True/ But Still

True/ But Still

Our perceptions of the world are so refracted so it is difficult to achieve absolute certainty about much of anything. The Bible is however a mirror for us to see who we are and where we are. Still we have to see. And when I look into the Bible I see that we are social creatures, hardwired to live in community and spiritual creatures designed to expand that community. But we are also fearful creatures. How we collectively interpret this experience within the framework of faith is really quite interesting. The creative way we grow has moved us from an either/or reality to a both/and reality. There is an ebb and flow across time where it is easy to mistake dogma for truth. My experience, in practice, cultures view of religion is that it may be True/ But Still.

¹⁴Scripture: When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. ¹⁶He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” ¹⁷Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; ¹⁸and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” ¹⁹He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” ²⁰And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. ²¹Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. ²²It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” ²³Jesus said to him, “If you are able! —All things can be done for the one who believes.” ²⁴Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:14-24 (NRSV)

[Jesus] said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.”

Luke 22:17 (CEB)

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)

Message: Friends for me, I believe that government is corrupt, but I still vote. I know that watching TV is not helpful for critical thinking, but I still watch it. For me, I am living both out of truth and toward it. Maybe other are experiencing this too on this strange journey seeking truth.
Mark Twain said, “It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.” Arthur Schopenhauer said that, “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” Oscar Wilde said, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” The truth is that we really need to face up to our faltering faith in a world where certainty is difficult to fathom. The problem, as in today’s scripture from Mark is that truth is such a moving target. We need help to believe. Maybe George Orwell got it right when he said that, “Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness.” Then again it might be Martin Luther King, Jr. when he said, “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” Maybe the goal is to create something that will last forever and not be subversive about it. Friends, the transparency of our faith can be grounded but I think not caged. I reason that my hope is contextual but I also still desire the anticipation of expecting a miracle.

Pray we have both humility and conviction. Pray we realize that the lack of absolute certainty is not a bad thing for faith is at the heart of who we are as Christians. Pray we do not reject reason and evidence altogether. Pray we embrace the journey of discovering truth in a way that is personal and communal but still cosmic. Pray we not fail to start the journey. Pray we not stop short of the destination. Pray we not become cynical. Pray we realize that telling the truth is revolutionary.

Blessings,

John Lawson