Of lies … tirades … diatribes … and harangues …
A lie is a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; something intended or serving to convey a false impression.
A tirade is a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation.
A diatribe is a forceful and bitter verbal attack against some one or some thing; a bitter or violent criticism or attack.
A harangue is a ranting speech or writing; a scolding or a long or intense verbal attack.
We have been hearing quite a lot of this, haven’t we? And the closer we get to November 8th, the louder the noise of hate and fear. Angry speeches and accusations, ranting and raving. Bitter attacks from the left and the right and everywhere in between. From non-Christians to those who profess belief in Jesus Christ. From conservative national and international ministries to wild-eyed charismatics to flame-throwing fundamentalists, it seems that everyone is telling us what we should do.
And what do we find in common with all the noise-makers? An unbending belief that their cause is the one that is just and right and worthy of victory no matter the cost. And often, too often, this is done in the name of God.
And speaking of God … What else do these groups seem to have in common? A refusal to actually let the Bible speak as to what our God-given responsibilities actually are. Bible verses are used and misused, but is anyone really listening to what God says about our God-given responsibilities? This manipulation of truth is to be expected from the left, from those low-down, no-good liberal varmints. But there is a mind-boggling abuse of Scripture from those who profess to know Jesus Christ … and not just the crack-pots … but from respected organizations. Many have seemingly shifted their approach to God’s word from “What does the Bible say?” to “What do I need the Bible to say to support my just cause?” And … “How can I get the weight of God’s word behind my agenda?”
So how do we make sense of the mess? Does anyone have an idea? I mean, I don’t know, maybe we could check and see if we can find anything in the Bible that might help? But before we do that, I have to ask, Are you ready to hear what God might say? I say this because we Christians today are a lot like the ancient Jews in that we sometimes say that we want to hear what God has to say … until God says what we didn’t want to hear … and then we call the prophet or the preacher a liar.
So what does God have to say in the midst of the chaos, the turbulence, and the lies and tirades and diatribes? What might Jesus speak to his church today in the midst of our troubling world?
Message: “The Peace that Jesus Gives!”
Message Text: John 14:27, 16:33 & Selected
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