Showing posts with label woke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label woke. Show all posts

Monday, September 15, 2025

Wisely Mirror Who He Really Is. Charlie Did That.

Yep, in the Lord, Charlie Kirk listened to all and did just that. 

Live as a Mirror of Truth (my Hip-hop Rap)

Yo, we livin’ in a world full of lies, 
Deceit on the streets, masks in disguise.
Lyin’ spirits whisper seem so LOUD, impostors remind, out on the grind,
But the hardest battle? The one between 2 ears.. in your mind.
Many hearts so untrue,
“Deceitful above all things,” that’s the view.
But pride’ll bind n blind your eyes,
Promises glory, but'll leave you despised

Be a mirror of truth reflecting true light, see the soul inside,
Jesus.. the light where those shadows won't hide or abide.
Godly wisdom, His Word as the guide,
Walk in His love, let your heart collide.
Self-deception fades, pride and hate won't stay,
Only in Him we find the way.

Samson woke up thinkin', strength was intact,
He'd let Delilah cut it out..without shout. Man, Lord had pulled back.
Goliath flexed, height n muscles big, chest puffed out,
The fight was God’s n Dave trusted, wasn't his stuff.
Rich fool stacked grain, thought he had it all,
Night came fast, his towers fall.
Laodicea said, We rich, we’re fine, right on time!
Jesus said, “Blind, poor, pitiful, your soul’s on the decline.”

James be clear, don’t just hear, say n obey,
Let the Word reshape you every single day!
Hands that serve, hearts that care,
Faith and love, walkin' everywhere.
Worldly-wisdom-chasing--won’t pass or last!
That masks n hides a hardened heart real fast.
But Jesus stands there for you--patient, tender, true,
Whispers softly, “Come closer, I’ll walk with you.”

Mirror His truth--abide, see your soul inside,
Jesus is the light and ugly shadows can't hide.
Godly wisdom, His Word as guide,
Walk in His truth--let your heart collide.
Change. Let self-deception fade, pride can’t stay,
Only in Jesus do we find the Father's way!

Walk wise, store and share His Word, let it grow deep,
Not merely in mind, but in spine--real life you keep.
Faith in action, not commotion, but love in motion,
Godly wisdom, life’s true potion.
Put out the truth, ignore your flesh, reflection divine,
Jesus at the center, heart and mind mesh ..and align!
Walk narrow road, daily choose,
Don't quit, or be spit. Ditch all lies. Self-deception dies, but you won't lose!

Ask Him in. Not the same..with blame. Deception fades, pride loses its claim,
Godly wisdom burns red hot, eternal flame!
Mirror of truth, heart abide, open wide,
He's the way, the truth, real life ..inside.

Jesus, know Him well.. time will tell!

* 1 Corinthians 1:24: "but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God".

* Colossians 2:3: "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge".

* Matthew 11:19: "Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds" (referring to Jesus' works).


Godly Wisdom > Worldly Wisdom (God’s Superior Treasure, Sure Beats Man’s Inferior Choices)


1. There's the Danger of Foolishness


“There are two ways to be fooled: to believe what isn’t true, and to refuse to believe what is true.”


The Bible says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Ps. 14:1). An intentional fool knows better, yet still chooses folly. That’s more than ignorance—it’s rebellion.


Charles Spurgeon once said, “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it.”


It’s like a man holding a map and walking off a cliff anyway—knowledge without obedience leads to ruin.


“Indeed, if you call out for insight

and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver

and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding”

(Proverbs 2:3–6).


Are you "woke," or have you been really awakened from the dead inside? You shall know the truth if you'll just pause to listen up, and the truth might make you feel so angry.. until you're set completely free.. if you want to be.


Sure, if you'll wisely embrace what's so.


Friedrich Nietzsche said, "Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed."


George R.R. Martin said, "Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it." Please face it head-on -- let the Bible speak into your human spirit and mind regardless of what you initially feel.


