I found myself sleepless in the middle of the night. Here I sit. Straight up in my vacation bed in Seattle, Washington. A place of peace in a Jesus-filled home of love, grace, mercy, and joy. I’m here for my first days off in over three year’s time. Yet, I am sleepless.
My slumber was disturbed by the nagging presence of half-truths which are commonly used to manipulate others to come to agenda-filled conclusions. We live among a people where half-truths are acceptable and, in fact, encouraged “acumen.” Look no further than the glorified “spin room”, the assertive work of major public relations firms, or the famous Star Wars incantation from Obi-Wan Kenobi telling Luke Skywalker, “what I told you was true, from a certain point of view.” All of them are commonplace in our culture. So common, the biblical implications are almost exclusively ignored.
I think we get desensitized to all of it because half-truths are so prevalent. That is why it is such a devastating blow when the half-truth’s fiery arrows are turned toward you. All of a sudden you begin to understand what a cunning and shrewd trickster Satan was (and still is) when he created the tool for his minions to use. Many, right now, use this tool without knowing that they are being seduced into the devil’s brotherhood of minions.
Satan attempted to use this trick against Jesus in the famous temptation account. He told Jesus to jump to his death but reassured him that nothing would happen because of what was written in Psalm 91:11 & 12.
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
He left OUT the difference between harming one’s self and being harmed by something or someone other than yourself. Jesus answered with Scripture about not testing God.
When fabricating his plan for the fall of man, Satan says to Eve about the tree of knowledge of good and evil, “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)
The true half of the statement is the fact that eyes would be opened to good and evil. The lie half of the statement is the whole “be like God” thing.
Even our label for this common corruption is deceiving. The half-truth is often the small morsel of bait that snares the colossal trap. Yet, our perception when using this colloquialism is that the act and consequences are Even/Steven–fifty/fifty! Not true!
The intent of the half-truth, coupled with the half-lie of omission or a blatant fabrication, is to lead you into a false conclusion. From that conclusion you are then encouraged to make a decision. The problem is that a decision based on a falsehood paves a path to destruction.
Half-truths are all around us and they all are intent on destruction. Politics, media, and business are common fertile ground for the tilling of half-truths. But THE saddest deployment of half-truths are those committed by the church. When a church deploys a half-truth for virtue signaling with the intent to keep your donation flowing (or for any reason) it is a disservice to you and a sin against God. If the half-truth ploy is successful, you end up reinforcing (through your contribution) a culture of half-truths, Satan’s creation, among the very people appointed to lead His sheep. Talk about clothing the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Talk about potential destruction! This little culture abnormality has potentially large scale eternal consequences!
James wrote, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17). Proverbs 23:7 reads “For he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”
So, what did all this mean? Up in the middle of the night with this question about half-truths and omission. Did I want you to see something? Did I want you to ponder the things you hear nationally, or locally, or about me, or about you, or about your friends?
Yes.
I needed an answer so I turned to His book. He showed me why half-truths came to be, why they are used, and by whom. He showed me that they only work if the hearer accepts the deceiver as credible. He showed me and I’m sharing the lesson with you.
Because someone has the title of supervisor, doctor, or pastor does not mean they are not filled with the deceiver’s manipulating spirit. Hear what they say. Watch what they do. It is the conflict in the comparison where you will find the deceiver’s half-truths. If you find none, celebrate. If you discover deceit consider Mathew 18:15-17. If you are not received may I suggest Matthew 10:14 “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” If this note brings you to a 2 Samuel 12:7 moment, repent and sin no more
Either way, it is the full truth about the half-truths that will set you free to spend more time with the One who will never leave you or forsake you. The One TRUTH who will set you completely free!
God bless you as he just did me.
Doc
P.S. I’m saddened to learn that people whom I love and have served side-by-side have been deceived by this trick. Aaah, I have been aware of those to be coerced in the past but the most recents to fall victim to the deceivers trick is disheartening. All the more reason to suit up with His armor, every day. The wolves in sheep’s clothing are alive and hunting their prey.
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