Articles
Lies, Lies and More Lies
In our highly politicized environment false assertions are made to advance ideological agendas. Special interest groups have openly admitted to lying to sway public opinion. Truly, we must be “wise as serpents,” wary about what is passed off as “fact.” A few examples:
1. A fetus is not human until it can live outside the womb. Corollary: A fetus is not human if not completely born; therefore, it can be killed if the whole body is exposed but the head is not yet delivered.
2. Gender is not determined by genetics but by social shaping. Corollary: There are no essential differences between men and women.
3. Sex before marriage is harmless, even beneficial. Corollary: “Friends with benefits” is innocent fun.
4. Animals have “rights.” Corollary: Sometimes animal rights outweigh human needs.
5. Alcohol enhances enjoyment of all occasions. Corollary: Legalizing marijuana has no ill effects upon society.
On and on it goes. It seems no lie is too big to be told and believed if some obscure study supports it or some elitist actor testifies about it on Capitol Hill. This is nothing new. People will follow just about any hireling who promises greener pastures. Consider:
1. Conventional wisdom apparently held that building the ark was a complete waste of time and effort. The way of salvation went largely unused.
2. The pro-Egyptian party convinced many that Israel would be better off as slaves under Pharaoh than free under Jehovah (Num 14:3-4).
3. Saul managed to turn Israel’s national hero, David, into public enemy #1 (1 Sam 22:10-12; 23:19; 25:10; etc.).
4. Jezebel launched a pro-Baal crusade that wiped out nearly all of God’s prophets (1 Kgs 17:30-33; 18:4).
5. At Jesus’ trial the crowds clamored for Barabbas’ release, a man guilty of the very crime that Jesus was falsely accused of (Mk 15:7).
Sometimes it seems as if the world has been turned on its head. White is the new black, and black is actually white. Men are really women; women are men. Any unflattering observation is “hate.” Disciplining children is abuse. A teen can get birth control at school without parental knowledge or permission but can’t get her ears pierced. Beam me up, Scotty. There’s no intelligent life down here.
Observations: Never underestimate Satan’s persuasive power (2 Cor 2:11; 11:13-15). The lessons of history are often lost on the present generation (Dt 8:7-20). Lying is one of the most ubiquitous of sins. The most intelligent become fools when not guided by divine principles (1 Cor 3:18). The majority is often wrong (Jn 6:66). Moral and spiritual truth are within reach of the average person (1 Cor 1:26-27). The hucksters can fool most of the people a lot of the time, but they never fool God. He knows the truth, and in His own time He will vindicate it. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Jas 4:6). Let us take calm repose in the Lord and trust in His administration over the world.
