Deceit

My thoughts have been drawn to think about the word 'deceit'. This has come about because of sin in my heart, which was stirred up by the following passage in 1 Peter. Besides being the current skirmish in my war against sin (up alongside judgmentalism), I have noticed the extent of its influence in the world. I propose that these two sins are fundamental problems in the hearts of those who discuss/debate theological issues in this day and age. But first, a look at the passage in question.

1 Peter 1:22-2:3

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

A word about Deceit

(Just recently, as I continue to wrestle my brain into studying NT Greek, I read C.S. Lewis' Surprised by Joy, in which he basically said that learning Greek means identifying words with images, ideas, motions, and experiences [which relate to those who would have used it] rather than merely inserting an English equivalent, which in most cases is not an accurate representation. In other words, the word ‘naus’, and 'ship' both refer to a vessel on the water, and an idea, image, or experience should come to mind rather than a simple translation. Now, I need to be careful because I extrapolated a bit on what Lewis said. Nonetheless, this is the kind of perspective I believe is important to have when viewing Greek words. On the other side we need to be careful that they are not over-subjectified, so that any word means anything depending on one's experience. Rather we should look to understand the culture, and time when these words were used so that we are better informed of their meaning. I believe this view is helpful in toning down the super-spiritualization of Greek, or the undervaluing of it. But alas, I have digressed.)

Check out blueletterbible.org for more info on the following Greek.

dolos {dol'-os} = The idea behind this word is seen in the fishing analogy. Picture the fish looking at a worm on a hook. Behind the irresistible worm is a fatal hook. The whole truth is not meant to be understood. To switch analogies, we see it a lot in advertising. A common example of guile or deceit in Canadian culture is our beer commercials. Pleasures of every sort await the people (and this is aimed at University students) who drink, carouse, and involve themselves in alcohol. The flip side, or the deception, is that the commercial is not telling the entire story. The sinfully idealized way in which females are pictured, and the lack of the consequences to the actions alluded to/engaged in, are in serious opposition to God’s word. (As an aside, Alcohol is not a bad thing, but the deceptive way it is advertised is).

Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Unconscious Deceitfulness and Conscious Deceitfulness

The plague of sin in the heart causes the heart to lack a desire for pure truthfulness. Unconsciously this may manifest itself in conversation by the person elevating one truth over another, refusing to hear the claims of another/understand what they are saying, or in ‘camping’ on one point by continuously returning to it. Consciously, the sin of deceit may appear when a person deliberately withholds information in a discussion, or attempts to ‘bully’ another through a series of ‘leading questions’. In both situations the main problem is that love for God, and for the person in the discussion are absent. The mature and wise man (as proverbs declares over and over) will benefit from reproof, will listen to instruction (even if it is from a fool!), and will change if necessary.

The Internet and Deceit

The internet has been used in many deceitful was, particularly in the area of critique. There is probably evidence of this kind of usage in my own blog, and if there is, I need to repent. The major issue with critique in chat-rooms, discussion boards, blogs, and the like, is a lack of relationship. I must insert that, to a certain extent, truth must be defended whether the defender knows the assailants or not. The major issue today is a lack of love for the people who spout untruth. We shake our heads at the Gay Pride parade, and the pro-Abortionists, and store up hatred in our hearts toward them, forming in our minds five passages of scripture in the shape of spears, with which we might impale them. Worse however is our attitude toward those who call themselves ‘brothers’. Often there is little desire to carefully instruct, and love those who claim to love Jesus. Most of the time great attacks are made from a severe lack of knowledge of God’s word, or the subjects at hand, and if these things are known, there is no love by which they may be made useful (sadly this comes from many who claim to believe the teachings of Calvinism, or the Westminster Confession, or the Puritans, etc…).

Applications

Truth must be fought for; the whole truth. God’s complete sovereign control balanced with man’s responsibly accountable choices. The fullness of God as the second person of the Trinity, in all his glory, authority, and power, with all of his demands, decrees, and wrath, brought together with the fullness of Man in all of his blood, life, death, and example. How about the scandalous cross we romanticize eh? God murdered his son, and mankind murdered him. The gifts of the Spirit right beside the holiness and righteousness of that same Spirit. Hey folks at Trent, lets get it balanced. I love you guys deeply. Stop chasing after miraculous signs at the expense of Christ.

I've begged you for some proof

For my Thomas eyes to see

A slithering staff, a leprous hand

And lions resting lazily

A glimpse of your back-side glory

And this soaked altar going ablaze

But you know I've seen so much

And I explained it away

From:

"Shifting Sand"

By Caedmon's Call

Off the album "40 Acres"

Written by Aaron Tate

The truth is folks, the back-side glory can be seen by reading a book, and falling head-over-heels in love with the one who displayed that glory to Moses. We can know him via a book. A book!