Truth and Lies Together

As someone who grew up in a country that touted freedom of speech, it was common for people to try to silence those they did not agree with.  I remember in university I took a class which involved editing a periodical publication, and I was surprised when we decided (by a majority vote) to censor a particular word because it could be viewed by some as offensive.  As a Christian I often was required to read content that conflicted with my views and convictions, yet I held the line people had the freedom to write their own stories and poems in a university publication without censorship because someone might be offended.  The discussion in our class was respectful and the outcome was accepted without complaint--unlike common demonstrations at universities today where people who disagree silence others by shouting them down, vandalise property or resort to intimidation and physical violence.

There are countries that are very involved in the censorship of ideas on the internet and restrict non-authorised government voices--anything that could undermine or oppose the party line.  Those who continue to share or broadcast material that is deemed illegal or banned can be arrested and imprisoned.  What is ironic is these governments who try to "play God" in a sense are nothing like God, for He allows dissenting rebels and liars to speak freely and even gives them a platform to spout nonsense.  He is not worried or afraid; God is not troubled or wrings His hands about "misinformation," for He is the Truth and has spoken the truth that is unassailable and will stand fast forever.  God is not the author of confusion, for He has provided the unvarnished truth for all to hear.  He allows lies to be spoken so people are provided a genuine choice of who they will believe, trust and follow.  He allows people to swallow down lies that taste sweet but end up bitter and hopeless in the end:  their dissatisfaction and disillusionment can lead them to humble repentance and coming to the LORD like never before.

These thoughts were prompted from the book of Jeremiah after God told him to build a yoke of wood and wear it around his neck as an object lesson, for Israel would serve king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  Jeremiah 28:10-11 says, "Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck and broke it. ¹¹ And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.' " And the prophet Jeremiah went his way."  In this passage we see two prophets and two conflicting, contrary messages.  Hananiah breaking the yoke did nothing to stop the word of the LORD coming to pass.  Rather than trying to silence Hananiah's lies, Jeremiah held forth the word of the LORD in Jeremiah 28:15-17:  "Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie. ¹⁶ Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.' " ¹⁷ So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month."

People were given the opportunity to see the prophecies of Jeremiah and Hananiah play out:  would Israel break the yoke of Babylon within two years?  Or would Hananiah die within a year?  The word of the LORD through Jeremiah was confirmed when he died, and it would not surprise me if Hananiah's followers flocked to his tomb to pay their respects and continued to speak forth his lies because they preferred the lie over the reality of being in captivity in Babylon for 70 years.  This passage illustrates how God allows the truth and rebellion to be taught in the same streets, for God gives everyone the opportunity to hear the word of God and choose to believe Him--even though it may not seem as dynamic or exciting.  Faith in God makes His word and truth most exciting, for it is freeing and delivers us from the bondage of deceptions.  By faith we can know the Truth, our LORD Jesus Christ, and the Truth will set us free.