Many people demand to hear God's audible voice! Hey, crack open His Bible and read it out loud -- you'll indeed hear God's audible voice (but please know you'll never be divine)

divine.


Stephen Colbert coined the term "truthiness" to describe the phenomenon of so many people preferring concepts or made-up facts one wishes to be true, rather than actual truth that's real.


Elbert Hubbard (not that cultist L. Ron Hubbard) once said, "Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing, and you'll never be criticized." 


Live real. Say what’s so and consistently live accordingly.. not from you, but by the Spirit’s enabling. 


What a tough week. How shocking! Why did it get a hold of the whole world like it did?


Hey, Charlie Kirk was not only a sound political activist in a collapsing Western culture, he was more so a Christian soul-winner. He was not only the victim of a hateful murder by a perverted liar who had encouragement from the twisted, but he was a martyr with the truth. 


Yes, follow God – LIVE like Jesus did and does. 


You shall know the truth.. if you'll simply listen up, and the truth might make you feel angry.. until you're set completely free.. if you want to be. Not a bad choice!


I say live like Charlie Kirk as he rep-ed out Lord. We honor him, but we worship Jesus. Yes, follow God--LIVE like Jesus did and does. " 1 Corinthians 11:1 niv


 2. The Source of True Wisdom


The world prizes cleverness, but Scripture cuts through: “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Cor. 3:19).


Real wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Prov. 9:10). It is not simply knowing facts, but seeing life from God’s perspective and acting accordingly.


J.I. Packer wrote, “Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God’s holiness and sovereignty, acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours.”


A flashlight in the park.. without batteries might look useful to some.. but it gives zero stark light. Not bright! More fright and night! So, knowledge without Jesus and the fear of God leaves one stumbling out in the dark.


 3. The Pathway to Wisdom


How do we get it? By God’s Word and by prayer.


 “The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:130).

 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously” (James 1:5).


A.W. Tozer put it this way: “The Word of God, well understood and religiously obeyed, is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others.”


George Barna research shows less than 1 in 5 Christians read the Bible daily. No wonder so many stumble in circles, repeating mistakes. The Bible makes wise the simple, but only if opened, read, and lived.


4. The Cost and Crown from a Life of Real Wisdom


Godly wisdom often looks foolish to the world. Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). Worldly wisdom says, “Get even.” Godly wisdom is better saying, “Forgive, for Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32). A forgiven people need in their hearts to be a forgiving people.


Corrie Ten Boom, who forgave her Nazi captors, said, “Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” That’s godly wisdom in action—costly, but Christlike.


Proverbs 16:16 sums it up: “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get understanding rather than silver!” Wisdom pays eternal dividends.


Solomon simply asked for God's kind of wisdom and received it (2 Chron. 1:10–11). Yet later, he temporarily traded it for idols and fell (1 Kings 11). Wisdom once gained must be guarded, or we too will drift off into weirdness.


"There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true." ~ Søren Kierkegaard


Choose Life, Choose Christ (it and real wisdom are found in Him), Choose to make an impact for others while you can.


 - The fool chooses the corrupt world system with so many lies.

 - The wise choose God’s truth not matter the cost.

 - The fool trusts in himself. Self-confidence take people down. Ask Peter who denied Jesus after saying he'd never do that.

 - The wise trusts the Lord: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Prov. 3:5–6).


“Wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and true wisdom is to depart from evil.” ~ John Bunyan


“Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord.”


So would you ask yourself this: Will I live as an intentional fool—or as a child of God walking in wisdom?


Q: What Bible passage clearly shows us godly wisdom as superior to worldly wisdom?


"For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God. 19 For it is written and forever remains written,


‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers], and the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.’


20 Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 21 For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior]. 22 For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort]." 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 amp


What's the message of the cross? It's the gospel in all its fullness, which centers on the miraculous incarnation and crucifixion of Christ (physical death, but he didn't stay dead 2:2); the entire divine plan and provision for the redemption of us sinners, which basically is the theme of all Scripture.


