-Mark 8:33
Some people who know me well know that I can be a very blunt person. I will say things that take people by surprise because of how straightforward I am. I don't try to be like this, but I just speak my mind sometimes without really thinking about it. To my knowledge I have not seriously offended anyone because of my bluntness, but I definitely have taken some people by surprise. I also am a sarcastic person, which doesn't help my case at all. I want to talk a bit about bluntness in this post.
When people say that someone is blunt, they usually mean that person is straightforward and not very subtle. These kinds of people tend to say things that most people won't say because they might offend someone. Often times, even when it is clear that everyone is thinking the same thing, the only person to say something is the person who is very blunt. These people just say what is on their minds, without really considering the consequences, or perhaps even with knowing the consequences. For me, it is a combination of both the two.
So what do I think about being blunt? I think it takes wisdom and discernment to know when to be straightforward and when not to be. If you are talking about a trivial topic, such as a person's attire, it is perfectly normal and recommended that you be as subtle as possible. For example, everyone knows that when a female asks if what they are wearing makes them look fat, the correct response is either no, or yes in the most subtle way you can say it. These types of situations are not important, so subtlety is fine to use.
When it comes to things that do matter, I think it is very important that you be direct and blunt. In Mark 8, Peter hears Jesus prophesying of His death, and Peter rebukes Jesus. Jesus immediately turns to Peter and rebukes him right back and even calls him Satan. Jesus did not beat around the bush or let Peter off the hook. Jesus wanted Peter to realize that He had to suffer the things He prophesied about, and told Peter to set his mind on the things of God.
We too have to be able to rebuke others and tell them things as they are. If someone is committing a sin, we have to be able to tell them, even if it means we offend them. Being blunt is not easy, as people are easily offended, but people do need to hear the truth, no matter how harsh it is. In matters than can affect people's lives, whether physical or spiritual, we have to be able to tell them what needs to be said. This takes wisdom and discernment, and we have to pray to be able to discern these kinds of situations. I hope that God gives us all the courage and wisdom to be blunt when we need to be.
-Smart
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