On Monday mornings, I try to check the news stories regarding COVID-19. I find that keeping my information intake to once or twice a week provides me with a more reliable picture than attempting to work out all the details several times a day. Also, I have a personal assistant who keeps me notified if something huge is announced. (Thanks, Mom.)
As for my own checking, here is what I learned this morning:
The numbers of sick people are increasing unless the numbers are decreasing. Hospitalizations are at record highs for every single day this past week, excluding that one day when the numbers went down again. Percentages are holding steady, but sometimes they fluctuate. Facemasks are required except in places where they are not.
Maybe I’m just slow to understand, but I feel a little perplexed. I know for sure that this virus is quite serious, and I know I will be making good decisions that keep me and my family safe. Beyond that, I’m not really sure of the truth. Watching cable news isn’t providing information that is easy to understand. Reading the internet stories is baffling. Sometimes I think I can just about find whatever details I want. Facts are not supposed to be complicated and blurred. Truth is straightforward, not wonky. In the midst of all this confusion, where is the truth? How am I supposed to remain healthy if I don’t recognize the truth?
Unfortunately, viruses and news stories are not the only places where truth can appear skewed for the world is thick with deceitful teachings and moves us in unhealthy directions. In the Bible, the four Gospels, several of Paul’s letters and John’s Revelation all mention distortions of truth and all warn us to stay away. Even the Old Testament prophets warn against false prophets.
The good news for us, then, is that we have precise teachings strong enough to wipe out the confusion. Truth is not a counterweight to false teachings; we are not looking for a balance. Truth is an absolute – an unconditional, unqualified, unmovable, unlimited, unchangeable, unmodified, unadulterated, unquestionable certainty with no room for duplicity or deceit.
“Teach me your way, Lord, so that I can walk in your truth. Make my heart focused only on honoring your name. I give thanks to you, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name forever, because your faithful love toward me is awesome and because you’ve rescued my life from the lowest part of hell.” (Psalm 86:11-13, CEB) The psalmist nailed it this time crying out to God for truth, only truth, and promising to glorify God’s name forever. With our hearts focused on the Love of God, Truth becomes our way of life. The result is order, stability, harmony… perfection!
John Wesley taught that perfection is our goal. He didn’t mean we would never make mistakes. Wesley was talking about being filled with Christian Love. Jesus invited us into that kind of spiritual maturity so perfect love is certainly possible. (see Matthew 5) For me, I think I’ll continue to use scripture as my main news source.
Staying informed,
Pastor Beth
As for my own checking, here is what I learned this morning:
The numbers of sick people are increasing unless the numbers are decreasing. Hospitalizations are at record highs for every single day this past week, excluding that one day when the numbers went down again. Percentages are holding steady, but sometimes they fluctuate. Facemasks are required except in places where they are not.
Maybe I’m just slow to understand, but I feel a little perplexed. I know for sure that this virus is quite serious, and I know I will be making good decisions that keep me and my family safe. Beyond that, I’m not really sure of the truth. Watching cable news isn’t providing information that is easy to understand. Reading the internet stories is baffling. Sometimes I think I can just about find whatever details I want. Facts are not supposed to be complicated and blurred. Truth is straightforward, not wonky. In the midst of all this confusion, where is the truth? How am I supposed to remain healthy if I don’t recognize the truth?
Unfortunately, viruses and news stories are not the only places where truth can appear skewed for the world is thick with deceitful teachings and moves us in unhealthy directions. In the Bible, the four Gospels, several of Paul’s letters and John’s Revelation all mention distortions of truth and all warn us to stay away. Even the Old Testament prophets warn against false prophets.
The good news for us, then, is that we have precise teachings strong enough to wipe out the confusion. Truth is not a counterweight to false teachings; we are not looking for a balance. Truth is an absolute – an unconditional, unqualified, unmovable, unlimited, unchangeable, unmodified, unadulterated, unquestionable certainty with no room for duplicity or deceit.
“Teach me your way, Lord, so that I can walk in your truth. Make my heart focused only on honoring your name. I give thanks to you, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name forever, because your faithful love toward me is awesome and because you’ve rescued my life from the lowest part of hell.” (Psalm 86:11-13, CEB) The psalmist nailed it this time crying out to God for truth, only truth, and promising to glorify God’s name forever. With our hearts focused on the Love of God, Truth becomes our way of life. The result is order, stability, harmony… perfection!
John Wesley taught that perfection is our goal. He didn’t mean we would never make mistakes. Wesley was talking about being filled with Christian Love. Jesus invited us into that kind of spiritual maturity so perfect love is certainly possible. (see Matthew 5) For me, I think I’ll continue to use scripture as my main news source.
Staying informed,
Pastor Beth
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