We believers repented and are saved (in a moment, talkin' 'bout saving faith), we are now being saved, and we will be saved (yes, salvation is not completed until the redemption of the body; see Rom. 8:23; 13:11). One’s response to the cross of Christ determines which it'll be for you. To all Christ-rejectors who are in the process of being destroyed (see Eph. 2:1, 2), the gospel is complete nonsense, foolishness. To those who are believers, it is the powerful wisdom of God.


Where is the wise (1:20)? Paul paraphrases Is. 19:12, where the prophet was referring to the wise men of Egypt who promised, but never produced godly wisdom. Human wisdom always proves to be lame, unreliable, and impermanent (see v. 17; Prov. 14:12; Is. 29:14; Jer. 8:9; Rom. 1:18–23).

Scribe? Probably, Paul has in mind the Assyrians, who sent scribes along with their soldiers to record the booty taken in battle. And God saw to it they had nothing to record (Is. 33:18). Disputer..what? This was a Gr. word with no OT counterpart, identifying those who were adept at arguing philosophy.


In the wisdom of God. God wisely established that men could not come to know Him by human wisdom (1:21). That would only exalt man, so God designed to save us helpless sinners through the preaching of a true message that was so simple the “worldly wise” deemed it foolsih-nonsense. (See Rom 1:18–23). "Who believe." From the human side, salvation requires and comes only through faith in Christ. (John 1:12; Rom. 10:8–17).


"A sign..what sign? (1:22)." Unbelieving Jews demanded and wanted supernatural signs (Matt. 12:38–44 many do that today), yet they refused to accept the most glorious of all the supernatural sign--the works of God, Jesus providing salvation through a virgin-born, Him crucified, and physically risen as Messiah. This rising sign was a stumbling block to them (Rom. 9:31–33). "Wisdom." Gentiles wanted proof by means of human reasoning, through ideas they could grasp and set forth, discuss, and debate.


Like the Athenian philosophers, they were not sincere or honest with their questions. They didn't want the truth. They had no interest in God's truth, but they were merely wanting to argue intellectual novelty again and again to no end (Acts 17:21).

Christ crucified (1:23). That's the true sign and the only true wisdom. This alone was the message Paul preached (2:2) because it alone had the power to save all who believed. Anyone willing!


"Called" (1:24, 25). The true message of the cross seems so pointless and irrelevant to man’s proud, natural mind ..and hard heart, but this actually exhibits God’s greatest power and greatest wisdom. Are you the natural person (dead in your human spirit), the carnal person (half looking to the world to meet your needs, lukewarm), or the spiritual (saved and growing) person today?


Even though real Christians are “all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28), their local churches often suffer from division (Stop it). And why is it there?


1.) We forget the truth and calling we have recieved in Jesus (Real all of 1 Corinthians 1. See v. 2, 9, 24–29). It is only by God’s grace that we have been called, and this fact should humble us and encourage us to love one another (John 15:17).

2.) We have a tendency to follow unwise human leaders and develop a lame fan club mentality. Why petistalize saved sinners? Christ alone died for us and lives to bless us, and He must have the preeminence.

3.) We have a dependence on mere human wisdom (not the godly type) and on man's philosophies (an idiotic choice), of which there were many in Corinth. The world’s wisdom had crept into the church, and it did not mix with the wisdom of God (Isa. 8:20). Various theologies are the attempts of scholars to interpret the Word of God, but they are not the Word. Never allow them to be a cause of division


Want to see some more contrast between godly wisdom and worldly wisdom?:


- James 3:13–18 describes worldly wisdom as "earthly, unspiritual, demonic," characterized by selfish ambition and leading to disorder. In contrast, godly wisdom is "pure, then peaceable, gentle... full of mercy and good fruits".


- 1 Corinthians 3:18–19 warns against self-deception and considering oneself wise in worldly terms, stating that "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God".


