Truth Suffers

Newsletter article for February 1999

© 1999 by Rev. Paul A. Wolff

As of this month (February 1999) I am for the first time eligible to become President of the United States. This is a milestone which is somewhat more dubious than it ought to be. This hasn’t always been the case. It used to be that the pinnacle of achievement that parents could wish for their young children would be that they would grow up to become the President of the United States. Now I suspect that very few parents would wish that for their children. This is partly due to the indignities committed by President Clinton, but also partly the indignities imposed upon the President from outside, such as the lack of privacy and the viciousness of the media.

I don’t intend to take sides in this article. I know that there are strong feelings on both sides of the issue of the impeachment of the President, and there is much to be desired from both Democrats and Republicans. Instead I wish to note that what has suffered the most in our nation has been the Truth.

From time to time a character in the comic strip “B.C.” will stand up on a pedestal engraved with the word “TRUTH” and speak some great truth which is meant to inspire or to guide the listeners’ thoughts and actions. The idea of putting truth on a pedestal means that we should respect the truth and look up, admire, and listen to those who speak it. Proverbs 23:23 says much the same thing, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it.” We should value the truth so much that we would pay a price to find it, but we should not be persuaded to tell lies, even if we think we will be rewarded if we do so.

The trouble with our society is that we do not put truth on a pedestal, nor do we value the truth enough to buy it. If the truth is inconvenient or expensive it is so much easier to settle for the bargain half-truth, or even for the cut rate lie, and many people take this “easier” path.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12

“All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” Prov. 16:2

Jesus said, “[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44