Honesty VS Transparency

By: Jenifer Metzger

The one who conceals his sins

will not prosper, but whoever

confesses and renounces them

will find mercy.

Proverbs 28:13 CSB

We know the value of honesty. As Christian women we know honesty is important. As wives and mothers, we want honesty from our spouse and children. We want honesty from our jobs, doctors, politicians, from everywhere. Honesty matters.

But is honesty alone enough?

Let's say your husband tells you that he is having a dinner meeting with a coworker. He's being honest. However, he did not tell you the coworker is a female. He isn't being transparent.

Or he tells you an old friend texted him today. He's being honest. However, he doesn't tell you the old friend is a female. He isn't being transparent.

You ask your teenager if he pulled the meat out of the freezer for dinner. He says he did and he is being honest. Yet, he didn't tell you he only just now pulled the meat out instead of when you asked him this morning. He isn't being transparent.

You ask your child if school was okay and she says it was. She's being honest. But she failed to mention she got into trouble on the playground. She isn't being transparent.

In all of these situations, the person was being honest. They answered the question honestly or brought forth the information honestly. However, they were not transparent. They didn't offer a full disclosure. Unless you ask a very specific, detailed question, you wouldn't get a completely honest answer.

While honesty matters, it isn't always enough. Honest tells the truth to the question asked. Transparency gives honesty while also building trust and accountability.

While transparency isn't always easy, it is always right. The more transparent we are, the more trust we build. The Bible tells us that our sin will catch up with us. I always told my kids that no matter what it is, I will eventually find out anyway, so just be upfront with me.

But if you don’t do this, you will certainly sin

against the Lord; be sure your sin will catch up with you.

Numbers 32:23 CSB

Let's be women who are transparent and encourage transparency in others.

Discussion:
1. Do you see the difference in honesty and transparency now?
2. Can you think of a time you were honest but not transparent? Or a time someone was honest but not transparent with you?