Five of the Biggest Lies You’re Being Told RIGHT NOW!
If you hold to a Christian, Biblical point of view that should be the framework for the way you view reality. We believe that God is the creator of the universe and the Bible is His life manual for His followers. We should not expect the world to hold to similar values and to view the world in the same way. Unfortunately, many followers of Jesus today find themselves immersed in a constant flow of information that shoves a different view down your throat.
I started thinking about this topic over a month ago, when I realized how little some of the things that are valued in Scripture are valued in the books, movies, videos and articles you’ll find around you. When I was growing up in church, it was common to repeat the refrain, “Be in the world, but not of the world.” This was usually offered with little explanation. There isn’t a direct passage that equates to this statement, but it usually is tied back to the writings of John and the teachings of Jesus:
In John 17:14 Jesus says, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” 1 John 2:15
If there is no difference between us and the world, then we are most likely conforming to the standards of the world, rather than the Bible. This article will look at just a few of the messages that are being pushed that are contrary to specific scriptures. This isn’t a comprehensive list and I may write a part two in the future, but these are one’s that I’ve found especially destructive when I think about them from both the perspective of how they relate to Biblical Truth and the negative impact they have on mental health.
1st Lie: Children are a burden, not a blessing — Almost every meme I’ve seen related to parenting reinforces this idea. You’ve seen them. Children are something you have to endure. They take away your freedom. They cost a ton of money. They are loud and annoying. We can’t wait until they are in bed/gone/with the grandparents/grown up. All of these are variations on the theme that having and raising children is not a good thing. Stop for a minute and think. When is the last time you saw raising kids portrayed in a way where those in the midst of the busy, hard years were joyful about their kids. It’s very rare.
This doesn’t mean that raising kids isn’t hard. It can be difficult. It can require a lot of energy, both mental and physical. Any Christian parent should go into parenting with the perspective that they can only succeed in raising these kids with the help of the Lord. We aren’t sufficient to perfectly parent in the way that God designed our kids to need. We need the help of Him and of a vibrant Church community. That’s essential.
In contrast to this perspective, the Bible is very clear that children are a blessing. People in the Bible are blessed with children. They are a sign of a good thing from God. Psalm 127:3 specifically refers to them as a “gift from the Lord.” People pray for children and are excited when God answers those prayers. This perspective is also highly impacted by the second lie in our list. . .
2nd Lie: Raising kids is not an important job/endeavor — One of the main reasons children are seen as a burden is because the raising of kids is seen as if it has secondary importance. Having to stay home with the kids is like a prison sentence. Summer break can’t be over soon enough. Stay at home moms or dads are seen as setting aside what is really important (their careers) to settle for doing something less significant.
I’ve been surprised to interact with people who have this viewpoint. For my wife and I, raising our kids is perhaps our greatest area of ministry. My wife being involved in a career which allowed her to be there with the kids whenever they were home is not a sacrifice, but an investment in eternity. Planning family time and vacations that celebrate our family and allow for meaningful time together is well worth whatever it costs. It’s common to talk about problems like Climate Change and make statements like, “the future of the planet is at stake”, but with parenting, the future of everything is at stake. We are wise to make raising kids a priority and to not get distracted or diverted from this pivotal activity.
The Bible affirms that we are not just to have children, but we are to actually do something with the kids we have. We should train them (Proverbs 22:6). We should discipline them (Proverbs 29:17, 13:24). We shouldn’t provoke them, but bring them up with instruction and discipline (Ephesians 6:4). We shall spend time with them, not hosting a class for them, but teaching them as we go, involving them in our daily lives (Deuteronomy 6:6–7). When we invest in our kids, we touch eternity and the future.
3rd lie: Marriage is a prison — marriage is rarely portrayed as a positive union. Most portrayals focus on what is given up to be in a marriage. The loss of freedom. The loss of intimate relationships with the guys/girls. Giving up any hope of ever having fun again. Single life is shown to be a never ending party. Married people are always jealous of their single friends. People are encouraged to delay marriage as long as possible or to avoid it all together.
This is a stark contrast to what is often found in the world. Marriages that are based on Christian love persevere and grow in that love as time goes on. People experience the joy of lifelong companionship and of having someone in your life who understands you like no other. Single life is lonely and unhappy for many (not all) and it is difficult for single people to continue to grow in the Lord unless they are intentional about inviting others into their life. In Christian marriage, you have a refining fire living in your house. Two sinful, imperfect people who are committed to growing together. They are forced to deal with issues as God uses your spouse to refine you over time.
Once again, the Bible speaks of finding a spouse as finding a good thing (Proverbs 18:22). We are blessed through the gift of a spouse who loves God and structures their life around His Word. As we are both transformed more into the likeness of Christ over time, we not only benefit others, but we become a living example of the relationship between Christ and His Church, which is referred to in the Bible as His bride.
4th Lie: It doesn’t matter what you do with your body — This lie has many different expressions. One is substance abuse. You can eat, drink, smoke or use any substance and it doesn’t matter. That is the lie that we’re told. We are given license to abuse the beautiful creation of God that is our physical personhood in all manner of ways. Another examples of this lie is as it relates to sex and pornography. We are told that our sexual life is separate from who we are. The world would tell you that you can have sex with whoever you want, and it won’t impact you negatively. We are told pornography isn’t harmful or is okay in certain contexts.
All of this denies not only the physical damage that is done to our bodies, but also the mental damage as we fill our lives with experiences that don’t just disappear from our minds when they’re over. These ideals are pushed on younger and younger people, doing severe damage to them as they are learning to understand the world.
The Bible tells us that our body is a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). This doesn’t mean that we should worship our bodies. Rather it means that our bodies are yet another vessel for worshiping God. He created us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). We are given the guidance to do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). All of this holds out our body as something as significant and not just something to be used and abused. It also holds to the view that the person is body, soul and spirit and each part of that is connected. Don’t damage who you really are by throwing away your health and physical well-being. All of this impacts our self-image.
5th Lie: You are what others think of you — This is very dangerous and is heavily amplified by our ‘like’ culture on social media. The goal of this lie is to tie up our whole identity in the approval of others. Thus, our value can constantly change from one moment to the next as our popularity soars or dives. Who we are is also seen as fluid and people are often encouraged to change who they are (or who they say they are) for the sake of gaining approval of others.
The Bible contradicts this with incredibly high view of who we are. This links to another article that catalogs some of the wonderful things the Bible says about you. The greatest boost to your identity and self-consciousness is understanding both our own limitations and failings and how that doesn’t change what God says about who we are. Celebrate your identity in Christ!
Don’t get sucked into the lies the world is telling you. I can testify for myself. I love my marriage, I’m blessed by my kids and I want to live my life, my whole life for Him. It’s right. It’s true. I pray you find that out for yourself and rest in the comfort of God’s truth.
Originally published at http://seeinggodclearly.com on December 8, 2022.