September 8, 2024

         Do Not Be Deceived

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

– 1 John 1:8

“I did nothing wrong,” the candidate proclaimed.

“It’s all a hoax.”

“Fake media.”

Do you really need me to list more comments or even to name the candidate responsible? Yet this is the man conservative Christians are holding up as their standard bearer.

Some have even gone so far as to proclaim Trump as “anointed” by God. They are “preaching” for a political candidate and making excuses for his behavior – both past and present behavior.

If Trump were truly chosen by God, there would be no need to make excuses for him. He would admit past sins, ask forgiveness and change his forward path. God is quick to forgive a contrite heart.

Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. We are ALL sinners. There is no hierarchy when it comes to sin. But God does have expectations for His people.

John writes: If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. – 1 John 1:10

Our nation has had some truly devout Christian presidents. Jimmy Carter comes immediately to mind. After his re-election defeat, he turned his attention to living out his faith. He taught Sunday School and he worked building houses with Habitat for Humanity.

We are all free to choose the political candidate that best reflects our values and our concerns and desires for this great nation. But do not fool yourself into believing that a man who has repeatedly violated Biblical principles is serving God. No. That man is only serving himself.

August 30, 2021

 

Walk Away

 

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. – Colossians 2:8

 

What do you believe? Why? It’s easy to throw out Jesus’ name. It isn’t so easy to truly believe what He says.

 

Jesus looked around and saw the good in people who perhaps hadn’t live an exemplary life. And He saw the evil among the religious elite who were so busy following their own manmade rules that they missed the Messiah.

 

A major topic nowadays involves all the available jobs and the mistaken belief that people simply won’t work. Yeah. I know. Some people truly are lazy and refuse to work. But that’s not true of everyone. In fact, it’s not true of anyone that I personally know. How about you?

 

I know people who can’t work right now because of illness. Cancer is a horrible disease. So is Covid. Should those people be condemned for not being able to work right now? What about the widow struggling to care for a sick child? Is she a deadbeat because she refuses to place her disease-ridden child in a daycare?

 

Where do we draw the line between laziness and despair? How do we fairly judge between the worthy and unworthy? We don’t. It’s not our job or our place. Jesus said to love everyone. He flatly stated to do good to the poor. He never once said to hoard your earthly treasures and condemn people who aren’t exactly like you. But we do it anyway.

 

I expect that from people who don’t know Jesus. How could they possibly understand Jesus’ love for the poor and downtrodden? They don’t realize the need to do good to others. But people of faith? People who proclaim Jesus as LORD and Savior? Those putdowns sting because they reveal a heart distanced from God.

 

None of us get it all right or all wrong. We don’t. We’re all guilty of derogatory comments we shouldn’t make, of judgements we have no place pronouncing. The challenge for us is to walk away when someone says something that doesn’t come from Jesus – especially when it’s something we really want to believe.

April 21, 2018

When Is A Lie A Lie?

An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.

– Proverbs 14:5

When is a lie a lie? I know. You’re probably dismissing this question, thinking the answer is obvious. Are you sure?

A friend asks if you like her new dress. It is hideous. Do you tell her it looks great on her? Do you try and come up with something nice to say, such as “All that matters is that you like it,” avoiding telling your honest opinion. You don’t want to hurt her feelings. What do you say?

Or maybe your co-worker is ranting about something at work. You remain silent until he asks for your support. You desperately try to sidestep the issue because you don’t agree with him. Do you tell him you think he’s wrong? Or do you sidestep the issue, trying to find a way to avoid speaking your truth?

Truth isn’t always black and white. Sometimes it’s the gray area between being honest and avoiding hurting someone we value. We aren’t all wordsmiths, able to instantly come up with a truth that works without giving away our honest opinions. Sometimes we tell a “white lie” to avoid the pain. Is that wrong? Surely God understands. Doesn’t He?

Here’s another question: If you intentionally mislead someone to believe something you know isn’t the truth, did you lie to them? Technically, you didn’t. You used words to skirt the truth, knowing they would believe a falsehood. You didn’t bother to correct their conclusion because that was your point.

I call it playing word games with people. The deception causes much hurt. What happens when the truth emerges? What happens if your words lead others to think badly of someone? Maybe that was your point.

Is the intent to deceive really a lie? Well, that’s for God to judge but here’s what the Bible says: God looks at the heart. In your heart, did you lie? Did you deceive? There’s your answer.

My first semester of college included a Mass Communication 101 course. One of the things we studied was how tabloids can twist information to make it sound like something that isn’t true. They rarely get sued because it’s all based on a tidbit of truth. But it sure does mislead readers and viewers and hurt those who are the targets.

Oh, yes. The media. We all love to bash the media. Look in the mirror. Are you a consumer of mistruth? Do you share it on Facebook or other social media outlets? Do you check out your sources before you hit the share button or do you just assume that if it sounds like what you believe it must be true?

Hatred has a way of darkening our hearts without us even knowing it. We’re so focused on being right that we miss the lies right before us.

Think about your own language, your own beliefs, your own heart. How many times do you pass on a bit of gossip? How many times do you criticize without knowing the facts? How often do you judge what isn’t any of your business anyway?

I’ll ask you again: When is a lie a lie? Think about it. Look into your own heart. You may not be as honest as you think you are.