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Posts Tagged ‘truth’

I believe that it is worthwhile to remember that the fruit mankind chose in the garden was the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  It’s what facilitated man’s moral autonomy to decide for himself what is good and what is evil, which ultimately freed him from dependency on God’s perspective.  So when well-meaning Christian folk declare that something is evil, without specific insight from the Lord, we might inadvertently be exercising this autonomy rather than reflecting the Father’s heart.  

Indeed, Peter felt as though he was being a guardian of orthodox religious practice when the Lord chastened him, “do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15) and Saul was sure he was doing the Lord’s work when God knocked him to the ground and chided, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me” (Acts 9:4).  Thus, I also need to choose my words carefully, as I share a warning that I do believe comes from Him.

As technology continues to advance at a rapid rate, mankind’s confidence in itself, and in what it thinks it knows, seems to grow; as Humanism has become the prevalent ideology within western culture.  We have rationalized that our “evolution” as a society somehow exempts us from the lessons of human history, and embraced a faith in technology, which has come to embody our hope for the future.  Much like the tower of Babel (Gen.11:1-9), mankind continues to try to make its own way to heaven apart from “the Way” (John 14:6) that God ordained for us. 

Perhaps nothing reflects this pursuit more clearly than the rise and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI).  With alarming ease, AI has quickly ascended to a place of prominence within our culture and established its presence in our daily lives.  It has largely been welcomed like an old friend and has rapidly become the go to resource for information.  Many would rationalize that it is simply a tool, and there is certainly some amount of truth to that.  But like every “tool” man creates, it has the very real potential to be corrupted and even weaponized.

The “artificial” component of artificial intelligence is that it only knows what it has been told, and it only sees what it is programmed to look at.  In that regard, the output is highly susceptible to manipulation.  More importantly, for those who count themselves as spiritual beings, AI is a soulless and spiritless entity.  It has no conscience nor any spiritual discernment (1Cor.2:14).  For those who ascribe to a biblical worldview, that ought to be problematic (Gal.5:17-18).  

Some might argue that it is simply information, like a really good set of encyclopedia’s.   But I have already witnessed folks (young and old) consulting ChatGBT for relationship advice, seeking guidance on significant life decisions, attempting to arbitrate disagreements and even with regard to spiritual matters.  These “tools” have been strategically positioned to become our source for truth, and there is mounting evidence that they are being embraced as such.  

But genuine truth has a spiritual dimension that transcends information that could simply be classified as factual.  Indeed, only Christ has the words of life (John 6:68) and only He can do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask or imagine (Eph.3:20-12).  Paul warned against succumbing to “human wisdom” and exhorted that through the Spirit we have been given access to the “mind of Christ” (1Cor.2:6-16), just as John spoke of an anointing that is meant to teach us “all things” (1John 2:27).  Nevertheless, it will always be easier to pull up an app on our phone than to access the things of God.

Am I saying that AI is evil?  No, it really is just a tool.  Which is not to say that there aren’t forces at work behind the advancement of AI, who may well have dubious intentions.  To be sure, a tool that can be used for our benefit can also be aimed toward our destruction. 

Am I saying that using ChatGBT is immoral or unbiblical?  Not necessarily.  Within the right context, it is perfectly reasonable to take advantage of this technology (e.g. to expedite research).  

But for those born of the Spirit, these things cannot become our Source, or even a source, for truth (John 14:6).  Devoid of the Spirit, the best they can deliver is rooted in hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ (Col.2:8).  They are ultimately an accumulation of the way that seems right to mankind, which amounts to foolishness to God (1Cor.1:25) and pushes us toward death (Prov.14:12).  

Just as this intelligence is classified as artificial, so too should the “truth” which is derived from it.

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The danger of living in the social media age is that we can gather a following of like-minded folks, spend our days shouting into the echo chamber, and cancel anyone who dares to disagree with us.  Devoid of any contrasting perspective, it’s easy to deceive ourselves into believing that our perceptions have become reality.  And with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we can be sure that our electronic feed will remain full of voices that endorse and reinforce our illusion.

