Fight False Narratives with the Truth
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Watching young kids play on the South Florida beach reminded me of the days when mine were content to play with their Barbies in the sand for hours on end. Small talk with another mom watching her littles roam the beach revealed her family’s recent relocation to the South, and the stark difference it had seemed to make for their child’s allergies. I nodded along, but couldn’t help but hang onto the notion she was severely misinformed, as the pollen ran down the streets when it rained there! When we find a narrative that’s convenient for us, we’re tempted to latch onto it beyond any sense …or dangerously, truth.
Faith develops as we follow Christ. He is the true narrative. Dictionary.com defines narrative as “a story that connects and explains a carefully selected set of supposedly true events, experiences, or the like, intended to support a particular viewpoint or theses.” As Christ followers, we can rid the definition of a cynical, “supposedly,” and know assuredly Christ’s narrative fulfilled prophecies and essentially connects us all to our Great God in a million different ways, every day.
Our identity is found in Christ. Our true selves, the way God intended and purposed us to be, is unlocked by the freedom the cross ushers into our lives. “Identity is most central and revolutionary truth we must wrestle with if we are to go from bondage to freedom,” wrote Britt Mooney for crosswalk.com, “Yet it is the most difficult to address because we cling to our identities more than anything in this world; our racial, national, political, gender, sexual, religious designations are the place from which we understand everything else.”
The dictionary defines identity in this way: “the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, as under varying aspects or conditions.” Our identity in Christ consistently reflects His Light, as His Living Water flows through us and onto others around us. How do we spot the truth against a backdrop of false narratives in this world? Look closely for those who stand out in the best ways. Love never fails, no matter how great the effort to mute it. The Truth is the Truth. Love is Love. And God never changes. Glory Up.
The true narrative is this: God loved the world so much, He gave His only Son to save us. (John 3:16) We can cling to the truth of Jesus’ actual words, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). And the promise, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
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How to Walk When We Can Barely Stand
Focus on Jesus as You Run Through the Finish Line
Wear Your Faith in Christ Proudly
Photo credit: Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez
