Throughout Scripture, one of the central bonding agents in true community is a foundational commitment to truth-telling. Lies are corrosive, and the truth is a great adhesive.
The ninth commandment says not to bear false witness against your neighbor (Ex. 20:16). The Colossians are told not to lie to one another, seeing that they have put off the old man with its evil practices (Col. 3:9). The Israelites are told not to be false with one another (Lev. 19:11). And in Scripture, whenever deception is honored it is honored as an act of war—lying to the enemies of God who have forfeited their right to the truth. The midwives to Pharaoh would be one example, and Rahab protecting the spies is another. In time of war, you are not trying to develop unity with the enemy.
But when unity is the assigned goal, when it is desired as God requires us to desire it, a commitment to the truth at all times is essential. There are three aspects to this. First, remember at all times that the Truth is personal, and that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Those things cannot be separated. We walk on the way, we live in the life, and we tell the truth. Second, we are to guard against every form of ethical relativism that would make room for lies, whether white or not, in your relationships with others. And last, reject the kind of selfishness that makes lying easy when caught in some aspect of that selfishness. This means that the journey to truth telling is a journey that begins with speaking the truth to yourself.
When we begin to lie, we are the first liar, but we are also frequently the first dupe. We don’t start by telling other people lies. We begin by telling ourselves that we are not lying—which is the first lie.
So this is why we must be committed to the truth. We are building a church community, we are building a community of churches, and we are to do it with a fierce love of the truth. After all, the truth died for us.
Douglas, Since you are talking about strict truth-telling, I have a query. In the “open letter from Christ Church” you stated, “we agree with Judge Stegner who approved the wedding and said that ‘an age-appropriate relationship with a member of the opposite sex from Mr. Sitler is one of the best things that can happen to him and to society.” However, in the same speech, Judge Stegner also said, “I think it’s a reasonable restriction, that he not reside with his wife and child in the future, if in fact they have children.” First, why did you leave that part… Read more »
Tim, the short answer is perhaps they agreed with the first part of what the judge said and not the second?
I agree with Doug some times and quote him, but don’t quote him when I disagree with him.
So, how does the truth figure into this: You gleefully parade the literary accomplishments of your wife and two daughters as evidence of their free-thinking independence, yet neglect to mention the fact that your personal vanity press published all 20 volumes. Were you duped? Nah, I don’t think so.
You might want to check out the Amazon rank of some of those books published by that “Vanity Press” that are not representative of any actual accomplishment by those unfree women.
A. The comment Doug made that I refer to was intended to denigrate at least three women writers, all of whom, to the best of my knowledge, published the old-fashioned way (ie, not through nepotism). With his “ha-ha-ha”-ing, Doug practically begged for someone to point this out. I only did the obvious. B. I don’t care about anyone’s rankings. When I was a reformed fundigelical my bookshelf was littered with the movement’s pet authors, all churning books out monthly (sound familiar?). Of course, that included their designated female writers. I suppose when you start your own denominations, you get to… Read more »
Is Jane Dunsworth a Christ Church member?
Nope. We’re not so lucky as that. ;^)
I didn’t think so. Independent concurrence with Wilson is not possible, therefore all who agree must be coerced. We are all part of the Moscow Borg.
You callin’ us square? Actually, that’d be OK. As long as you don’t call us this guy.
I was thinking perpendicular and equilateral, but solid. Glad to hear it. I would never call you that.
As others have noted, he’s not “my pastor.” He lives 2000 miles from me and we’ve never met, nor are we part of the same denomination. And I’m not being his “bulldog” or defending him. I’m responding to absurd things being said about him because they’re absurd, not because they’re about him. Are you a tad embarrassed to have to change the subject to me when asked to consider whether your denigration of the Wilson ladies is based on an accurate assessment of their standing as successful authors, rather than your dislike of Doug? I don’t think you get multiple… Read more »
Nope, not the least bit embarrassed. I erred in assuming you were a member but that has no bearing on anything I said. I still assume you are female, and if that’s the case, my point stands: that the staunch patriarch allows women to publicly defend him when he is clearly able to respond to uncomfortable questions makes him appear afraid, weak, or simply unable to offer a meaningful defense (ie, one that actually addresses the questions). Jane, please read, https://dougwils.com/s7-engaging-the-culture/the-critique-of-the-bluestockings.html, particlularly the last few paragraphs. Then tell me that calling Doug out on bragging about the female Wilsons’ accomplishments… Read more »
“…the staunch patriarch allows women to publicly defend him…”
…as opposed to what, deleting Jane Dunsworth’s comments? I’m sure you would approve of that!
How does this actually contradict the point made?
Telling lies with good intentions is very popular in the culture right now and it seeps into the Church. Those aren’t the only type of lies we are tempted to tell but its a category of lies easily overlooked or excused.
His truth will guide us through the trials that can beset us. There are many different kinds of lies that can be told and many ways to tell them. In the spirit of True Glue that you so wonderfully write about above, I was hoping you could address this post from Jamin’s accuser. I copied that and pasted it but she wrote a letter about you and your involvement and treatment of her father. “I can’t pretend to know what was in the heart of Doug and the elders when they stood behind him, and I certainly can’t pretend to… Read more »
Sorry, I just read below the short answer without looking. I was hoping for the longer answer.