TRUTH THAT BRINGS FREEDOM

 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32

As I write this, our nation is approaching another birthday. On July 4, 1776, our nation declared independence from the oppression of British rule. On our calendars, July 4^th is designated as Independence Day. People from other nations look to America with envy, desiring the very freedom that Americans take for granted.

There is a real spiritual battle going on in our land today. The forces of evil are working to destroy the concept and reality of truth in our society. The very freedom our nation was founded upon is based upon truth. Now the concept of truth is being eradicated from our country. The very truth that liberates souls is hated and despised by those who need freedom the most.

I live in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. It is a beautiful state. Yet many residents here live in bondage to drugs. Substance abuse is a major issue that is destroying lives here. The answer for the opioid crisis here in our area is found in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Truth brings freedom. For those who are enslaved to sin, substances and shame, the freedom they desperately need is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Avoiding the truth is a common, but harmful reaction. Others hate the truth and violently seek to destroy it. The truth may hurt, but the pain it may bring is the first step in the healing process.

When you have a health problem, you go to the doctor to find out what is wrong and hopefully receive medication to resolve the problem. The doctor's diagnosis is key to recovery. A wrong diagnosis may make your condition worse. When we have a health scare, we want good news from the doctor when he reveals his diagnosis. However, good news is not really good news if his diagnosis is wrong. You see, if you are given the truth by the doctor, even bad news may work for your benefit, if it leads to proper treatment.

The reason mankind struggles so much is that we reject God's diagnosis of our problem. His diagnosis is very clear: we have a terminal disease called sin. Rather than receiving this diagnosis, we reject it outright. Instead, we seek an easier and friendlier diagnosis. In doing so, we reject the truth and accept a lie.  

Here's the problem, God's diagnosis is true. Furthermore, his diagnosis leads to good news that will bring positive change for our eternal good. Rejecting the truth is harmful to your soul because when you reject the diagnosis, you are also rejecting the cure. Believing and receiving the truth leads to freedom and joy.

Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Notice that He didn't say, “... ye shall know about the truth...” Instead, in a very personal way, “... ye shall know the truth.” In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am … the truth...” True freedom comes in knowing Jesus personally, loving Him supremely and trusting Him explicitly.

Furthermore, we are called live and walk in the light. As followers of Jesus, we are expected to know the truth and live by it. We need to repent of all forms of deceit, lies and sin. We should not resist the truth or run from it. Rather, we believe that the facts are our friends. We believe in a factual God. We believe in a real Jesus who came to give us genuine life. We rely on the trustworthy promises of God's Word and live thereby.

When we know the truth personally and intimately, we experience freedom. We celebrate liberty daily, not just on July 4^th. We were once in sin's bondage, but now we have been set free by the power of God.

For those held captive by drugs, alcohol, illegal activities, and immoral living, the message of the cross is the solution that bring ultimate, eternal results. Through genuine repentance and personal faith in the crucified and risen Redeemer, freedom is a genuine reality. Jesus Christ sets captives free.

Know the truth today. Meet Jesus Christ and experience liberty & abundant life through Him!

To Tell The Truth

 "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” - Psalm 51:6

When I was growing up, our family would occasionally watch an old game show on television entitled, “To Tell The Truth.” I understand that a modern version is running these days on network television. The premise of the show is simple, three people are brought before a team of celebrities, each claiming to be a person with an unusual job or a remarkable life experience. The team of celebrities then question the three people, trying to determine which one is telling the truth. The other two contestants are just pretending.

While it may be entertaining to watch a team of celebrities guess who is telling the truth, in real life it is much more difficult to discern the honesty of others. It is not entertaining to have someone lie or deceive you. We expect others to tell us the truth.

Dishonesty is a major problem in our society. Politicians, news reporters and even ministers have been caught lying or deceiving people. This has occurred so often that we are no longer shocked by the overt dishonesty of people.

