The Great Wall Of China From Space
Mark Twain once quipped, “A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can even get its boots on.” And Mark Twain never even lived to see the internet!
Think about a couple of highly promoted claims that have become almost universally believed…For example, “The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure that can be seen from space." What!? Granted, it is a very large structure. But while it is really long, it’s not very wide; not even as wide as a two lane highway. If you could see The Great Wall of China from space, you would also be able to see the entire interstate system in the United States. So that’s false!
How about the myth that people only use ten percent of their brain? John Lennon used that claim to promote LSD and other mind-altering drugs. But if it were true, brain damage wouldn’t be such a worrisome thing. If we only need 10% of our brains, we could lose the other 90% and not have a problem. (I will have to admit, however, that I’ve met a few people who have made me wonder.)
Sadly, Christians are guilty of this all too often. I get a kick out of hearing people “quote” Scriptures that are not really there, like, “As the Book says, ‘God only helps those who help themselves.’” I don’t know what book actually says that, but the Bible doesn’t.
It especially upsets me when preachers make claims that are not true. The other night I tuned in for a few minutes as a prosperity theology preacher promised people that if they sent in “seed money” to his ministry, God would give them a bountiful financial harvest. It wasn’t the big diamond rings on his fingers, his expensive Armani suit, and the lavish studio backdrop that upset me. It was his misuse of Scripture for personal gain.
As sincere followers of Jesus, we should be lovers of truth. Are you? Or are you quick to believe juicy gossip and interesting conspiracies? Do you squelch it or pass it on? Do you believe something just because you heard it in church, from a popular Christian leader, or even from a trusted friend?
I hope you pay close attention to what we teach as we expound the Bible. But none of our Bridge teachers want you to take at face value the things we say. Believe it when God’s Word teaches it. It is the Word of God that can be trusted. Everything else should be filtered through Scripture.
Love the truth and learn the Bible!