Truth and Consequence(s)
It is a trite maxim that we tell children: “Just tell the truth and everything will be okay.” A quick perusal of headlines recently will negate our best attempts to imbed some sort of moral values into America’s youth.
Beware of Christians who will tell you that truth is simple and then spout out a trite saying like the one that began this post. As Craig said on Tuesday, “Truth is an interesting word. It's become one of those battle words in our culture, especially our evangelical culture, that most people use to see what side of their line you fall on.”
For me, if I am to believe Jesus’ words in John 14 that he is the truth, than a whole can of theological worms just got opened. And I don’t like to touch those slimy, creepy crawly things.
If Jesus as person is truth, then for me to live the truth is to champion the causes he would, making sure that I am on his side, instead of insisting that he be on mine. This may mean that I stand for unpopular immigration reform legislation. This may mean I find myself in the middle of 8,000 Latinos, shouting for justice. This may mean I wear a green bracelet and write about genocide. This may mean that on some days I march, some days I sit, some days I write, some days I cry, some days I pray, and some days I dance.
Jesus’ revolution was so contrary to the one most outspoken evangelical Christians espouse today. Many white preachers with southern accents talk about reclaiming our schools, our government and our county in the name of Christ. People wanted to do the same thing 2,000 years ago, but Jesus had a better idea. His way was a higher way, a better way, an option no one had yet considered. It involved nonviolent war, superior servanthood, and breaking all the rules in order to follow the truth.
It is just as hard to truly follow Jesus today as it was for Nicodemus, Peter, Thomas and Paul centuries ago. We have our innate stereotypes that need getting over. We have our political alliances that need breaking. We have friendships that need strengthening. We have injustice that needs fighting. It’s no wonder it’s easy to try to put truth in a box, label it with permanent marker and then show people that we’ve got it under control, if they ask. It’s much harder to take the daily steps necessary to really walk in the way of truth.
Besides, we were never told that everything will be easy or popular or perfect. But I’ve got this idea, that if we follow hard after the truth that was Jesus, everything may just work itself out….
- Students in Los Angles are standing up for what they think is right and true and are being charged with truancy and given citations.
- Thousands marched peacefully in Nashville last night and now face condescension from those who disagree.
- Workers in France protest against a proposed employment law that could negatively affect that country's youth.
- A man told his government he has left the way of life of his countrymen and has instead decided to walk in the way of Jesus and faced the death penalty but is now living in exile in Italy.
- Jill Carroll went to Iraq to find the truth and was kidnapped, held hostage for three months, faced death daily, and has now been released.
- The Sudanese Liberation Army stands up for their brothers and sisters in Darfur and must ward off attacks by a very violent government-backed militia.
- Enron whistle blowers must testify against their former friends and superiors because to stay silent would have been as bad as lying.
- Anne Watts tells the story of creation and rebirth on her new album, but only after enduring much heartache working with mental patients.
- In daily, unreported incidents, people lose jobs, friends, money, homes, and comfort because telling the truth is more important than living a lie.
Beware of Christians who will tell you that truth is simple and then spout out a trite saying like the one that began this post. As Craig said on Tuesday, “Truth is an interesting word. It's become one of those battle words in our culture, especially our evangelical culture, that most people use to see what side of their line you fall on.”
For me, if I am to believe Jesus’ words in John 14 that he is the truth, than a whole can of theological worms just got opened. And I don’t like to touch those slimy, creepy crawly things.
If Jesus as person is truth, then for me to live the truth is to champion the causes he would, making sure that I am on his side, instead of insisting that he be on mine. This may mean that I stand for unpopular immigration reform legislation. This may mean I find myself in the middle of 8,000 Latinos, shouting for justice. This may mean I wear a green bracelet and write about genocide. This may mean that on some days I march, some days I sit, some days I write, some days I cry, some days I pray, and some days I dance.
Jesus’ revolution was so contrary to the one most outspoken evangelical Christians espouse today. Many white preachers with southern accents talk about reclaiming our schools, our government and our county in the name of Christ. People wanted to do the same thing 2,000 years ago, but Jesus had a better idea. His way was a higher way, a better way, an option no one had yet considered. It involved nonviolent war, superior servanthood, and breaking all the rules in order to follow the truth.
It is just as hard to truly follow Jesus today as it was for Nicodemus, Peter, Thomas and Paul centuries ago. We have our innate stereotypes that need getting over. We have our political alliances that need breaking. We have friendships that need strengthening. We have injustice that needs fighting. It’s no wonder it’s easy to try to put truth in a box, label it with permanent marker and then show people that we’ve got it under control, if they ask. It’s much harder to take the daily steps necessary to really walk in the way of truth.
Besides, we were never told that everything will be easy or popular or perfect. But I’ve got this idea, that if we follow hard after the truth that was Jesus, everything may just work itself out….
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