A recent Wall Street Journal article outlines the methodology that the airline industry used to obtain their dramatic improvement in airline safety in the last 15 years, which serves as a great example of an important biblical principle.
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I recently read the following from a Wall Street Journal article that was explaining how the airline industry has dramatically improved the safety of air travel:
“Airplanes produce fewer deaths per mile than cars, ferries, trains, subways or buses—and the chances of dying in a crash are roughly the same as getting struck by lightning while reading this sentence…
“This revolution in the sky that has saved countless lives began nearly three decades ago with a surprisingly innovative strategy for improving air safety. It depended on pilots, flight attendants and dispatchers voluntarily reporting safety issues and admitting their own errors…
“The old system explained accidents after they happened. This new system was designed to prevent those accidents from ever happening… It relied on everybody doing something that nobody wants to do: voluntarily admitting when they get things wrong.
“It worked. The Federal Aviation Administration’s self-reporting programs that encourage airline operators to come forward without fear of retribution helped slash the rate of fatal accidents on U.S. airlines by such large percentages that the industry had to figure out new ways to measure safety. This unprecedented stretch [of nearly 15 years] without a deadly crash made the existing stats essentially useless.”
This reminded me of a foundational biblical principle: There is great value in speaking the truth. It is one of the marks of a follower of Jesus.
Psalms 15:1-2 NASB A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? (2) He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.
There is also a companion biblical principle: We are to readily admit when we have made a mistake.
When I remember the following, it helps me to admit my mistakes:
- God does not condemn me for my mistakes
- Rom 8:1 NASB Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- As humans, we all make mistakes.
- Jas 3:2a AMP For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things.
- When I fail, I am to remember that I am God's son, and then get up.
- Pro 24:16 HCSB Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
The airline industry found out that applying this biblical principle of encouraging truthful reporting of mistakes brought dramatic benefits – even though it was not explicitly acknowledged as a biblical principle. In fact, this is but one example of how biblical principles, even when applied by unbelievers, will prove to be true, right and beneficial.
John C. Maxwell says, “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.”
As believers, we have additional motivations to speak truthfully and admit our mistakes:
Ephesians 4:25 NASB Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. (Application: Because believers are members of one another, we benefit from mutual integrity of our speech.)
Ephesians 4:15 HCSB But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. (Application: Speaking truthfully fosters spiritual growth.)
1 John 1:9 NASB If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Application: If we admit our mistakes, we receive forgiveness.)
James 5:16 NASB Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (Application: If we confess our mistakes, we receive emotional, spiritual, and even physical healing.)
These verses challenge me to renew my commitment to integrity and truthfulness in all I do, and to readily admit when I have made a mistake. Will you join me in this challenge?
Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”