When the Context is a Lie

Scripture: When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Because of you, most excellent Felix, we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. In every way and everywhere we welcome this with utmost gratitude." Acts 24:2-3

Observation: Paul's trial before the Roman governor Felix begins with this statement ... a declaration that the Romans have brought both peace and excellent changes to the Jews, and that the Jews themselves have welcomed the reforms across their entire land while being very, very grateful for them. These statements are so utterly false in every way that it barely requires analysis; even reading such statements borders on comedic irony.

It is in the context of such a wild lie that the accusations against Paul begin. From this moment forward, we know that all future statements will be lies, partly because they will now align to this false context. We don't even need to be told exactly what is said in Paul's trial. We are told he "agitated" certain Jewish sects, and then that other Jews joined in "asserting that all this was true".

Application: I have grown so weary of this exact pattern of behavior in society ... a declarative context being created that is so completely false, and then the "truth" being defined within the scope of that lie. This is everywhere. Within noble sounding concepts like love, choice, human rights, justice, and equity, we find one master lie that is declared over and over until it is believed by many. Once that is accomplished, every subsequent concept that aligns to that context is considered good and true.

Satan has worked diligently and patiently in establishing his lies in this age. He has left us with a world where we think killing babies is a right, violent criminals are victims of oppression, race is the primary catalyst of interpersonal conflict, and genders don't actually exist. We have manmade laws that themselves are the very definition of lawlessness.

We always knew this age would come. That doesn't make it easy to live in.

Prayer: Lord, we have reached a place where seemingly the context of every conversation is a foundational lie. Please help us reach others in the name of Jesus, despite these foundational challenges in our society. And please, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.