25 Excuses for not Telling the Truth When Scandal Visits
- This situation doesn’t concern my department.
- I’m sure the pastors and Elders are on it.
- Talking about this might be gossip.
- I could lose my job.
- I might not get the scholarship.
- This could jeopardize my book deal.
- This could affect my future pay.
- This could mess up future potential promotions.
- I don’t want to lose a speaking engagement.
- I could negatively influence my radio program/podcast/blog.
- I might lose friends over this.
- We don’t have all the facts.
- I don’t want to look like a “pot stirrer.”
- I should just be concerned about the gospel.
- My job is to just preach the Word and let the Holy Spirit convict sin.
- Telling the truth could really hurt the people involved.
- This could split the church.
- We should talk about the good things God is doing instead.
- Telling the truth would mean picking a side or choosing between friends.
- I don’t want to cause division.
- Love the sinner hate the sin.
- I could ruin their reputation.
- God will punish the sinner so I don’t need to.
- Haven’t they been through enough?
- The perpetrator is such an important person and I don’t want to challenge them.
The one thing each of these 25 excuses have in common is: self-interest. This is what leads to cowardice and compromise. I have seen this over and over within the secondary ranks of leadership, both in the church and in Christian organizations. These self-interested individuals become enablers of the corrupt leadership at the top. In most organizations, the only barriers to tyranny are a handful of principled individuals.
Great observation! What often appears as strength is really cowardice and compromise. So many of Jesus’ imperatives call us to self-sacrifice and to reject self-interest. We need more “Take up your cross” kinds of leaders. That means being willing to put truth above ones career.