We Need to Cloud the Issue with Facts

Nowadays, it seems like people don’t want to be bothered with facts. Not really, anyway. They chase after what feels good emotionally. We see it in politics: when a person brings up facts, they are attacked with peripheral, and, usually, non-essential issues that appeal to the emotions of their oppositions base. This concept is nothing new. From the beginning, Satan lied, attacking from angles that should not have been an issue. He first attacked Adam through his wife. It was Adam who was tasked to protect and provide for the Garden, and to heed and obey God’s voice, and yet Satan didn’t say a word to him. When Satan attacked Eve, he used broad sweeping arguments (such as “is it true you can’t eat from ANY tree in the garden?”) and also lied that the tree wouldn’t kill them (he knew it wouldn’t right away, at least). Thousands of years later, Satan attacked Jesus in the temptations he gave Him in much the same way: using peripherals to distract from the main mission.

Loved ones, that is what the enemy does: he deceives. He divides and conquers over small issues, but ones that move us emotionally. He doesn’t want us focusing on salvation, he wants us focusing on the things that matter least, but easily capture our hearts and compassion. His emissaries get mad when we bring facts, because that clouds the issues he’s trying to bring to our attention: selfish ambition, the need to feel powerful, the need to dominate or one-up our enemies, the wish to fulfill the desires of our heart. He wants us to remain self-focused and self-centered, and in all the wrong ways. He wants us to remain prideful, and this have no room for any god but ourselves within our hearts.

When we focus on ourselves, the only worthy self-focus is on the sin that drove Jesus to the Cross and our immense need for a savior. Then all focus should be given to Him. Humility is the opposite of pride, and it is the only way we can truly see Christ, and our absolute need for Him, clearly. I am filthy and unworthy, but He offers to wash me clean and call me His. By His death, burial and resurrection, He has worked to restore me to His design, and, thus, I can no longer focus on what makes me happy, but I seek, in every way, to please Him. Everything else is a side issue, and thus, unworthy of my attention.

1 Peter 2

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,” 

And

“A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.