- Proverbs consistently contrasts wisdom rooted in the fear of the Lord with destructive foolishness, such as Proverbs 14:12 which notes a path that seems right but leads to death. 


We live in a world of lies, and yes, deception has many faces. Some are spiritual—“lying spirits” that mislead (1 Timothy 4:1). Some are external—“evildoers and impostors” (2 Timothy 3:13). But perhaps the most dangerous deceiver is closer than we think: our own hearts. Do you trust in your own heart? Scripture is blunt, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9).


It was so easy for C.S. Lewis to observe, “Human history is the long, terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”


Man, that’s the essence of self-deception—convincing ourselves that life, joy, real happiness, fulfillment or safety can be found apart from a vital meaningful relationship with the living Christ!


Isaiah speaks of an idolater who is misled by his own “deluded heart” (Isaiah 44:20). Obadiah points to pride as the root: “The pride of your heart has deceived you” (Obadiah 1:3). Pride promises honor, but it blinds us to truth and leads only to ruin: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).


Think about how history is His Story -- it gives us vivid illustrations. When the Titanic sailed, the world declared it “unsinkable.” Passengers trusted in man’s engineering. Yet within days, it lay broken on the ocean floor.


Charles Spurgeon warned, “The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation.” The Titanic was not just a shipwreck; it was a parable of man's pride deceiving man (self-deception).


James warns of the same danger in the spiritual life: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). The self-deception could happen at any age--don't let it.


Why pride yourself in what you do? I once knew a man who prided himself on reading the Bible cover to cover each year. He could recite long passages, but at home he was so harsh and so unloving. He looked in the mirror of Scripture but refused to properly act on what he saw (see James 1:23–24).


Clive Lewis put it well: “A man is never so proud as when striking an attitude of humility.” Knowledge without obedience becomes a subtle form of self-deception.


Samson’s downfall illustrates this. He assumed his strength still remained, but “he did not know that the Lord had left him” (Judges 16:20). Some people cling to an experience they had with God years ago while living carelessly, drifting in the present. Your experience, and blessed relationship with Him now is what matters. You want the Holy Spirit to use you today -- you want the Spirit's power working through you. Live in the now with Jesus ruling inside as Lord!


Goliath mocked Israel, boasting in his own size, unaware that the real contest was with the living God (1 Samuel 17:41–51)--and David had faith in God. Many today strut with self-confidence in their wealth, influence, or intellect prowes, but as Spurgeon said, “Sin is a deceitful thing. It promises pleasure, and it pays with pain. It offers profit, and it bestows ruin.”


Jesus’ parable of the rich fool makes the point clear in this regard. The man’s barns were so full, his future seemed so secure—at least in his own imagination. But God said, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you” (Luke 12:20).


Perhaps you know of a modern businessman who retired young to “live the dream.” Then weeks later, he was diagnosed with cancer and died shortly after. Like the rich fool, he mistook temporary security for real lasting peace with an assurance inside.


Beware. Even whole churches can be self-deceived. The Laodiceans said, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing” (Revelation 3:17). But Jesus stripped away the stupd mask with truth: “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (v.17).


A.W. Tozer once wrote, “The most deceived people of all are those who refuse to admit they need to be delivered from deception.” Many churches today, outwardly prosperous, echo Laodicea’s words without realizing how far they’ve drifted far away. I'm NOT interested in religion -- God isn't that way.


The cure, James tells us, is not complicated but requires humility: “Whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed” (James 1:25).


Be honest with yourself.. and with God. Mr. Clive S. Lewis again: “We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us.” Facing the truth head on--yes, honestly before God, obeying His Word, and letting it reshape our lives is the only way to break free from self-deception, believer.


The Word of God is like a clear mirror that never lies. It shows us who we are and who we must become in Christ. But unless we respond with saving faith and daily obedience, we will walk away unchanged.. unfulfilled, dissatisfied inside, still trapped by the deceitfulness of our own hearts. What have you been trying to fill that empty void with? The lies your best friends tell you? Be truely wise! Come and get right with God here and now.. through Jesus Christ, the Father's sinless Son.

