The Big Lie
Cornwall
October 30, 2004
How many of you have never, ever, lied?
The reality is that lying is something our society takes for granted. We, recently, had an election campaign, and we, as the voters, understand that political candidates lie. We expect that at least some of what they say to get elected will not be true. Of course, we’re about to see ended the ugliest American election campaign in history, and we know that all sides have told huge stories, in order to make themselves look good.
I found the following articles, about lies, in a search of the web, with the subject being ‘big lies’:
10 Big Lies of Multi-level Marketing
8 (3, 6) Washington Lies about Iraq
Big Lies: The right-wing Propaganda Machine
6 Big Lies about Sex
The 3 big lies you’ve been told about making enough money to live your dreams.
We remember past US presidents saying, “I am not a crook,” and “I did not have sex with that woman.” We remember our own past government promising to remove the GST, and that hasn’t happened.
Society doesn’t hesitate to assume lying and to throw the word ‘lie’ around. It’s rather an ugly word, but very common. Lying, sadly, has been common from the beginning of time.
Can someone tell me what is the world’s oldest profession? (Take comments). It’s gardening. After creating Adam, God put him in the Garden of Eden, with a job to do.
Gen.2.15. This was an important place in the history of the world. It’s the place where humanity experienced a lot of very big things for the first time. What are some of the first things that happened there? (naming animals, plants, beauty of nature, sex appeal, temptation, sin, and shame). One of those firsts is something we’ll call “the big lie”. Do you know what that was? It’s something that first began to influence human beings in the Garden of Eden, and has been every since.
Gen.3.1- the big lie is there. Did you catch it? What do you think the big lie is there? Here’s what it is- and remember, it has trapped people for thousands of years and has probably even trapped some of us here today.
The Big Lie is: God wants to spoil your fun!
Adam and Even were living in paradise. It was the most gorgeous, beautiful, pristine and amazing place that anyone has eve lived. It was even nicer than Cornwall! Luscious fruits and vegetables and exotic animals surrounded them. God had made them masters over the place and it was theirs to enjoy. Then, along came the serpent who said, “So what’s up? I hear God says you can’t do what you want in such a beautiful place. How do you feel about that? I think he’s holding something back form you.” Suddenly, God went from being a loving, generous Creator and Provider- to being a stingy Scrooge and killjoy. But was he really? Or- was the serpent lying?
Do you think of God as a Scrooge and killjoy? Really? A lot of people really do. They think of God and Christianity that way- they think that it is restrictive. Being a religious person means that you can’t do what you want. They think that faith limits our freedom. Do you ever thing that way? Do you think that ‘going to church gets in the way of what I want to do?’ Do you think something like, “I like church, but some of these people…I can’t stand some of these that God expects me to hang out with.” Do you think that God ought not to expect you to give to Him through His church- he limits the fun you can have as you give some money away. Do you think of how God gets in the way when you ‘really’ want to have fun? Why can’t I get drunk? Why can’t I do whatever I want? If I want to lie, then I should be able to lie. If I want to be promiscuous, then I should be allowed to be. If I want to live dirty, then I should be able to. If I want to be undisciplined, then that should be OK. I want to think about myself and getting for myself alone. Why shouldn’t I do that? Others ‘get theirs while the getting’s good, why can’t I? God gets in the way of my freedoms. Do you ever, in any way, think that way?
I know that we all do, sometimes, and we wrestle with these idea. Last week, I asked you to evaluate the drumbeat that competes with God’s drumbeat in you.
Of course you do, and so do I. There are times that we resent God and His goodness. There are times that we want to believe, and actually do, believe and act from the belief of the Big Lie.
Ps.119.27-32- I want to quote from the NIV this morning: “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, O Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.”
The psalmist says that he has experienced true freedom within the life of faith he has learned from God.
Think of the Israelites and the Prince of Egypt for a second. Moses was a Hebrew baby, raised in Pharaoh’s own court- as a royal prince of Egypt. But once he discovered who he was, he left Egypt’s court and became a farmer. Why did he do it? Moses understood the big lie- and he chose to reject it.
Heb.11.24-26
Moses got something that many, many other people missed. He understood that his people were enslaved. While he lived in the palace- his own family members worked in the mudpits. Moses knew they weren’t free. He chose freedom- and that meant turning his back on the riches of Egypt and embracing the hardship of the Israelites. Even after the Hebrews came out of Egypt and were wandering in the desert on their way to the promised land- do you think they were better off? Some thought they were not. They needed food and drink-, both of which had been provided by their masters in Egypt. But Moses knew that in Egypt the truth was that the Israelites were slaves. In the desert, they were truly free.
But being free can sometimes be hard. There are challenges in being free- challenges that are fairly big, in a world that tolerates and expects lies, and in a world that focuses on satisfying the self. Life can look pleasurable, and the Bible describes what Moses gave up in that way. When the serpent convinced Eve that she should take the forbidden fruit because it looked and tasted good- she gave up her freedom. She became a slave. The truth hurts- it means rejecting the lie for what it is. It means embracing the responsibilities and uncertainties of a life lived o the outside.
God has made it possible for each one of us to be freed form the slavery of the big lie. He’s done the most remarkable thing for us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s important for us to understand the impact of the Big Lie, and to consciously push back against it. It’s important for us to resist the temptation to think poorly of God. God wants only good for each one of us.
We need to be soundly rooted in the reality of what God is really like, so that we can push back against the big lie.
Jer.29.11
3 Jn 2
Ro.8.28
This is the God we worship- the same One that Adam and Eve met, after their creation, and the same one that the serpent maligned in Eden, as he does here, today. We have to resist the Big Lie, that God is out to spoil our fun. What he is doing is assuring us of the greatest and best that are possible. He gives us limits, to protect us. He informs us of the way He is, so that we seek to rise to the character traits of God. He is an incredible God.
When you find yourself resenting God, push back. Do not allow those thoughts to win- understand who they are from. It’s necessary to resist such.
2 Cor.10.5- bring all thoughts captive to Jesus Christ. I know that I’ve resented God, and what he expects sometimes. However, in retrospect, I know what He’s aiming for, and it’s for great good, not for anything less. But sometimes I have to talk my way through the bad attitudes and approaches. So, do we all need to do. This is the challenge before us this week, to become aware of the impact of the Big Lie in our lives, and to resist. Last week, you looked for contradictory drumbeats- I hope you were successful in elevating Jesus’ beat when you were aware. This week, I put it in a little different context- resist the Big Lie- and know the fullness of freedom and life that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have in store for you.
