What you heard vs What is true (part 1)- A deeper look into modern wisdom and the non-believers perc

Despite being more advanced today than we’ve ever been in human history, taking a look at where our society is, how people feel about their lives and how we treat each other, it is clear that our distribution of information and the belief system of the majority is flawed. The reality is that there are major faults in the way that man thinks as a collective. The assumption that it is easier to persuade a crowd than it is an informed individual forms the basis of branding and political influence. Based on that fact alone it should stand to reason that you should always fact check general ideas that most people largely believe to be true (because they are largely rooted in corporate or political agenda's). The truth should be grounded in reality, not what most people have heard.

Example: The modern expectations behind an engagement ring are purely the result of branding. Before World War II only 10% of engagement rings were diamonds because they were going out of style. The importance of a diamond and the expected price that should be paid are purely the result of marketing from the corporation De Beers.

With that being said, the wisdom people find through today’s media and entertainment as well as the beliefs held by many in regards to God (based on what you've heard or seen in entertainment) are worth fact checking. Especially since many who claim to be Christians today actually spend very little time getting to know God outside of what their pastor tells them.

What you’re led to believe: The movement I’m apart of is doing the right thing for everyone.

What is true:

“Disguising errors in teaching with good works is like disguising poison with wholesome food. We don’t change its nature…it is more dangerous as it is more likely to be taken [without knowing]” –Ellen G. White

When a movement is asking for basic human rights for a group of people who are excluded based on race or religion, and their ask is specific, you’ll find there are few if any holes to poke in their campaign. Ex- Martin Luther King’s campaign for Civil Rights for African Americans. As a movement’s asks begin to become broader and more ambiguous, it becomes easier for the person’s involved to spread the wrong message, go about achieving their goals in the wrong way or even have the core message itself contain subjective goals that people have the right to disagree upon. This tends to be the issue with well-intentioned political movements today. Playing broad favoritism to a political party that takes stances on issues in the name of winning votes on paper will almost certainly lead to disaster.

I review some of the gaps in the well intentioned ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement in my article: A CRITIQUE OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT which is an example. The issue with conservative and liberal movements today is the inability for many on both sides to see things from their opposition’s perspective. The viewpoints we hold in regards to the ideal way of life are largely cultural and are heavily influenced by our upbringing. This contributes to the blind following of political schools of thought that lead this country into cycles of policies being done and then undone when the balance of political power tips in the other direction in Washington. Some of the most beneficial laws and decisions made in our country are done on a bi-partisan basis when both sides are willing to come to an agreement and sacrifice something in the name of moving forward with policies that are more permanent.

This can apply to religious movements as well. Blindly following any human leader without fact checking should be common sense. You have to know the difference between wisdom and good intentions.

“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing” (Psalm 146:3-4).

Luckily for Christians, the easiest way to fact check is to refer to the Bible. We’re all human, even the leaders we look up to the most. And while your leader of choice may appear to be doing the right thing for the community and saying the right thing most of the time, a flaw in ideology will eventually lead all parties involved astray and it can result in the movement falling apart, being unable to weather tough times or simply becoming something negative that was never intended (Ex: Roman Catholic Church during the Protestant reformation).“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7:22-23

What you’re led to believe: You have to live your life based solely on what’s best for you and what makes you feel good.

What is true: Some of the most rewarding experiences you can have in life revolve around service to others. The pursuit of material things, status or fame will inevitably lead to the want for more as opposed to fulfillment (1 John 2:15), but if your passions lead to material wealth, then that is a much more rewarding story. So many quotes or Instagram posts masquerading as wisdom will lead you to believe your life must revolve around putting yourself first (Proverbs 16:19). While there may be a time in our maturation process in which that is true, science has exposed us to be social beings and we’re at our best when we’re helping each other and building each other up (Hebrews 10:24-25).

The motto “love yourself before loving others” can lead to excuses as to why you’re not there for your fellow man as you’re waiting to completely love yourself. Yes you should take care of yourself and understand your self-worth, but that is an ongoing process as life will have your self-esteem rising and falling as challenges arise. The thought ‘ok, I’m fixed, time to look out for other people now’, is interim and doesn’t last. Thinking too highly of yourself can also be counter-intuitive in the service of others (Philippians 2:3), it may become harder to share your time with those who need it and more difficult to take constructive criticism. Empathy and compassion are the most important character traits required for loving others. And if you’re there for your fellow man you will find that you have more to love about yourself and people will have more reasons to love you as well (Philippians 2:4).

What you’re led to believe: There is no God because he wouldn’t allow all the bad things that are happening to people in this world.

What is true: The truth is that much of this world’s turmoil has come about as the result of the absence of God (sin) due to the decisions made by the beings he created. When Satan was cast out of heaven, he was sent to the Earth (Revelation 12:9) and because of sin he is the prince of this world (Revelation 2:12-13). So he is in the driver seat directing the turmoil, animosity towards God and pleasures of this world that drive a wedge between us and the truth.

Anyone who’s able to take an unbiased look at our politics, culture (and its divisions), unfulfilling pursuits and inability to explain our purpose will come to realize how much of what we think we know is only theory. They will also notice that the belief system held by the majority is constructed by exterior influences with an agenda; this will reveal how little truth the world provides. Only then will you realize that it takes more faith to believe in what’s thrown in front of your face then the truth found in the words of one of the world’s oldest and widely circulated books of wisdom (the Bible).

What you’re led to believe: Religion is the cause of so many problems in this world, the concept of a God is what’s bad.

What is true: A key piece of evidence for many against the idea of a god is a reminder of all the wars, deaths and hatred that comes from supposed believers and churches in God’s name. The initial thought to consider is this: if the concept of God in the Bible is perfect, but practiced religion is broken, shouldn’t we consider the fault being on the side of man and not the concept of God? Many will call out the actions of specific people (or groups of people) which is easier than challenging the ideology (after all, who can argue Love being the most important commandment? Matthew 22:36-40). But the ideology already forewarns that although we are called upon to represent Jesus we are all flawed (Romans 3:23).

The more pressing issue to address is that the enemy’s campaign is to mis-represent God. He does this by having himself and those who unknowingly follow him look like the Church to everyone else (2 Corinthians 11:14-15) while claiming to be God and desiring worship. All the while leading us down a path to destroy ourselves and each other (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Topics covered in part 2 (coming soon)