Monday, August 29, 2022

"Wokeness" is "the most insidious and dangerous and pervasive ideology I have ever seen in all of my life." ~ Tommy Nelson, pastor of Denton Bible Church

Cancel culture is graceless — woke is so broke!

Victimization is merely self-righteous vengeance.


Wokeness seeks to cancel anything or anyone that doesn’t bow to its ideology. And how is that pleasing to God or Christian at all? It isn’t. 

How is that a loving type of grace? It’s totally graceless. Where do we see the cancel culture in the Bible? You know most of the 12 Apostles eventually got killed (canceled) for their faith, but they and their (Christ’s) work lives on!

“‘But to keep this Message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.’ Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.” Acts 4:18–21

Wokeness is “hypocritical racism.” We often see it in our universities today. 

Greed and exploitation are growing themes in our corrupt world system now.

Where did wokeness come from?

The Bible says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

Do you need to be rightly awakened by the Spirit? Sure, and it can happen. Need a second chance at life? Today, even right here and now, you can be born of God’s Spirit!

As Christians, we should be spiritually “woke up” into the real life and love of God for our family members in Christ. Let’s show respect and genuine love towards all people. It starts on our knees.

Once we were blind in our sin, but Christians are biblically given new sight, and a righteous (not self-righteous) standing before God, and a new perspective from the Holy Spirit. The Bible says:

“Anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them” (1 John 2:11).

We each should be “woke up” to the light of the true Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Yes, we each should be “woke” to the fact of real temptations in the world (Matthew 26:41).

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10–17 nlt (Read more.. blog)

If you are dead inside spiritually.. if you are asleep in the dark then guess what.. you really do need to be woke up ..by Christ and His sound Gospel message.

Monday, April 18, 2022

Have I ever told a so called "white" one and got away with it? I've told one before, and other lies as well. Hey, we can tell the truth in a post-truth kinda world.

Is it ever right to tell a lie?

Q:  What’s a “white lie” really? Is it white and right? 

A:  It's any lie (the so called white lie is). It's a particular lie that, due to mitigating circumstances, honorable intentions, or limited scope, is considered negligible. Plenty of people believe that lying can be acceptable and even justifiable in certain circumstances. They argue that noble motives and the need of the moment can erase the sinful weight of the lie.

Have I told a so called "white" lie before, or some not even near white at all? Yes, and sometimes thought I was doing right due to my motives at the time. Have you done that too.. and what do you currently think about all that? Listen, God can forgive you and me of any sins. Humbly ask and receive.  

Can you find one in the Bible? Check out the story of Rahab.

And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. (Joshua 2:3–6)

Jesus never sinned once, He never even told a lie. You and I, we are to follow Him, His teachings, and His good example. 

What does the Bible say about white lies?

What does the Bible say about lyin’ and cheating in school?

Sup with lyin’ and human depravity - is it biblical?

Back in the day, should those Hebrew midwives have been commended for lying?

What does it mean that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44)?

“A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.” Prov. 13:5 nkjv

Live straightforward in the Son who is that way. The wise person’s words are sincere. They are honest. They are like silver (see Prov. 10:20), a tree of life (Prov. 15:4), food to nourish people (Prov. 10:21), like refreshing water (Prov. 10:11; 18:4), and like medicine (Prov. 12:18). The wise have words that should always be well seasoned like with salt (Col. 4:6) and must never become false and destructive (Jam. 3:1–12).


Choose Jesus and stop lying because the Lord is the God of truth. There is no other. Yes, the Lord hates a lying tongue (Prov. 6:17; 12:22). 