While lying is a horrible sin, it has a deeper root. The reason people lie is because they have a sinfully depraved nature. Like candidates on “To Tell The Truth,” we are guilty of pretending to be something we are not. Rather than being people of character and integrity, we seek to have a polished image. While you may impress others with a good image, the reality beneath the veneer can only be hidden for a short period of time. Sooner or later, the truth comes out.

A life of duplicity is often called hypocrisy. While it is easy to spot hypocrisy in others, it is more difficult to recognize it in ourselves. While we easily condemn the pretense of others, we are quick to guard or excuse our own pretense. Why should we pretend? Just to impress those we hardly know?

Even in church, it is possible to live in falsehood. Some pretend to be spiritual when they're not. Others pretend to be strong Christians, even though they are struggling daily. A few even pretend to be Christians while living in rebellious sin for years.

Like an actor, it is possible to create a public role that is separate from reality. While others may see the public role, God sees the reality. Often the public role is more impressive than reality. Instead of improving reality, it is easier to hide reality behind the mask of public image.

Of course the danger is that we begin believing the fiction rather than the reality. We end up lying to more than the general public. We eventually believe the lie ourselves. It takes a work of God to upset this routine and bluntly show us reality.

Look at the life of King David for a moment. He committed the horrible sin of adultery. As if that wasn't bad enough, he tried to hide his sin. His elaborate attempts to avoid responsibility eventually led to the dark sin of murder. Through it all, David went about his daily routine as if nothing was wrong. On the surface, David seemed to do an admirable deed in marrying the widow, Bathsheba. To most citizens, David was an impressive man. God knew different. David spent an entire year deceiving others. When God sent the prophet, Nathan, to challenge David, the mask of deceit came off. David's sin was exposed. In his repentance, David penned Psalm 51. In verse 6 of this psalm, David wrote, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” If David had come clean long before, so much heartache and pain could have been avoided. Instead, his deceit cost him dearly. Sincere truth is always better than polished deceit.

Although we like to think of ourselves as being honest, a more careful examination may proof otherwise. Rather than focusing on our image, let us seek to have Godly character. Instead of trying to impress others, let us seek personal integrity. Rather than desiring the applause of others, let us live to please God. Inner truth is often hidden by layers of scars and shame. The removal of these layers may be painful, but getting to the truth is always worth it.

After a painful time of honesty, David wrote that God desires inner truth. Shouldn't we?

The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But The Truth

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” - Proverbs 18:13

This past week has been an eye-opening experience for me. This week, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) held its annual meeting. I am not a Southern Baptist. My church is not part of the SBC. However, I have friends in the SBC. There are good churches, gifted preachers and great people in the SBC. However, this year's SBC had a lot of tension leading up to the convention. In the aftermath of the convention, some are still troubled.

Like many denominations, the SBC has some inner conflicts. Certainly their problems are none of my business, since I am not affiliated with them. Obviously, I have not been hired as a consultant, so I'm not trying to give them advise or help them solve their problems. Instead, I want to focus on a major issue that seems to have deepened their conflict: social media. You see, social media has served as a means to propagate misinformation, rumors and character assassination leading up to and even after their convention. This is not just a SBC problem. It really exists beyond denominational walls.

Many use social media to express their opinions. Rather than using wisdom and common sense, some overtly share all their opinions, even at the expense of others. When these opinions are shared by others, the opinions go viral. Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms have become a gossip community, a sinful cesspool for the saints.

Nearly everyone on social media must confess that we are affected, to some degree, by what we read on Facebook or Twitter. If someone expresses a negative statement about someone, we are prone to believe it is true. Furthermore, we share or retweet statements without validating whether the statement is factual or not. We can find ourselves biased about a subject simply based upon hearsay.

In a court of law, a witness is sworn to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” Hearsay evidence is inadmissible in court. However, a lot of critical statements on social media is based upon hearsay and biased opinions.

