Truth has become an increasingly rare commodity in our world! The very idea that “truth always wins out” has been thrown out the window and in its place the ‘power brokers’ have taken over. You can see it everywhere – in politics, media, commercials – propaganda & conspiracy theories abound!! Once-sane people have lost the ability to rationally debate issues. Instead, we get ear-loads of cursing, name calling, & slander. Every time I hear or read this stuff I ask myself – “But is it true?” That, I submit, is the most important question we can dare to ask.

I read articles maligning our government, our heads of state, and our laws. There are many who think it’s a virtuous thing to try and assassinate our elected officials. It seems that ‘divide and conquer’ is alive and well in the United States and we are getting a textbook, up close look at Division 101.

Like it or not, truth is dying and it cannot help but have serious consequences for us all. Jesus said it in Matthew 12 – “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to resolution and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” Abraham Lincoln echoed this thought in 1858 when he also said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Cannot!

It reminds me of an old story about a letter to a neighbor: It reads: Dear Frank. We’ve been neighbors for six tumultuous years. When you borrowed my tiller, you returned it in pieces. When I was sick, you blasted rap music. And when your dog went to the bathroom all over my lawn, you laughed. I could go on but I’m certainly not one to hold grudges. So I’m writing this letter to tell you that your houses on fire. Cordially, Bob.

America is on fire. Is anyone paying attention or are we all just adding on firewood?

Proverbs 12 tells us that “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord.” My advice to people is to always confront deceit & lies. When people just make stuff up, do we say nothing?! Proverbs 29 is 100% on target here: “When the godly are in authority the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.” Speak up or get ready for more groaning!

There is a stunning verse found in Joshua 24:19. Joshua has confronted the Hebrew people with truth. Many have chosen to follow idols so he called them all together and delivered these now famous words: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” What does the Word of God say about laws & boundaries, right & wrong, good & evil? Find the answers to these and you will find truth.

Gregory Elder tells of spending many hours at the beach and of building many sandcastles during the summers. One year some bullies appeared and smashed his creations. Day after day they would come and destroy what he had made. One day he

decided to do something about it. He gathered stones, rocks, blocks and other hard materials. He put them in place and covered them with sand to create his sandcastles. Just as the bullies appeared, he disappeared. He watched a good way off as these bullies – barefooted – ran off in pain as their bare feet had met their match.

I suppose, applying that narrative here, we could call these bullies secularism, politics, heresies, or just plain ol’ sins that kick at the foundations and structure of our society. If our structures are not built on The Rock (Jesus Christ & The Word) they will eventually crumble. After all, the Bible reveals truth as a moral concept rooted in God’s very character. As Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) so brilliantly noted: “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.” Selah!

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Everyone does dumb things from time to time. There are moments of genius in our lives that make us look amazing but those temporary flashes of pure genius will often be followed by times of sheer stupidity. It seems to be engrained on our human nature. Even the Apostle Paul said that the things he wanted to do he did not do, but instead did the ‘dumb’ things over and over again!

But people have been doing painfully dumb things since the beginning of time.

One of the things that actually authenticates Biblical stories is that they are real people acting real. When people did dumb things they didn’t try to cover it up. The Bible is full of moments that often leave us shaking our heads in disbelief. Think Adam & Eve eating the forbidden fruit. Remember Lot’s wife looking back at Sodom & Gomorrah and turning into a pillar of salt. And what about Noah getting drunk after all that grueling and exclusive time with his family on the ark. I think he just had an old-fashioned meltdown!

Everyone has the right to be dumb but some people abuse the privilege. Remember good ol’ John Wayne? He had a great one-liner that people still remember to this day: “Life is hard; it’s harder if you’re stupid.”

If you search through your Bible you will not find the word dumb or stupid although it’s filled with dumb actions and examples of people being stupid. The word that is most used to describe dumb things people do is foolish. Proverbs 18:2 tells us, “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.” One translation tells us: “Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth.”

Solomon wrote this thought-worthy verse in Proverbs 17: “Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.” Why was Solomon so dramatic when it came to foolishness? Probably because his family was plagued with dumb choices. Just think about who Solomon’s parents were for a moment. His father was David and his mother was Bathsheba – two people from one of the dumbest mistakes in all of scripture.

Solomon no doubt watched the aftermath of his half sister being raped, his half brother killing another half brother and his brother Absolom attempting to overthrow David as King of Israel. Solomon also had to kill another of his half brothers because of insurrection The family definitely did not have a great track record for wise choices!

One day a golfer was hanging out at the local golf course when the club pro brought another man out for a lesson. The pro watched the fellow swing several times before making several suggestions for improvement, but each time the man interrupted with

his own version of what was wrong and how he could correct it. After a few minutes of this interference, the pro began nodding his head in agreement. At the end of the lesson, the student paid the pro, congratulated him on his expertise as a teacher and left.

The observer was so astonished by all this that he asked, “Why did you go along with him?” “Son,” the old pro said with a grin, “I learned a long time ago that it’s a waste of time to sell answers to a man who wants to only buy echoes.”

Proverbs 18 gives us keen insight here – “Those who answer before they listen are foolish.” But some dumb decisions can carry a hefty price tag with probably the biggest price tag being where you spend eternity. Psalm 14:1 reminds us that “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” We can deny God’s existence but guess what?! He’s still here!

Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information, you may contact them at DPCitychurch.org

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