With half truths told and full lies, people cover their true feelings up (Prov. 10:18), and they promote hypocrisy (Prov. 26:23–26). Liars do not last (Prov. 12:19), but some lies can go on for years -- they do gobs of damage. Wealth gained by lies is fleeting away. Many people use lies for a quick acquisition of bucks. (Meditate upon Prov. 21:6). All liars will one day be punished for their sinful habit (Prov. 19:5, 9). If God hates lies like He really does, then we too must hate them like He does, or learn to hate lies (Prov. 13:5). Ponder and re-ponder Ephesians 4:17–32.


Pray that God will give you truthful words to tell your story, to share the Gospel Message too. Pray He'll use your words to win people to Christ, to heal the brokenhearted. Yes, to bring deliverance (see Prov. 12:6). It's the mouth of the wicked that brings bondage (12:13). None really wants that. 


Tell it straight, all nine yards of the Gospel, yes, the Message of Life. Do you have friends that need His Message and salvation, then go tactfully tell? Boldly tell. Right words must begin with right thoughts, and right motives (Honest words v. 5) and a love for learning what's true. (v. 1). Yes, in this area is where the ungodly person fails. Truthful words bring good to others and false words simply don’t (Prov. 10:21). Truthful conversations also to those who join in and speak truth (So edifying! v. 14; Prov. 13:2). With your words, you can help to heal those who have been broken or hurt (v. 18) and who have suffered because of lies (vv. 19–22). You can bring joy to those who are depressed and worried too (v. 25).

Lies, other sins done, and saying some other things wrong is what put Jesus up on that cross. My sins did, and yours did too. (Yesterday we celebrated Easter. Man, I don't want Christ's shed blood on that lonely tree to be in vain for me. Please confess truthfully and apply His cleansing by faith). 

Yeah, I've been guilty, but want to become wiser than I've been. I don't believe I've ever heard my dear wife, Liney, lie but she too needs Christ her Savior. But Ms. Rahab fibbed back in the day. Remember? 

By lying, Ms. Rahab prevented the capture of the Israelite spies and helped pave the way for Israel to conquer Jericho. Remarkably, Rahab is the only Gentile honored for her faith in Hebrews 11. By commending her faith, is Scripture also condoning her methods? Was hers the rarest of circumstances in which lying was the right thing to do?

Scholars and ethicists have argued over that question, going all the way back to the earliest rabbinical history. Not at all an easy question for us.

Scripture clearly teaches that “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (Proverbs 12:22 NKJV). God Himself cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29), and therefore He cannot condone or sanction a lie.

Some people and Christians argue that because of the serious circumstances, Rahab’s words to her interrogators were not technically a “lie,” but this was a military feint—a military stratagem that was designed to out-trick or outwit the enemy to defeat em in warfare. Then other people argue: No, any lie is acceptable if the motive serves a greater good, like in saving a person’s life. I wanna help save lives physically, and I want God to use you and me to save sinners too. Eternity is long, heaven and hell are real places. 

Such a situational approach to ethics regarding words is fraught with very serious problems.

Personally, do I see a need to try to justify Rahab’s lie. Nope. Do I see any biblical basis for defending her verbal deception as righteous? Nope. God is so powerful and wise, He certainly could have saved Rahab and the spies without her lie.

Do you remember Corrie Ten Boom and her story? She fixed watches in the Ten Boom home in Haarlem, Holland. (Visitors today can still view the actual 'hiding place. Read the book. She later attended the Costa Mesa So Cal church where I went as a teen). 

Jews were sheltered by the Ten Booms during World War 2. Yet Corrie and her family weren’t liars -- they were concerned reborn Christians with faith in God and a deep love for the Jews as we all should have. 

Corrie and her family had been hiding Jews away from the Nazis for a long time until they were betrayed by a fellow (hardhearted foolish) countryman. 

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And Corrie also spoke of some German people in Deutschland who were doing this for some Jews too. Lives were being hid and saved. 

Corrie's godly sis, Betsy Ten Boom, was a very honest believer in the Netherlands where they had their watch shop. She was extraordinarily sincere and had long decided, years earlier that she would never tell a lie. It this became for her an unbreakable principle of life. 

