True vs. Truth: They're Not Necessarily the Same

Hello again.  My brain nearly burst today from an overload of information, insight, and introspection.  Guess what that means?  Ten points for anyone who guessed "write a lengthy blog that will likely wander down a few rabbit trails." :)

[Here's your chance to escape.  Go on.  It's ok.  I'll never know.]

Ok, so if you're still here, I've been pondering this quote I read in a Bible study workbook today, and I've been trying to make it applicable/practical for some issues I'm personally dealing with these days.  This is the Bible study I'm going through with some great girls right now, by the way:

 



As the cover says, the study is about confronting our modern-day idols.  The author, Kelly Minter, begins with defining modern-day idols as anything or any person in our life (aside from the only true God) that functions or operates as a god in our lives.  Minter includes this definition by Ken Sande: 

...in biblical terms, it is something other than God that we set our hearts on (Luke 12:29; 1 Cor. 10:19), that motivates us (Ps. 119:133; Eph. 5:5), or that we trust, fear, or serve (Isa. 42:17; Matt. 6:24; Luke 12:4-5).

So, the girls and I came up with a list of modern-day idols that are the same in spirit, if not in shape, as the golden calf and carved statues that appeared in the pages of scripture.  Social media, technology, phones, comfort, relationships, pride, family, reputation, image, celebrity, sex, and FOOD are just a few of the ones we tossed around.  See that one in all capital letters?  Yeah, well, that's one of mine. 

Ok.  Let's be real here.  [I'm going to be brutally honest about the obvious, and you are going to be nice and not make comments where I can hear you, ok?]  Some drug users and alcoholics can successfully hide their addictions for months, years, or maybe for life, but honestly, how many food addicts can hide their issues for very long before the evidence makes itself known to the world in the form of pounds and inches?  So if you know me or have seen pictures of me over the last ten years, then you could safely assume that I have food issues.  And when I allow myself to be truthful about it, I can safely (and sadly) admit that I have idolatry issues.

Ok, speaking of "truthful," I mentioned that this rambling discourse started with a quote I read in my workbook.  Here it is:

Satan will tell us what's true, but he never tells us the truth. 

Think about those words for a moment.... 
(That quote was from a man named Michael Wells, by the way.)

Minter writes that when the serpent (Satan) tempted Eve, he told her true things. 
1.  "You will not surely die."  (Neither she nor Adam immediately suffered from food poisoning or sudden death.)
2.  "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened."  (Yep.  The fig leaf garments they hastily fashioned are evidence of their new awareness of their nakedness.)
3. "And you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (After their disobedience, they hid from God because NOW they were aware that they'd done what was evil in His sight.)

Satan told them true things, but he didn't tell them the truth about the consequences of their disobedience.  He didn't tell them their perfect relationship with God would be wrecked, that they would suffer a spiritual death and an eventual physical death, that they would have a new knowledge and an awareness of evil that our minds and hearts were not intended to be burdened with, that they would lose their home in paradise, that generations of humans for thousands of years would suffer the consequences along with them.....

Yes, Satan told them true things, but he didn't tell the truth.  So maybe Eve didn't recognize an outright lie from Satan, but she sure fell for his deception, his shading and manipulation of the truth.

"What does that have to do with anything?" you may ask if you're still reading....

This is huge:  we can fall for his deception in areas where we are weakest or even wounded.  Minter gives some great examples of how the deception works its way into our thoughts:

If you're currently struggling with your finances, you might think....I don't have enough money to pay my bills this month; I'm going to lose everything.  It may be true that you don't have enough money to pay your bills, but the truth is that God will take care of your every need (see Matt. 6:25-30).

Or, here's another one... My boyfriend/husband has rejected me; I will never be loved.  It might be true that you have been rejected and abandoned by someone you loved, but it is not the truth that you will never be loved, for God will absolutely not forsake us or withdraw His love (see Deut. 31:6).

Can you see the difference between what is true and what is the truth?  Can anyone out there relate to similar deception?

Today, I started pondering the deceptions and lies that massage my mind to numbness so that I willingly accept Satan's bait and bow down again to my most daunting and provocative idol:  food.  I came up with my own version of true vs. the truth regarding my personal struggles.  Here's what I have so far.  (You're still being nice, right?  I wouldn't be intentionally rude about your issues....)

True:  Liquids keep me hydrated.  It's hot outside, and I need to avoid dehydration.
Truth:  My body would function better and I would not gain weight if I drank water instead of Dr. Pepper.

(I'm kind of pitiful, I know....)

True:  I need food to survive. If I don't eat, I won't have any energy, and I'll get a headache.
Truth:  I will survive longer if I make nutritious food choices and avoid defaulting to chocolate, cereal, honey buns, biscuits, donuts, etc.

True:  Just "one more" won't hurt or kill me...
Truth:  One more may not hurt immediately, but the pounds will continue to add up, my body will fall apart, and my heart will eventually stop.  Continuing in a lifestyle of over-eating is actually a slow form of suicide.

(That last one hurts....)

Ok, here's another that I don't consciously tell myself, but my actions reveal what I've believed to be true:

True:  It's my body, and I can decide what I do to it or with it.
Truth:  There are always consequences for the choices we make.  Some consequences can affect us physically and permanently, and some consequences can affect others as well.  I may bear the weight of my idolatry issues, but my husband, children, and loved ones could suffer pain as well if I become an invalid or die young.  (That right there is brutal honesty, folks.)  Also, I can't forget the truth that, as a Christian, my body DOES NOT belong to me.  Have you ever read 1 Cor. 6:19-20?  A born-again Christ follower's body is a temple of the Holy Spirit of God, and it was purchased at an extremely high price--the life of Jesus.  If I allow my addiction to food to rule my life, then I am interfering with the work of the Holy Spirit.  Is it fair to say that in some respects, the Holy Spirit in me can only go as far as this temple can take Him?  I think so. 

So now you know more about my issues whether you really wanted to or not.  But here's one reason I decided to share this particular "rant" in a public forum:  I don't for one second believe I'm the only one with issues.  Or more accurately, with idols.  I wanted to share these thoughts just in case one of you is struggling with something or someone that functions as a god in your own life.  What, other than God, do you have your heart set on?  What motivates you?  What inspires your trust, fear, or service? Jefferson Bethke, a gifted young poet, says this:  "Idols over promise and under deliver--EVERY TIME....If you don't crush your idols, your idols will crush you."  And here's my favorite:

The apple looks sweet, but then it turns sour.  How come every time we bite into an idol, we're the ones that get devoured?

 Maybe if you're weary and ready to finally get rid of your idols, then maybe you'll begin the process of dissecting the deceptive thoughts in your own mind so you can come to the truth about your own issues.  And you know what truth does, right? 

Yep.  It sets us free.  (John 8:32)

And you know Who the truth is, right?

Yep.  Truth is a Person.  His name is Jesus. (John 14:6)

When the idols are removed, what's left?  True freedom.  Freedom only found through the power of Christ.

Y'all, pray for me.  I'll gladly pray for you, too.