While this type of pattern is unhealthy on many levels, it is most dangerous from a spiritual standpoint.  Throughout the scripture we are warned against leaning on our own understanding (Prov.3:5-7), about the deceitfulness of our hearts (Jer.17:9), and of the great deceivers and deceptions that will be visited upon God’s people (Matt.24:24).  We are cautioned against focusing on what is seen, as it is perishing (2Cor.4:18).  And most importantly, we are told to fix our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb.12:2).

I suspect that popular renderings of a singular “Anti-Christ” figure, from our depictions of the End Times, have clouded our understanding of the true spirit of anti-Christ, which manifests in many forms.  While we’ve been taught to make bold declarations against such things, I have found that these spirits are not nearly as intimidated by our use of Jesus’ name as we might think.  Like the sons of Sceva, the Chief Priest (Acts 19:13-16) or those people Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7:21-23, we can try to evoke His name while having no genuine connection to Him (John 15:5).  In such instances, this word carries no spiritual authority. 

Ultimately, attacking the authentic, life-giving connection to Christ is the aim of the anti-Christ spirit.  It tries to redefine the “work of God” as being something other than believing in the One that He sent (John 6:29).  It offers symbols and rituals and formulas and brokers as a substitute for a genuine one on one relationship with the person of God.  It offers earthly prosperity and temporal gains as a substitute for genuine spiritual authority. 

It encourages us to know ministers by their gifts instead of by their fruit (Matt.7:16).  It fills the atmosphere with voices and things to look at, so that we don’t discern the still small voice of God (1Kings 19:11-13) or fix our gaze on the Giver of Life (Heb.12:2).  It inspires religious leaders to build an earthly replica of the kingdom, so that the genuine Kingdom does not become manifest.

This spirit does not care that Jesus’ name is plastered all over our buildings, bumper stickers, t-shirts and letter heads, as long as we don’t look anything like Him (Rom.8:29).  It does not oppose our gatherings, as long as people aren’t genuinely connecting with the Savior (or each other). It does not resist our endless Bible study, as long as the scripture remains little more than a tool for the rationalization of our own carnal interests (John 5:39-40).  It is not against us viewing Jesus as a resource for strength, as long as cultivating an authentic relationship with Him never becomes the goal.  In such cases, the inclusion of Jesus’ name actually lends a sense of legitimacy to the whole deception.

Evidence of this spiritual influence would be a people who call themselves “Christians” yet aren’t identifiable by their love and grace for one another (John 13:35); who aren’t concerned about the fact that they nor their leaders look or sound anything like Christ (Rom.8:29), and who are more concerned with current events (i.e., the seen realm) than eternity (i.e., the unseen realm) (2Cor.4:18).  They would likely be a people who were known more for their divisions than their unity (Eph.4:4-6).

In the absence of Christ’s Lordship, such a people would be destined to idolize mere men, and likely to crown themselves an earthly king (1Sam.8).  And apart from the guidance of Christ’s Spirit, they would be highly susceptible to hollow and deceptive philosophies, which depend on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world (Col.2:8). 

It would be difficult to argue that this isn’t a fairly accurate portrait of Western Christianity.

There are so many scriptures that appear to be warnings for individuals who count themselves as believers, or followers, or even disciples.  Passages referencing a people who possess a form of godliness but also deny the power thereof (2Tim.3:5), who honor Jesus with their lips, but whose hearts remain far from Him (Matt.15:8), and/or who will exchange God’s thoughts for the rhetoric that fuels their true passion (2Tim.4:3-4).  Yet we can convince ourselves that these words don’t really apply to us because we are good and moral people, who hate what is evil and champion the proper value system.

Despite the fact that many Christians would say that we are fast approaching, or perhaps even living amid the “end times”, there seems to be little concern regarding the Lord’s admonishments to the churches in the book of Revelation.  If we really believe His return is imminent, we should probably be mindful of what it looks like to forsake our first love for some other passion (Rev.2:1-7) and perhaps be on the lookout for the false prophets who threaten to lead us astray (Rev.2:18-29).  We might also want to ponder what might cause Him to view us as “lukewarm” (Rev.3:14-22).