One day some German soldiers came by unexpectedly to the door and burst in to the house to search the whole home, diligently looking for Jews to arrest. 

The legs of the table there had been nailed down to the kitchen floor inside of the home. And beneath that table was a carpet concealing a small trap door. Lifting the table up would open the door to that secret basement where people were hiding. 

Yes, there was one family of Jews hiding in that chamber under the carpet and floor. The Jews had gone down through that trap door and were hidden under the table.

One German soldier asked “Are there any Jews hidden in this house?” And Betsy Ten Boom had no time to think really, or even to pray out-loud, about what she should respond. So, she just acted on instinct? Wsas the Holy Spirit leading her with those words. Did He give them to her? This was in accordance with her ingrained habits that she had built up over many years. Betsy just blurted out “Yes, they are hiding underneath the table”. 

Did God want Betsy to say that? She could have remained silent, but she didn't. She had no biblical duty to say it. And those Nazi Germans had no right to even be in there, let alone to ask them their question. Moreover, their purpose in asking it was abominable because they hated the Jews. And they were proactively seeking to gain favor from their leaders (murderers) by arresting and killing God’s chosen people, the Jews. That's the reason why the Ten Boom family was hiding the Jesus for so long. So, Corrie’s family members were probably feeling horrified by what Betsy had just said to those Nazis.

However, God was there. His heart was evidently touched by Betsy’s sincerity and honesty. So God blessed and intervened. The Lord must have planted a thought into the German soldier’s mind, because he immediately got the wrong end of the stick it would seem. He assumed that Betsy was making fun of him and that she couldn’t possibly have meant what she had just said. He mistakenly took it as sarcasm from her, which is the exact opposite of what it actually was. He therefore must have became red-faced and foolish. So he felt that if he looked under the table everybody would laugh at him. They could already see under that table. So, he turned and left that room disgusted. The Germans then searched the whole of the rest of the house, i.e. pretty much everywhere except under the table, but they came up with nothing and nobody Jewish.

It all ended happily that day. There would be other days much harder just ahead for the family, but those Jews who had been under that table all survived the entire war. God preserved all their lives. In part, I expect He did so in honor of what Betsy had just done as she simply applied the1 Scriptures. 

Praise the Lord Jesus a thousand times -- no far more than that for all eternity! It was due to her honesty, the strength she received by grace, and the sincerity of her conviction.

God rewarded Betsy Ten Boom for doing the very opposite of what Rehab did. I like how both ladies really wanted to protect the innocent -- "love.. always protects". And that's what we, in love, are to do as well!

The Bible says that, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection (selfless flawless sinless Jesus) comes, the imperfect disappears." 1 Cor. 13:6-10 niv #emphasis.mine

Will God always always preserve the physical life of people here when you tell the truth? Perhaps not, and we need to be ready for that. Many martyrs from the time of the Early Church were killed for sharing the truth with accuracy. But God will hear every prayer, and He will intervene with grace, with the right words and wisdom when needed. We have two fairly similar situations that where handled in totally opposite ways by two different ladies, Rahab and Betsy Ten Boom and yet God rescued people in danger, and He honored both of these women of faith.

Betsy Ten Boom didn’t reveal how far beneath that table they were in hiding there. She didn’t elaborate at all to those cruel Nazis. 

I don’t believe you always need to say everything that could be said at every point and at every moment of your life. Do you? There is some virtue in keeping your mouth shut. My dad always told me, "Kurt, God has given us two ears and one mouth so we will listen more. I find that it's when I am listening -- that's the time when I am learning."

We can listen, gain and grow the easy way via percept-learning, instead of the hard way from ignoring God's precepts. 

For witnessing-sake, I remember taking my German Gospel tracts with some Luther Scriptures on into the DDR in East Berlin before the wall fell. At Checkpoint Charlie, I was nervous a bit but wasn’t asked about any literature on me at all so I proceeded into East Germany. 

