The Elimination of Truth, a Primary Tactic of Satan
Truth is what God is. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit sent from God is commissioned to “guide us into all truth” (John 16:13). One primary purpose of gathering as the church is to speak the truth in love, so that we will “grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” (Eph 4:15). Without truth we don’t grow up individually or corporately.
We, the church, the true followers of Christ, are to be the “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). We are also called by Jesus “. . . the light of the world” (Matt 5:14). People exposed to the church, the followers of Christ, should sense a stable pillar and foundation to lean or stand on. They should be able to see a spiritual light in us that gives them something to go towards, a beacon of light. Jesus also said, “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matt. 5:14). If we are hiding away out of fear or intimidation, the light is hidden. Notice that we are the light “of the world” not the light to one another. We have and walk in the light but the world is in darkness and needs to see that beacon (John 12:46).
We are called by Paul to be a people who do not hold back on speaking prophecy (speaking what the Spirit puts in our hearts) but, because we seek truth, we “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess 5:21, 22). How will we know what is good if we aren’t examining things carefully seeking for truth? Evil is all around us and is creeping into our lives through television, the internet, social media, organized Christianity, evil government and much more. How can we abstain from evil in all of its forms if we don’t examine everything in the light of God’s word with the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
Unfortunately, we Christians have become passive receivers of ideas and doctrines from our appointed heroes rather than from God’s word as led by the Holy Spirit. Whether those ideas or doctrines are good or bad we have become passive, simply believing what our trusted heroes tell us. If you are a true Christian, you are called to part of a priesthood of believers who stand independently before God and then share with His people and the dying world (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6).
In regard to truth this country is in a mess. We need to let our light shine and be the beacons of light a dying world needs. I’m afraid that too often we are cowards hiding away so we don’t offend anyone or let anyone offend us. The church is a major culprit in regard to this need of truth. Paul predicted that in the last days people will be “. . . always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim 3:7). The traditional church in all its forms is big on gaining knowledge thinking that knowledge always leads to truth. Truth is something the heart seeks for, not just the mind in its search for more knowledge.
The spirit of the age is bombarding us with knowledge but not too committed to finding the truth. Pew Research polls in almost every area show that support for freedom of speech is slowly being eroded in this country. Most people may not be aware that freedom of speech, the unbridled search for expressing truth, originates in scripture and is a major goal of the body of Christ. When the church abandons truth it follows that it is being influenced by popular ideas rather than standing on the solid rock of God’s word.
The Pew Research polls consistently show that support for the federal government restricting information has risen sharply in the last four years. Americans are even in favor of tech companies restricting content online. The emphasis in these polls is on restricting “false information” but that leaves open the question of who will define the word “false.” Left leaning voters who support such intervention are growing rapidly (56% in 2018 to 65% in 2023).
I bring in these statistics to show that we as a country are slowly drifting in the same direction that totalitarian countries like Hitler’s Nazi Party in the years leading up to the World War II. Christians need to be aware of this trend and the pressure it places on us to slip from the rock of truth and begin to invent “truth” that is convenient for us.
Throughout scripture Paul is constantly calling us back to God’s word and warning us of the dangers of slipping from “the wisdom that leads to salvation.” His warning is clear:
But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 3:13–15).
The search for truth is paramount in our progress as followers of Christ. If we are not seeking truth the influence of these “evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse.” We will be deceived and will drift away into the world’s oblivion.
Stand firm out there! Truth does not just fall into our laps. It must be sought for and received with courage. The body of Christ, the church, must lead the way in this continuing search.
I write extensively on this need in my new book The Coming Divine Reset of the Body of Christ. It is available on Amazon and elsewhere.
