Dwight Fletcher | When the truth gets in your way

Over the last three weeks, we have explored the war for truth. We have considered how easily truth can be manipulated, why the idea of “your truth and my truth” is so attractive but destructive, and why God’s unchanging truth is the only foundation strong enough to build our lives upon. But even when we know the truth, we sometimes choose something else. Why is that?

There are at least three motivations that often lead to us choosing a lie over a truth. Consider them and the one most prevalent in your life today.

1. We want to fit in

We want to be accepted by our friends, respected by our colleagues and understood by the people around us. There is nothing wrong with wanting healthy relationships. The problem comes when our desire to fit in becomes more important than our desire to obey God.

Sometimes standing for what we believe means being the odd one out. Jesus told His disciples, “ You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22 NIV).

That does not mean Christians should go looking for conflict. We are called to speak the truth with gentleness and respect. But following Christ means accepting that there will be moments when obedience costs us approval.

Peter and the apostles faced that choice when they were ordered to stop speaking about Jesus. Their response was simple: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29 NIV).

2. We want to justify our actions

It is easy to believe that truth is objective and absolute when it agrees with us. It becomes much harder when God’s Word tells us that something we are doing needs to change.

So we find ways to explain it. We call dishonesty being strategic. We call unforgiveness protecting our peace. We call sexual sin personal freedom. We call greed ambition. We surround ourselves with people who agree with us and avoid anyone who might challenge us.

But changing the definition of sin does not remove its consequences. The truth is not our enemy because it exposes what is wrong. In fact, exposure is often the beginning of breakthrough.

3. We want to avoid accountability

If there is no standard outside of ourselves, then we are accountable only to ourselves. That sounds like freedom until you realise where it leads.

Well, God’s truth has a way of confronting us. It challenges our choices, exposes our motives and calls us to live differently. And when obedience becomes uncomfortable, it can be tempting to find another voice that tells us what we want to hear.

Paul wrote, “ For the time will come when people 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.” (2 Timothy 4:3 NIV).

But God is not simply another voice offering an opinion. He is the Creator, and His Word provides the standard by which we are called to live.

This is why the war for truth is ultimately a spiritual battle. The issue is not simply whether society believes one thing or another. The question is whether we will allow God to remain God in our lives.

Truth will sometimes affirm us. At other times, it will confront us. But if we trust God, we should be willing to let His Word have the final say.

And that is why Jesus could say in John 8:32 (NIV), “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

So, next week we will discuss what freedom we receive when we choose to live by God’s standard.