What about Brother Andrew and other believers who have smuggled Bibles into Communist Lands before (they are my heroes, the ones who are really brave. I didn't take in much)? Do you ever consider how they did their work? In the purposes of God, the Chinese authorities at different entry gates, didn’t always stop and question these Christians bringing in the Bibles.

What a wonder God is -- I praise His Holy Spirti and His awesome Name! Jesus still works in amazing ways and always achieves His long-planned sovereign purposes. My love for Him, for His truth and convictions concerning Bible truth are still intact. You and I daily should honor truth regardless of the sweat or situation. We are to wisely live spiritually uncompromising lives -- no excuses. We are to call upon His Name (silently or out-loud) in a tight or tough spot. There's no time for a lukewarm faith, or some worldly, religious, or carnal lifestyle. Too many believers compromise in foolish ways. How can they expect to be blessed and rewarded? Want to stay blessable? Then tell the truth right there in God's will for you. If you are out of His will, then repent, trust Jesus as Lord, and pray your way on into His will. Honestly go the distance with Him as your Shepherd in His will for you!  

So back to Rahab’s story, her lie was never thee point of the story. There is no need for clever rationalization to justify her lie. Scripture never commends her lie. Rahab is never applauded for her ethics. Rahab is a positive example of faith. In fact, Hebrews 11:31 explicitly commends Rahab’s hospitality to the spies and nothing more.

In the moment she lied, her faith was newborn, weak, and in need of nurture and growth. Her knowledge of Israel’s God was meager. It is likely that she had never met worshippers of God before that night. She probably had no understanding of the value He put on truthfulness.

On top of that, she was a product of a corrupt culture where ethics were virtually nonexistent. Lying was a way of life in her society—and especially in her profession. The way she responded is just what we might expect from a brand-new believer under those circumstances.

The main point is that Rahab’s new faith was commendable, as undeveloped as it was. Her faith immediately bore the fruit of good actions. What did she do in faith? She “welcomed the spies in peace” (Hebrews 11:31)—meaning that she not only hid them, but also implicitly embraced their great Cause as they obeyed the Lord. 

She thereby entrusted her whole life and future into the hands of their loving God. And the proof of her new faith was not the so called white lie she told, but the fact that “she received the messengers and sent them out by another way” (James 2:25)—when she might have asked for some money and then handed them over instead. The lie was not at all what made her actions commendable to anyone. It was the fact that she turned down an easy reward, she actually put herself in jeopardy, and thus staked everything on this God of Israel. Smart move! Nothing but biblical faith could have made such a dramatic, instantaneous change in the character of such this great woman. Follow the lead of the Lord, tell the truth and just keep your mouth shut when it's time for that. 

Q: What about when the teller of white lies along with other big fat lies is like "empowered by their group identity today?"

Then what? How do you befriend the person, how do you share the Gospel, and how do you pray effectively for, and win that person? Can God give you wisdom for that? Sure. Ask believing.

If the believer with that popular lie of the day has "a group identity' today, I mean that's supporting their specific lie, how then can you convince them of the truth of the Gospel and there need for a Savior?

Befriend them over time -- a level of relationship (time) can be a powerful witness. Focus on Jesus and Bible truth in what you prayerfully say to them.

If he or she is emboldened by a whole lot of other people who are also saying the same exact wrong thing. Look up, look out, walk wisely. Yes, if there’s a whole collection of people highly committed to their lie, and liberal lawyers, the news media, and the State backs them up with it then they’re sort of “empowered” aren't they (with that popular error). But Who is enough for you to deal with it all? Who is there for you? Who told you to go share the Gospel Message (remember the Great Commandment and the Great Commission)? Who will you pray to that can save anyone if they become humble and open to what's so? Who is the most powerful Person in the whole universe if they are sort of "empowered"? Yes, it's Jesus we go to. Facebook.com/shareJesus

::: Knowing God well and Making Him well Known! Need some help with that? Yep, gobs! :::