Jesus taught that He is the way, the truth and the life; and that there is no other path to the Father (John 14:6).  But the anti-Christ spirit works diligently to separate our concept of these things from the person of Jesus.  It invites us to fix our eyes on anything but Him.  Unless Christ becomes the embodiment of our truth, we will never walk in the way He’s ordained for us, nor experience the life He died to give us. 

Ultimately, God’s ways are much higher than our ways (Isa.55:8-9) and that pattern was so perfectly demonstrated by Christ that at the end of His life He was able to say that, if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father (John 14:9).  Through this perfect reflection of the Father’s heart, Jesus became “The Way” for us (John 14:6), and now the only thing that keeps us from walking in that way is “the way that seems right” to us (Prov.14:12) instead.

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Jesus didn’t come to simply point us in the right direction.  He is the embodiment of love (1John 4:16), truth (John 14:6), and justice (Ps.89:14).  He is the way, and the life (John14:6) and the Word (John 1:1).  Our efforts to know these things without knowing Him are futile.

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There are three questions that the Lord routinely asks me to facilitate an attitude adjustment.

  • What do you know?

Jesus doesn’t just reveal truth, He is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6).  Without Him, we simply have information.  Frequently, the world convinces us that we have the facts, and from there we develop an argument, and soon we find ourselves looking for a forum to make our argument.  In the midst of such moments, the Lord commonly asks me, “What do you know?”  In other words, what is it that I have revealed to you about this?  More often than not, I find that my passions have been stirred by some external stimulus, and that He’s not speaking about the issue at all.  If I am endeavoring to live by every word that proceeds from His mouth (Matt.4:4), I can’t allow myself to be moved by such things.  If He’s not speaking about it, do I need to be speaking about it?  Only He has the words of life (John 6:68).  The genuine Spirit of prophecy is not only saying what God is saying, it is not saying what He’s not saying.

  • Is that how I handle (or have handled) you?

When I reach my wits end with people (or situations), and want to throw up my hands in frustration, the Lord often chimes in with, “Is that how I handled you (or your situation)?”  This instantly reminds me of the incredible patience and grace which He’s extended to me throughout my journey.   Within that context, it becomes impossible to justify withholding grace from someone else.

  • What does that have to do with you and me?

If I have truly surrendered my life to Him, if He has become my source, if He is the vine that I abide in… than this question destroys my rationalizations and excuses.  It doesn’t matter what “they” said, or did, or didn’t do…  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself as love (Gal.5:6).

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We are not likely to convince anyone of a truth that we ourselves never believed enough to live out

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The truth is a double edged sword. You can’t wield it’s blade toward someone else without turning one on yourself.

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Jesus didn’t just come to teach us truth.  He is the truth!  Jesus didn’t just come to point us to the way.  He is the way!  Jesus didn’t just come to lead us to life.  He is the life!  (John 14:6)  Jesus didn’t just come to give us the Word.  He is the Word!  (John 1:1 & 14)  God is not simply loving.  He is love! (1 John 4:8)  We were meant to access all these things through our direct connection to Him. (John 15:5)  Without a genuine bond with the person of God, truth is reduced to a pile of arbitrary facts; the way becomes little more than a methodical process for gaining our desired outcome; the Word is devalued into just another ancient philosophy book; and we become a people who have a form of godliness while denying the true power thereof (2 Tim 3:5).

 

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Every Minute

of

Every Day

We have the choice

 

Love or Hate

Fear or Faith

Hope or Despair

Teardown or Buildup

Unity or Division

Self or Others

Compassion or Apathy

Criticism or Encouragement

Persevere or Quit

Deception or Truth

Life or Death

 

These threads weave together to form the fabric of our existence

 

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We Christians need to be careful that we don’t confuse God with Superman.  While the “Man of Steel” may be committed to the fight for “truth, justice, and the American way”, our God is only bound to two of those three causes.

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The truth only sets you free when you are willing to succumb to it.  When you try to evade truth it relentlessly pursues you, even visiting in your dreams if that’s what it takes.

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