The Bible says, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Disagreements seem to escalate into arguments on social media. Criticism is often shared without an actual first-hand knowledge of a situation or an investigation into the authenticity of the claims. Like it or not, we can be guilty of sinful gossip by our participation in such shenanigans.

To my brothers and sisters, regards of denomination, let me make some suggestions about our activity on social media.

1. INVESTIGATION

First, before posting a criticism, sharing or retweeting a quote of or about someone, do your research. Did the person really make the statement you are quoting? If so, under what context? Are you sharing a honest statement?

2. CONTEMPLATION

Second, before posting a criticism, think. Is it God's will for you to post such a critical remark? Would you like to be quoted or criticized this way?

3. INTERCESSION

Third, pray for the person you're about to criticize. Don't pray a Pharisaical prayer. Instead, earnestly intercede for the person.

More than likely, if you do these three things, it is highly unlikely you'll proceed with your criticism or share another person's criticism.

You see, what you post on the internet is a reflection of your own integrity. You should desire to post things that are honest and true. Posting gossip, hearsay or accusations is sinful and wrong. Don't be guilty of slandering a brother in Christ! Consider how much falsehood you may have posted already. Like it or not, you are accountable to God for what you write on social media. Do you feel comfortable with that?

Speaking for myself, I'd rather share something positive, helpful or uplifting on social media. When someone stumbles onto my Facebook or Twitter page, I hope they find things that are honest and right. Most of all, I want God to be pleased with the things I share.

Brethren, let us use social media for the glory of God rather spreading rumors and gossip. When God and others see what we write, may they see the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

What Is Truth?

“Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?” - John 8:38

The Free Dictionary defines truth as, “the quality of being true, genuine, actual or factual.” I think we could further improve this definition as something true, genuine, actual or factual with nothing held back and nothing added to it. No doubt you've heard the statement, “the facts are your friends.” While that is true, it is equally true that falsehood is your enemy.

Social media has become a cesspool of false information. To make things worse, Facebook, Twitter and other social media companies have made it their business to police information on their platforms. Their efforts are often criticized as being inconsistent and biased. At times they have even removed truthful information in their zeal to quash falsehood.

Among the dangers we face today, there is a temptation to dilute the truth, due to personal bias or preference. While this has become common place in our society, it robs truth of its meaning and power. Some news media outlets are criticized for biased interviews and reporting.

These days, it is difficult to trust anyone. The truth has nearly become extinct in our society. We can't believe politicians, the news media and even those in the church.

Truth is more than just an abstract theory, it is a major component to a properly functioning society. We need a revival of truth.

Pilate must have thought that truth was just a philosophical subject. He asked the question, “What is truth?” Pilate was clueless. Most Americans are, too.

The answer to Pilate's question was right in front of him. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am … the truth.” Like Pilate, our society can't see the forest for the trees. Truth is more than an abstract concept, it involves the unadulterated facts that constitute reality. At the core of the truth is the Person of Truth, Jesus Christ. Thus the battle over truth is not a political, social or philosophical battle, it is a spiritual battle that costs people their souls.

Some feel that the battle over truth is not worth the cost. I declare that apathy will cost far more than any battle for truth.

Rejecting the truth does not destroy the truth, it merely reveals the nature of the person who rejects it. The truth may sometimes hurt, but it is always better than falsehood.

Don't be content to believe just anything, regardless of its popularity. Examine everything according to the standard of truth, including your own life.

There is an old saying that goes, “The truth will stand when the world is on fire.” Though this is not technically a Biblical quote, the substance of the quote is true. Ultimately, every person on earth will face judgment before a holy God. Each person will be judged based upon the truth.

What is truth? It is the unadulterated, genuine fact that Jesus is Lord and His Word is absolutely trustworthy.

Know the truth. Speak the truth. Live the truth.

Don't settle for anything less.

