June 24, 2015

Talkers and Deceivers

I’m writing a series of articles titled, “Lightning Rods” where I interview people in the community who spark conversations. One outspoken government watchdog-type man declined my request for an interview with a curt, “I’m not interested.” Okay, let me get this straight. You can spew all manner of accusations in public meetings, be quoted in the local newspaper and yet refuse to give the community any personal background information, or reveal your credentials. Paul cautioned that even we in the church are not immune to such deception, “For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain” (Titus 1:10-11 NIV).

1 comment:

Steve Corey said...

Gail;

-----In the last few years I’ve developed a saying from my life’s observations which helps me take comfort in God’s promise to care for everyone who desires His righteousness, “Truth has awareness.” His solemn Word tells us His eyes see everything. Being truth Himself, that is its awareness. But that’s only the flour in this saying’s recipe. Reality leaves evidence. Critters leave footprints where they’ve been. Water and wind both leave their marks upon whatever gets in their way. And ideas are similar. Some ideas leave marks on tangible things, like the snake on the early American Patriot’s flag was the mark of somebody’s idea. Other ideas only leave marks on beliefs. But everything leaves its mark. Everything real leaves evidence. And as the sincere searcher for the truth finds and sorts through evidence, what truth he’s found so far indicates where newly discovered evidence fit’s into truth’s emerging patterns like the finished portions of a jigsaw puzzle indicate the probable shape and color of yet undiscovered pieces. This is the shortening combining with the flour in the recipe of truth’s awareness. The sugar is His Spirit in everyone who’s found enough truth to believe in Jesus Christ. This Spirit leads into all truth. Therefore, truth has awareness. It knows who’s looking for it. It draws them in.
-----It is helpful to know someone’s background when vetting his integrity. It is certainly the easy and immediate way to know it. But lacking that, all you have to do is listen to his ideas and note the tracks he leaves wherever he goes. It doesn’t take much investigation for truth to begin showing whether he is sorted into the right bin of life, or into the left one (Ecc 10:2.) But for truth’s awareness to build in you, you must sincerely desire the truth, else you will be sorting yourself into the left bin thinking it’s the right one.

Love you all,
Steve Corey