Damage Control

Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!” [Acts 26.24]

The more a person reads, meditates on, understands, and preaches the Bible, the more the lost world will call that person insane. Why?

Because the world, as was said in a famous movie line, "...can't handle the truth."

It should come then as no surprise that Paul's response to Festus' accusation was this:

But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. [Acts 26.25]

Can you handle the truth? Can I handle the truth?

The sad thing today is that the truth is subjected to damage control in almost every presentation. And, that is precisely what is to be expected when deception is the norm! For example, when Jesus very clearly defined the role of His followers (as recorded by the Gospel writers), damage control becomes necessary.

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.21-23]

Wait, what? As if doing all the same things Jesus did was not enough, I thought only God could forgive sins? Jesus presented something radically different! Can you handle this truth? Or, is damage control going to be necessary to "tone it down a bit"?

Jesus also said:

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” [Mark 16.15-18]

In complete autonomy with John 20, Jesus said that every believer would do the same things (the same level of radical) He had done. "Hello, damage control needed on aisle 16 of Mark!"

And here is the best radical truth:

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. [Luke 9.23]

What does damage control look like on this verse? Here's how that goes... "I can't just leave all my responsibilities to preach the Gospel! - God doesn't expect that [does He???]!" 

As soon as we resort to damage control over something clearly written in the Bible, we have lost the meaning of following Christ. I will go so far as to say that our mitigation of the Word of God proves we are hopelessly lost and without Christ in this world because we can't handle the truth. And, unless we know (handle) the truth, we are not free from sin and death.

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. [John 8.32]

The truth is this: God wants all of your life and mine - not just a part of it. The whole "take up your cross daily" thing proves that. It is a great injustice and misrepresentation of the truth that the Church today promotes by toleration a "one or two-day-per-week" religion.

Am I suggesting that we all quit our jobs, forget our responsibilities and just preach the Gospel? It doesn't matter what I suggest. What matters is the truth of what Jesus commands (I will leave it to the "red letters" above to accomplish their intended purpose). Does this require damage control?

Perhaps by now you are thinking, "Greg, you are starting to sound crazy!"

My response is this: "I am not insane dear reader. What I am saying is the sober truth from the Bible - from the words of Jesus (the Truth) Himself. These things are written in the Word and you can (and do now) know them."

So, are you going to do damage control or deception confession? The difference is eternity.

Father, I feel like a total hypocrite after writing this article - as I should. The truth is just as hard for me to handle as it is for anyone else. May I stop resorting to damage control and instead resort to deception confession! May I embrace the Truth of Jesus and the life He modeled and commanded me to live in like kind. May I stop all my excuses and take up my cross to follow Him every day. So help me, Father - so be it.