Truth Or Consequences

 “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” - Psalm 11:3

Bob Barker will always be known for the decades he hosted the TV game show, “The Price Is Right.” Older folks (like myself) may also remember him hosting another game show called, “Truth Or Consequences.” Personally, I saw it only in syndication. To the best of recollection, contestants were brought on stage and asked a trivia question. They had just 2 seconds to respond. Usually, the question was nearly impossible to answer … or a punch line to a really bad joke. Failing to provide the “truth” in response to the trivia question, they now must face the consequences, which was typically some kind of hilarious stunt.

It would be nice if life were so simple, but it isn't. The “truth” is not a matter of answering a trivia question or giving a correct answer to some riddle. To make things worse, failing to embrace the truth has dire consequences.

Despite everything you see on the news or read on the internet, the real battle going on in our country is not political or philosophical. It is a spiritual warfare. The main issue under attack is the subject of truth.

Our nation was built upon the foundation of truth. The preamble of the Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (emphasis added). Even though truth is a foundation of our nation's freedom, this foundation is being systematically destroyed by those in the highest offices of government, supported by many Americans.

Sadly, truth is only important at select times these days. People complain when politicians lie. They are hurt when people lie to them. But they are not hesitant to fudge an expense report or tell a convenient lie.

When politicians debate or make speeches, there are reporters who claim to “fact-check” their claims. Of course, the same reporters don't appreciate it when others do a fact-check of their reporting.

Isaiah 5:20-21 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” These condemning words are certainly applicable for America right now. Many in our nation call the truth a lie and a lie the truth.

Furthermore, manipulation is being used as part of the evil agenda to brainwash our people. Any person who publicly declares what the Bible says about homosexuality is harshly condemned for being judgmental and may soon be arrested for hate speech. Stating the Bible's opposition to the transgender lifestyle is met with open hostility and anger. Christians are being manipulated into remaining silent while sin is running rampant in our land. Ultimately, we are headed for a lawless society where the only crime will be Christianity.

Despite the overt hypocrisy about truth, our nation continues its rebellious and arrogant decent toward judgment. Some argue that judgment has already arrived in America. Sodom was on the brink of destruction when God mercifully delivered righteous Lot and his daughters. I am looking for the Lord to soon deliver us from this sin-infested world.

Truth may be unpopular today, but everyone will soon be judged by the very truth they are seeking to obliterate. The Bible says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Our nation is sowing wickedly. Very soon it will be harvest time and reaping will occur. Those who hate and reject the truth will soon find that the greatest lie is the one they have told themselves. Those who reject the truth will soon face the consequences.

Although it will not be sung from the halls of Congress these days, Julia Ward Howe's famous chorus is certainly true:

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on!

Restoring Evangelism To Our Churches

 “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” - Psalm 126:6

Even a casual reader of the book of Acts would have to admit that the early Church was very evangelistic. The contrasts between the early Church today's American church is very startling. In the book of Acts, spreading the Gospel was a vital part of Christian living. Today, we consider this work to be just a for a very select few who probably have Bible school training. This flawed thinking has resulted in evangelistic anemia and a sharp decline in our churches.

I think most of us would agree that there needs to be a greater emphasis placed upon evangelism. So many are facing eternity without God. Apart from salvation, they will face eternity in an awful place called hell.

Evangelism, at its core, is simply sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and leaving the results up to Him. Some refer to evangelism as “soul winning.” Regardless of the terminology, there is a dire need for this vital work to be done.

While we may agree that evangelism is needed, most us would prefer to say, “evangelism needs to be done … by others.” Too many expect the pastor or church staff to do this job. For many church members, it is unthinkable that evangelism should be done by them.

I don't consider myself to be an expert on anything, especially evangelism. Even though I may not be an expert on the subject, I try to be very intentional about this work. Let me share some basic aspects of evangelism. I'm trusting that God will challenge you to actively participate in this exciting venture.

1. KNOW

First of all, before you can be used by the Lord, it is important that you know a few things. First of all, you need to know you are saved yourself. You can't lead someone to go where you've never been. You can't share what you don't possess. You need to be assured of your own salvation.

