Sweet Spot of Truth

 

Friday, November 17, 2023

…we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  Ephesians 4:15

In his book Talk the Walk, pastor and author Steve Brown writes:

A number of years ago, John Whitehead – an attorney, author, and The Rutherford Institute’s founder and president – gave me a bumper sticker that read in big bold letters,

[1]

When you’re anywhere near the line dividing left from right, you’re holding some things (at least) in the middle.  I’ve followed pastor Steve Brown’s teachings for about twenty years, and I can say with no hesitation, he finds that place which removes one from being identified…politically.  For a Christian, that is what golfers refer to as the sweet spot – that place on your golf club where the club face ought to strike the ball for the best distance and accuracy.  The further right or left you move takes the Christian witness and message down a notch or two.

News media love to exploit events to attract advertising revenue; that’s their sweet-spot, a settled business fact.  You cannot pay your employees without selling soap!  Last week in Charlotte, videos went viral of a woman being subdued by police with obvious physical force, for allegedly smoking marijuana in public. 

Immediate responses were typical; the politically-left side immediately crying the foul of police brutality, while the politically-right side cited the police use of force as appropriate peace-keeping.  The third response, one I say at the risk of putting words in pastor Steve Brown’s mouth, is:  Let’s wait for the investigation before we burst a right or left blood vessel.

Another preacher, a very good friend and close associate of Jesus, named Apostle Paul, executed by the Roman government took that third (and less-traveled) road of giving truth a chance to come to the winner’s circle.  Paul was no stranger to mob violence.  According to Acts 14:19 he was stoned, dragged out of town, and left for dead.  Still, Paul counsels speaking the truth, as did Jesus, and letting truth set whatever wrong to the right. 

Slinging slogans around is a political club.  Those who shout:  Speak truth to power are presenting only half the case; we should also speak truth to the powerless.  Truth is for all, and that will set anyone free, if they will place the matter in the Master’s hand, and give it time.

For You Today 

If you lean left, or lean right, try to keep in mind that leaning is the next step in falling…falling prey to the enemy’s invitation to his side.  Better to rest in the sweet-spot of truth with Godly longsuffering, than hitting your last ball of free-will out of bounds!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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There are about 2,600 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road library.

Today’s title Image from Pixabay.com  

Images without citation are in public domain or cited via weblinks.  

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from NLT^©  

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[1] Steve Brown, Talk the Walk, (Greensboro, NC, New Growth Press, 2019), p.13

When the Killing is Done

 

Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.  Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.  Turn away and keep moving.  For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.  They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.  They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence!  The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.  But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.  They have no idea what they are stumbling over.  My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words.  Don’t lose sight of them.  Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.  Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.  Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.  Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.  Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.  Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.  Proverbs 4:14-27

There is a good reason we have in Proverbs these wise words of King David to his son, Solomon.  It was Solomon’s pen, but it was David’s life experience of going down the rabbit hole of wickedness and violence.  The once fresh-faced shepherd boy who became a king also chased the illusion of being invincible.  David became convinced the press reports were right about him being wonderful and, in pride, he slipped into the darkness.  The words are recorded as a warning to his son, Solomon, but they are David’s testimony, gleaned wisdom from a life that went from zero–to–hero–and back!  The man who slipped off the hero pedestal, admired by the people of Israel for being a righteous man, became an adulterer, a conspirator in murder, and the corrupting influence that destroyed his own family.

The sins of a powerful leader who falls into dishonor are in no way a private matter.  David’s warning to Solomon is painted in the strongest images of unimaginable pain for those whose hearts are unguarded, and the perils they face by disregarding truth in favor of their fantasy grandeur.  The trappings of power tend to shield one from the reality of human fragility; we are here for threescore and ten – we are NOT God!

Leaders tend to over-estimate their successes and deny their failures even exist.  It is rare to find even a teaspoon of humility in the spotlighted halls of world leaders.  It is a matter of pride and power; left unchecked, pride leads to destruction.  We have seen that worked-out in the streets of Washington of late.  It leads to insurrection, mob-justice, and death.  That it was done largely by misguided loyalists does not keep the hands of the leader clean.  King David was in Jerusalem when the plot was unleashed to kill Uriah the Hittite on the battlefield in Ammon[1]  But distance did not change the king’s culpability in murder; it was David’s order.  David’s plan was a cover up after his adultery with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba.  He was trying to protect his squeaky-clean image as a good guy with a plot to kill an innocent man.  Evil and self-aggrandizement is a dark rabbit hole.

However dark it must be at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue these days, I am still more amazed at how the darkness of the leader has shrouded whatever common sense the leader’s followers may have once possessed.  To riot, destroy, and even cause death as a (so-called) righteous response to a fraudulent election (of which proof is somehow still lacking), is disconcerting at least.  It reminds me of the crowd outside Pilate’s house yelling crucify and raising fists in violence and murder, while the only evidence against Jesus was his healing and teaching to love one another.  It just doesn’t make any sense!  I would say that I have no solution to offer for what ails us.  But deep within I do recognize there is One who does have a solution.  He knows first-hand what mobs do…and why.

For You Today

It takes courage and more than a little risk to stand up to bullying and murdering with bullets or words.  If you need a reminder like Solomon needed David’s testimony, remember, vultures are only waiting for when the killing is done.  David said it best, Son… Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. 

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

For other posts on this text see Ears Open Heart Straight Eyes on the Road Sure Foot and Healthy      

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[1] See 2 Samuel 11:1-17