Proverbs 28:6 Better the poor person who lives with integrity than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.
He who distorts right and wrong plus spins the truth into half-truths lacks integrity. Spin-masters distort, rewrite, and exaggerate the reported news to suit the people presenting a slanted version of events that took place. Psalm 12:2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. Professional spin-masters work tirelessly to make the news events speak favorably to the sensibilities of the targeted group. Distorted news or fake news as many call it, is believed to be a modern day media problem. There has always been fake news throughout history. There is nothing new here.
The Jewish leaders declared, “We can spin it.” Matt. 28:12 After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money 13 and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ The chief priests were creating fake news about what had really happened to the body of Jesus. This is one of the biggest spins ever told. From that fateful day, the distorted report of the Resurrection of Jesus has been lied about, wrongly reported on, and incorrectly taught. The master of spin, the devil, has been weaving stories for gullible people who live in deception.
Part of the problem is that people want to hear what they want to hear. “Don’t give me the truth. I can’t handle it.” This is their reply to anything that interferes with their life choices. Tell me what I want to hear so I can keep on sinning to my heart’s content. 2 Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. When you have a willing participant to the deception of life, then there will be no problem for Satan to step in and fill your head with whatever it is you want to hear.
Gainsayers and bold face liars have been spinning different versions of God’s salvation plan from day one. The distorting of truth, right and wrong, is the agenda of those who would turn the grace of the Lord into a free for all. Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace teaches us to observe the word of God and to keep it in our hearts. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Grace does not give us permission to sin. On the contrary, it teaches us to avoid it. When the Lord is the Lord of our heart, no spin is needed to explain our choices of righteousness in God.
We don’t have to worry about keeping the story straight or keeping the spin according to group agendas. Truth is the truth, right is right, and wrong is wrong. No spin is needed. We can let our yes be yes, and our no be no. Matt. 5:37 But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one. We don’t have to spin the word of the Lord. We just have to proclaim it and the word of God will do what God intends it to do. Isa. 55:11 So my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.
Thank God the Lord was truthful with us when he sent Jesus to save us from eternal death. He did not have to spin anything. He demonstrated His love for us through the sacrifice of Jesus. A plain and straight declaration of His love. Thank you, God, for Jesus.
Thank you Monique for your thoughts and thankfulness for the Lord. Yes, Jesus has done it all for us.
Thank you Norm for writing this.. let’s have it plain and simple! As you say, when we tell the truth, we don’t have to spin it around… The greatest testimony of God’s true love demonstrated on the cross by Jesus and the truth of His resurrection. As a lamb, He was slaughtered for each one of us sinners. He did not spin around and shy away from crucifixion, He knew that there was no other way to save us all. By His sacrifice and His holiness, death was conquered and now eternal life is offered to each one of us. Praise Him, our Saviour, our King! Jesus the greatest name of all, the name above all names. Amen.