Secondly, you need to know the message of the Gospel so you may share it with others. Evangelism does not always require a long, detailed message. Sometimes just a brief word will be sufficient. Regardless of the length of the conversation, the believer should be familiar with the Gospel message to the point he is able to share as much as the situation allows.

2. GO

Secondly, we need to go into the harvest field and work. The first word in the Great Commission is, “go,” (see Matthew 28:19). Well-meaning Christians pray for God to use them but they never really intend to leave their recliner. A fisherman knows that a major key to his success is found in going where the fish are at and begin fishing there. In a similar token, we are called to be fishers of men. In order to communicate with the lost, we must get close to the lost.

3. SOW

Finally, we need to sow the Gospel seed. When Jesus gave us the parable of the sower, He explained the parable by saying that the seed is the Word of God. Sow this seed regularly. Sow it abundantly. Sow it expectantly. The Bible says, “... in due season, we shall reap if we faint not.” The more you sow, the greater the harvest. The less you sow, the less the harvest. Sow the Gospel seed.

Be aware that it isn't our job to make the seed grow. God gives the increase. He is the only One who can cause a seed to grow. Let's depend on Him as we sow daily.

Evangelism is sharing the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results up to God. While a preacher may present the Gospel on Sunday morning, we should be faithful in making the Gospel known throughout the week, wherever we go.

Know. Go. Sow. It may be you are one conversation away from seeing a spiritual harvest today!

Restoring Preaching To Our Churches

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” - 2 Timothy 4:2

It may seem strange that preaching needs to be restored to our churches. In most churches, the preaching of the Word is of utmost importance. Still, I make a claim that there are certain churches that are in dire need of good preaching.

The temptation of this age is for preachers to alter the church service to be more politically correct. Some are doing this already. Rather than preaching, the pastor merely gives a “talk,” or a “life lesson.”

Let me be clear. A pastor is not a CEO, a life coach or a motivational speaker. He is a preacher of the Gospel. It is time for us to be unashamed of this calling.

Let me be clear about the kind of preaching that needs to be restored to the American church.

1.  BIBLICAL

First of all, all preaching should be Biblical in nature. Paul encouraged Timothy to “Preach the word.” We are not to preach newspaper articles or the latest copy of Sports Illustrated. A preacher needs to preach the Scriptures. Sermons should come straight from the Bible. I am a firm believer in expository preaching. Preach verse-by-verse, line-by line, word-by-word. The congregation does not need to be informed about the preacher's philosophy or political preferences. The congregation needs to hear what God has to say and this can only be done when the Word is preached. The people need to hear, “Thus saith the Lord.” In this critical hour, people need to hear the truth of God's Word.

2.  PASSIONATE

Secondly, good preaching should be delivered with some spiritual fire. Martyn Lloyd Jones once defined preaching as “logic on fire.” If a preacher is not passionate about his message, how can the congregation get passionate about it? In some circles, the word, “anointed,” is used to describe the special touch of God on a sermon. While some may wish to debate the descriptive terminology, the absence of God's blessing on a preacher and his sermon is obvious.

3.  EVANGELISTIC

Regardless of the text, every preacher should never fail to proclaim Jesus Christ to his congregation. Although a typical Sunday service should be designed to engage believers in worship, the preacher should never fail to make the Gospel known to his hearers. Even if his sermon isn't specifically about the Gospel, he should make it a point to present the Gospel for the sake of any unbeliever present. Basically, evangelistic preaching is Christ-focused, God-exalting preaching.

While it may be more popular to give lectures or a pep talk to a congregation weekly, spiritual hunger can only be satisfied with strong, Biblical preaching. We need this restored to all of our churches.

Each week, spiritually hungry people fill the pews of churches, yearning to be fed spiritual food. May God raise up pastors who will spend quality time in the spiritual kitchen so that a hot, nourishing meal may be served each week.