I assure you that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you!
Galatians 1:20, NET
I love music. I listen to everything from deep cut jazz, to hardcore punk, from hip hop to classical piano. Now, I don’t just like music because it is a certain genre, or by a certain artist. What I really like is when a musician becomes an artist. When they push the limits of creativity and craft to produce a moving and meaningful work. Christian music is often dull and boring because the musicians rely on their genre and market to be successful. The insightful Andrew Peterson was never satisfied with this, and in his book on Christian art and music suggested artists embrace their “job” with all “seriousness”;
“Those of us who write, who sing, who paint, must remember that to a child a song may glow like a nightlight in a scary bedroom. It may be the only thing holding back the monsters. That story may be the only beautiful, true thing that makes it through all the ugliness of a little girl’s world to rest in her secret heart. May we take that seriously. It is our job, it is our ministry, it is the sword we swing in the Kingdom, to remind children that the good guys win, that the stories are true, and that a fool’s hope may be the best kind.”
Adorning the Dark
Truth is chiefly important. Honesty, even in music, is palpable. Without it, music feels cheep, or played out like an old cliché.
When artist rely on truth, their audience naturally trusts them. Their testimony is valid. They are, who they say they are. Ironically, this is still true even when they are in character.
A movie is good when the audience believes the characters are real. No amount of explosions, heroic one-liners or fancy graphics can save a bad movie from bad characters. Just compare the original Star Wars trilogy to, well, any of the others.
Even so, these are lesser truths. As Christians, we must hold on to ultimate truth, or God’s Truth.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
Psalm 25:5
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Sadly today, truth is becoming less and less objective and more and more subjective.
The world suggests that you can have your truth and I can have mine. That isn’t truth. That’s perception, or merely an opinion. Truth can only be either true or not true.
The point is this, Paul knew if he lied, it would be found out or revealed. This is always the case, everything comes to light eventually. If Paul lied to achieve his position or influence, it would all fall apart at questioning or conflict. His testimony is bulletproof, because it’s built on truth.
People will follow leaders who are true. When they don’t try and put a spin on something, or tweak the facts. Paul says, “rest assured”, you can trust me, and as we will see in the Church of Galatia, they did just that.
Do you rely on truth to lead? Do you lead in confidence? Can people trust you?
Of course, we all fail. There will be times when we lie, or at least “bend” truth. Hopefully in God’s grace we learn from these lessons with minimal suffering to ourselves or others. Unfortunaly, that not usually the case. Sometimes the lies are so destructive and hurtful, and the people who use them for their advantage or agenda display a level of visceral evil that makes our hearts sick.
Think of the Christian community. Every scandal begins with a lie, and then they pile on more as the hole gets deeper and the lies grow like cancer.
I hope you haven’t been hurt by a leader or fellow brother or sister. I hope you haven’t been lied to and tricked and manipulated.
I was part of a booming church in my early 20s that eventually imploded because of a series of lies. I saw a lot of individuals walk away from the church, attributing that type of behavior to the general christian body.
First, if that is you, I am sorry. Second, I trust someday you will know justice. Third, I pray you will forgive.
If you need help walking through difficult times in your past, especially those that begin within the church, or you want to reconnect to God, please contact us.
Remember, although we may try and we should give it our very best effort, humans will always fail.
Jesus is the Truth. He is the Man of His Word.
Peace be with you.
Good&Well 