The Truth Shall Make You Odd: Speaking with Pastoral Integrity in Awkward Situations

In the life of a pastor, it can be tempting to offer half-truths that make everyone happy and the pastor popular. Speaking difficult truths may anger or alienate church members, but authentic pastoral care sometimes requires it. How can those in ministry speak honestly in the inevitable awkward situations they face?

Here a wise and witty pastor-storyteller draws on his church life experiences over the past twenty-five years--including sermons, funerals, and board meetings--to offer nitty-gritty guidance on handling the uncomfortable situations that all pastors face. Utilizing humor and encouragement and speaking across denominational lines, Frank Honeycutt examines a variety of biblical contexts where the truth of Jesus is difficult to hear, but direly needed--especially in settings where half-truths are the norm. He shows pastors how to courageously speak the truth no matter the risk or cost.

From the Back Cover

How to Speak Truthfully in Awkward Situations

In the life of a pastor, it can be tempting to offer half-truths that make everyone happy. Speaking with holy candor can anger or alienate church members, but authentic pastoral care sometimes requires it. Pastor-storyteller Frank Honeycutt draws on his church life experiences over the past twenty-five years to offer nitty-gritty guidance on handling the inevitable awkward situations that all pastors face.

"Frank Honeycutt is one of our most able pastoral theologians and a master communicator of the faith. This fast-paced, engaging book tackles subjects that we mainline Protestant Christians have recently bypassed or neglected--subjects like sin, Satan, lying, and truth telling--and discusses them against the backdrop of Frank's generous theology of God's active, amazing grace."--Will Willimon, author and bishop of the United Methodist Church, Birmingham (Alabama) Area

"Finally, a book that addresses the dirty little secret of the half-truths and untruths told by ministers to their members from baptismal font to graveside. From a seasoned pastor willing to expose his own struggles with integrity comes a book that provides both scriptural backbone and practical instruction in pastoral truth telling. This book has convicted me, taught me, and encouraged me. And that's the truth."--Ron Luckey, pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, Lexington, Kentucky

"Books that call for the rejection of half-truths and outright lies are prone to be judgmental, insufficiently self-critical, and in any case, deadly serious. Frank Honeycutt's wonderful book is none of these. He reads the Bible with a novelist's attentiveness, theological acumen, and a well-tuned sense of humor, directed first of all at himself. Any book about 'speaking the truth in love' (Ephesians 4:15) needs to make sure that it practices what it commends; Honeycutt succeeds by preferring the winsome word to the cudgel of correction."--John Hoffmeyer, The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia

"The Truth Shall Make You Odd is a book for clergy but also for any Christian who wishes to delve into the complexities of belief. Frank Honeycutt is a gifted writer and a man of immense wisdom."--Ron Rash, novelist; Western Carolina University