or have rejection complex that you have to say yes or they will never invite you ever again or they will hold grudge against you and tell their friends about the time you said, "No I don't want to go. Thank you for the invite." They will whisper, "How rude! He or she said that?! Don't invite him or her ever again! Shun them!"

It is rather troubling we live in a day and age when you cannot simply say yes or no, for fear of being blackmailed, rejected in the future, or being shunned. The Passive Aggressive and boundary busting needs to stop! Church this is not how Jesus Christ acted or wanted us to act! We are suppose to be honest and love the Truth! Not lie and try to make everyone feel buttery with our half truths! The time has come to, "walk with integrity in our hearts!" (see Psalm 15:2, Psalm 101:2).  The lying needs to stop and the taking up offensive over someone not wanting to do something, go to an event with you, and etc. needs to end! Start acting like saints and stop making liars out of your brethren! Cease making fellow Christians feel guilty for walking in their integrity! Do not be violates of another person;s conscious, but respect their convictions. Let people speak plainly, a yes or no, and don't take it so personally. In same way, let your answers be yes or no.

I do not think a modern church today could tolerate Jesus Christ! With people never wanting to be offended, and everyone walking in lies to keep people from having their feelings hurt, I think many believers would have a hard time being around Jesus. For He said corrections like, "You unbelieving generation, how long do I have to be with you? How long shall I have to put up with you?" (Mark 9:19).
"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matthew 23:33).
"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44).
These statements by the Savior and more were not sugar coated. They offended, but they were the very Truth! So Church do you really want Truth? Do you really want to be with "the Way, the Truth, and the Life?" (John 14:6). Because all this lying and saying what you really don't mean isn't what Jesus is like. In fact, the Almighty says, "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8).