Wednesday, July 12th, 2017

As the news media continues to breathlessly cover new allegations of Russian collusion pertaining to the Donald Trump, Jr. meeting with a Russian lawyer, more and more people from both sides of the political spectrum are selling exaggerations and false hope to the masses. For anyone watching the news in the last day, you have probably heard the words “treason” or “impeach” coming from the Left and “nothing-burger” or “trumped up charges” coming from the Right. Easily lost in this emotionally charged rhetoric are four other little words: “If this is true….”. It is a common tactic for politicians and news pundits to stir up fervor amongst their supporters using emotionally charged and exaggerated rhetoric, with the “If this is true” qualifier attached. Drawing battle lines over every issue may generate votes on election day, but in the meantime, it drastically undermines our sense of community. What's even worse is drawing battle lines around news that hasn’t even been proven true or false yet! Basing our ability to connect, to empathize, or to love on a possibility rather than a certainty is to build upon sand rather than rock. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he warns him of a time to come “when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to what their itching ears want to hear.” When our political desires are stronger than our Christ-given mission, the ground we stand upon is sand rather than rock. It will only take one gust to blow us away. Pray today for the strength to maintain an eternal perspective and wisdom to stand on the rock of Jesus Christ.

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” – 2 Timothy 4:2-5 NIV