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The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.
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The truth will set you free! Photo-Journeyinlight.org
The truth.
The truth will set you free.
Speaking the truth in love.
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
We as Christians use the word truth on a regular basis. There is the Truth that is much like the Word, in that it is Jesus. Then there is the truth that we are told to speak in love. That is truth that is not always want people want to hear, but hits dead center for what they (or we) need to hear.
Then there is the Ministry of Truth. Now there’s a double edged sword. On one hand that could be taking the message of the Good News to the entire world. We are commissioned to do that.
On the other hand, it could be a government organization that decides what the truth is. Surely, somebody remembers reading 1984. Surely somebody still reads books these days, or have they all been burned at 451 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a red-letter-day for me: two politically insightful author references for the price of one.
Why am I venturing this far into politics today?
On Sunday, White House Chief of Staff and Chicagoan Rahm Emanuel announced that Fox News was “not a news organization so much as it has a perspective.”
News organization or perspective, what’s the rub?
At the same time, Senior White House aide and Chicagoan David Axelrod went on ABC's "This Week" and beseeched George Stephanopoulos and his fellow journalists to shun Fox. Axelrod said, that Fox was “not really a news station . . . .” Axelrod added “other news organizations, like yours, ought not to treat them that way, and we’re not going to treat them that way.”
We laugh at the absurdity of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denying the holocaust, then laugh more when it’s discovered that he may be Jewish, but consider the fact that many believe him and accept his statements at face value.
It’s funny in a gallows humor sort of way—at least when it happens somewhere else. But what about when this same battlefield for truth is being redefined in our own country.
This is starting to sound like Orwell’s Ministry of Truth. A news organization is not a news organization because the administration says so—and our legislative branch just rolls over. Like Fox News or hate them, they are a bona fide news organization. Too conservative for you? Just say thank you. Are the others too liberal for you? Just say thank you. Say thank you to our founding fathers that they resolved to have a free press instead of a Ministry of Truth.
Are many of today’s news organizations more business and less newsworthy than only a decade or two ago. Yes. The difference between now and 50 years ago is night and day.
Should we be alarmed? Not that news networks are more commercial, but that one might be singled out for exclusion—absolutely!
John Milton wrote, "Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?"
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes would echo these beliefs in a lifetime of political and poetic discourse. As Christians, we can contend with controversy. We know that truth will prevail. But what if there is no controversy?
What if for the sake of convenience, we just accept the truth as announced? Then we should remember that the same Amendment to the Constitution of the United States that protects free speech and the free press also provides for the free exercise of religion.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve grown sort of partial to that free exercise. I salute those saints that are faithful to their faith in countries where it may come at the cost of life and limb, or both—not necessarily in that order. I do not want us to grow closer to that scenario here, and we must consider with care, prayer, and a watchful eye what is happening to the watchdog of government.
Like him or hate him, we are to pray for the President—and all who govern this nation. Today, my prayer is that that he surrenders in the battle over who controls information in this country. I pray that he does not surrender to Fox News, but to the truth. I pray that all of our leaders are of one accord that no branch of government should try to control the press and media—who at times are absolutely disgraceful in their coverage, editing, sound-biting, and sponsor pandering of the news—but whom the founding fathers knew were so essential to the preservation of this Republic. Amen.
Mr. President, we have bigger fish to fry. Let the truth prevail in a free and open discussion (that includes news and opinions that you like and those you don’t). Give the truth a chance, it will set you free!
~
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth — men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. 2 Timothy 3:1-9 NIV
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:1-5 NIV
This was too controversial. Give me something on the lighter side, something like humorous insights.
Try a survey of literature and experience on Christian Leadership
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Training-The Tao of Leadership
Be careful what you tell a Marine to do
Take me where I can't take myself
People appreciate having their world expanded by the pastor
Eye on the scoreboard not on the ball
Boldness in Christian Leadership!
Of interesting note (to those in the CP church)
Of significant impact upon my life as a leader
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Give me a new look at something old! Try A Good Read.
Not sure what you want, try Poems, Prayers, Promises, and Camel Spiders.
Get me way out of my box! Try A Perfect Day.
Give me some of that dry Marine Corps humor. Try You might be a grunt, if...
Give me something similar for pastors.
And who says that Marines don't collect recipes? Not to an American's Taste.
How about Metrics for Christians.
What do you call a guy with degrees in Political Science and Biblical Studies? What do you call someone that served as a Marine Officer for over 20 years and now pastors a church? What do you call someone with this unique perspective of the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God? Most folks just call me Tom.
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