I was listening to the news several weeks ago when some of the talking heads were discussing rewriting history. The news I’m talking about had to do with the Texas book depository and the way some people are attempting to change some of the facts in the textbooks that are used in classrooms across the country. It seems there are those who want to leave out parts of history–some things I learned when I was young that I just assumed everyone knew and thought were important to learn–and they want to recast other parts so they will be seen in a better or less favorable light. My thinking had always been “history is history” and you just tell it like it happened. I guess there are some who see history as part of a larger agenda to be manipulated to achieve some specific end.
When I heard this I was surprised that anyone would ever feel the need to corrupt the truth and change history. I’m sure we’ve all heard it said at one time or another that people who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. So you’d think it would be a good idea to record it honestly. I would never attempt to change history and I’m sure most of my readers wouldn’t do that, either. At least, that was what I thought. Then I learned something from my training to be a leader for the Truth Project. Something about the truth that opened my eyes.
I learned that any lie we tell is an attempt to change history. Let that sink in for a minute. Any lie. That means the time when you told your teacher you lost your homework when, in reality, you didn’t even do it was you changing history. The time you told someone you would help them with something and then didn’t show up as promised so you told them later that “something came up”; that was you changing history. The time you called into work “sick” when you really weren’t sick was your attempt to change history.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not judging and I’m not saying I’ve never done those things myself. As a matter of fact, the examples I just cited are real lies from my past. But, here’s my point: Every lie is an attempt to rewrite history. Now I’m also not saying that in every case telling the truth is the only option. For every man who’s ever had to answer the question from his wife, “Do these jeans make me look fat,” I can assure you the wisdom of the adage that “honesty is the best policy” is clearly questionable wisdom, at best. But, here’s what’s important. We need to know the difference between a lie and the truth and we need to know the source of each.
And, let me also say this: A discussion about what is the truth and what is a lie is much too large to be addressed in a blog such as this. As a matter of fact, it’s a topic that can only be sufficiently covered in a much larger forum. For example, it can be covered fairly and completely in a 13 week study that it just so happens is something Richland Creek is sponsoring on an ongoing basis right now.
As I write this, there are about five Truth Project Bible studies currently underway. Sandra and I will be starting one on May 10th. (Ours is already full and has been for some time.) I hope many more offerings will be starting soon because the study is truly enlightening. If you are not currently signed up to attend one of these offerings, I encourage you to contact Pastor Brian and ask him to get you registered. I also encourage you, as you are participating in a study, to be open to the idea of leading a future study. I promise you, it will be time that you will agree will have been well spent. And, I assure you it’s something that you will be quite capable of doing.
Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32) And in chapter 18 verse 37, Jesus said that he “came to testify to the truth.” He then goes on to say, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice,” which seems to say to me that if we want to hear His voice we must be of the truth. And, to be of the truth, we must know the truth.
For this reason, I would recommend that each one of us should make the effort to know the truth. And, I think the Truth Project is a good place to start. Because the Truth Project will teach you the source of the truth. What you do with it is up to you.
Thom Fishow
May 2, 2010