People today have become accustomed to spin, exaggeration, and reframing. Or, as it used to be called, falsehood.
For months leading up to the most recent election, my mailbox was packed with mailouts. Whether I was watching a sporting event or a children’s cartoon with my grandkids, I was sure to be bombarded by political ads. Each one warned viewers of dire consequences if the candidate’s opponent was elected. The message was clear: democracy and freedom were at stake. Nevertheless, the day after the election, no stars fell from space, no water turned to blood, and no zombie apocalypse occurred. It became evident that people had somewhat exaggerated.
Hyperbolic rhetoric extends beyond politics to the marketplace, with companies assuring potential customers that those who purchase their product will reap a myriad of rewards. If you drive that new car, you will attract a model for a spouse. Wearing these new clothes will land you a promotion. That vacation will solve all your problems.
The constant barrage of lies, exaggerations, and spins has caused many people to question what they assumed they knew about reality. Have I been told the truth? Have I placed my trust in the wrong sources?
Jesus declared that Satan was the “father of lies” (John 8:44). The apostle Paul cautioned that Christians should “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood. But against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens” (Eph. 6:11-12). So dominant is Satan’s evil kingdom that Paul called him the “ruler of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). The fallen, sinful world in which we live is dominated by Satan and his lies. Falsehood is Satan’s superpower. He convinces societies of ever larger and more destructive lies until they are torn asunder.
How should Christians function in a world that is permeated with falsehood?
First, familiarize yourself with truth. There is one place we can turn where we know we will find the absolute truth: the Bible. It’s God’s Word, and it’s unfailingly true. The tragic reality is that many Christians spend far more time consuming biased news reports than they do reading their Bibles. When people are unfamiliar with the truth, they will be unable to recognize lies.
Second, we can dwell on what we know to be true. Paul said, “Whatever is true . . . dwell on these things” (Phil. 4:8). Better to base our life on the bedrock of certain truths than to speculate on dozens of lies.
Third, heed the voice of the Spirit of Truth. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13). The Spirit of truth dwells within each believer and can alert us to falsehood if we heed his voice. At times, the Spirit warns us of dangerous lies, but we ignore or don’t recognize his voice. We may not realize until much later that God was trying to get our attention. Better to heed his still, small voice immediately so we can avoid the dangers ahead.
Fourth, we can allow the Spirit to set us free. Jesus said we would know the truth, and the truth would set us free (John 8:32). My father used to say that any time he met people who were in bondage to something, he knew there was a truth of God that could set them free.
I have worked with many people who were experiencing chronic problems. Perhaps they couldn’t hold down a job, save money, or cultivate a healthy relationship. They were unhappy and wanted their life to improve. Nevertheless, they didn’t make any adjustments to their beliefs or behaviors, and they continued to experience the same unsatisfactory results. They could not be set free from their problem until they ruthlessly weeded out the lies and embraced the truth of their situation.
Christians are at an advantage on this point, because we have the Spirit of truth dwelling within us. We have access to solid Bible teaching. We can join a community of people who value and encourage the pursuit of truth. We ought to be less susceptible to lies. But too often, we aren’t.
As you enter this new year, take time to audit your current operating beliefs. Are they true? Evaluate your sources of information. Are they reliable? Have you been inadvertently basing your viewpoint and decisions on falsehood?
