Dr H Reflections

Nehushtan a piece of bronze ∙∙

Nehushtan Nehushtan ∙∙

Hezekiah broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan. – 2 Kings 18:4

Ezekiel 14:3-6

3 Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests?

6 Therefore, tell the people of Israel, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent and turn away from your idols, and stop all your detestable sins.”

As humans, we all tend to worship things and dote on stuff. Yet, many of us don’t see ourselves as idol worshipers. We scoff at the very idea of worshiping idols. “Idols? Me? I don’t have any idols!” We often believe that idol worship is something practiced by ignorant, ancient peoples who bowed down before lifeless, carved images they mistakenly believed were deities. But let’s pause for a moment of self-reflection. Could it be that we, too, are guilty of this? Could we be worshiping something other than the Father? Surely, I would never worship a physical object as a god!

Let’s not deceive ourselves; idolatry is not a thing of the past or limited to primitive cultures. In His boundless wisdom, the Father included strong warnings about idolatry in the first two of the Ten Commandments, foreseeing its perpetual challenge for us. In our modern era, our idols may not be statues of stone or wood, but they can easily be replaced by other things: money, status, technology, or even our own ambitions. This is not just a historical or theoretical issue but a pressing one we must confront daily.

The wisdom of the Father, as revealed in these commandments, is not a harsh judgment or a set of restrictive rules. It’s a compassionate understanding of our human nature. He knows our tendency to place excessive value on the wrong things and warns us against these contemporary forms of idolatry. His concern is not to limit us but to safeguard our lives and our relationship with Him from the profound impact these idols can have.

Deuteronomy 5:7-9

7 You must not have any other god but me.

8 You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.

9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.

What is an idol?

According to Webster, idolatry is “the worship of a physical object as a god.” But to fully grasp the concept, we need to broaden our understanding. An idol is anything that we place before the Father in our hearts. We create idols out of the things we cherish most. It could be our relentless pursuit of success, a person, a pet, a hobby, an athletic team, an idea, social media, a car, a boat, addictive behaviors, or even ourselves. Yes, people can worship themselves.

Consider the biblical example of the bronze serpent. The Father instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent to save the Israelites from death by fiery serpents in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4-9). Once it had served its purpose, the people kept it and even placed it in the Ark of the Covenant instead of discarding it.

Although it was now just a lifeless, useless relic, it became an object of worship – an idol. This is a simple case of good things morphing into something harmful. The Hebrew word Nehushtanmeant a bronze serpent, a brass thing, or simply a piece of bronze.

When Hezekiah became king, he purged the land of idols and ordered the destruction of the Nehushtan because the people had turned this 700-year-old fetish into an object of worship. To get right with the Father, we must take a personal inventory, examine what we rank before Him in importance, and purge our lives of our idols.

Jeremiah 17:9 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

REFLECT & PRAY

When we take something made to be good and turn it into something vile, it is time to eliminate it entirely (Stanley).

Father, yes, my heart is indeed deceitful and wicked. Protect me from self-deception. A person who is deceived does not know that they are deceived.

INSIGHT

But there is a far worse kind of idol than one made of stone, wood, or precious metal. Many “false gods” lurk within our hearts, often without our awareness. These idols do not stand on visible pedestals, but on the inward pedestals, we erect in our hearts.

The Father requires exclusive allegiance, not just outwardly, but more crucially, inwardly. He warned ancient Israel about “idols in their hearts” (Ezekiel 14). Idols of the heart initially imperceptibly separated them from the Father and then smoothed their slide into sin and lawlessness.

Ezekiel 14:3 [They] set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin.

The Hebrew term used by Ezekiel for idols is ‘gillulim.’ The word ‘gillulim’ carries a derogatory connotation. It is believed to initially mean “dung pellets” (Vine) or “dung-idols” (NIDOTTE). Connect the dots.

A subtle irony lay just below the surface for the people of Israel. Outwardly, their allegiance to the Lord seemed unchanged. However, they were suffering from a spiritual heart disease. Their souls were becoming lean.

The very things they believed were beneficial were actually harming them. Instead of rejecting erroneous thoughts and beliefs, they embraced them, leading to their downfall.

Proverbs 28:26 Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

Obadiah 1:3 Your own pride and arrogance have deceived you.

Do you have any old pieces of bronze or brass to unload? Reflect and search for any concealed Nehushtan lingering in your heart. Ask the Father to help you identify and remove it.

Psalms 139:23-24

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

The Hebrew word translated as wicked (KJV), grievous (ESV), hurtful (NAS), offensive (NLT, NIV), or painful is otseb. Otseb refers to an act that offends another. Otseb comes from the Hebrew verb asab. It can be literally translated as a way of pain.

Who feels the pain?

Father feels the pain: O God, and know my heart . . .. Point out anything in me that offends you.

Curiously, this word is also translated as idol. My idol has done it (Isaiah 48:5).

What would grieve the Father more than the fact that we worship idols that we have set up in our hearts?

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Hidden rebellion ∙

Hidden rebellion ∙

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. – Psalms 19:12

Psalms 51:1-4

1 A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

2 Wash me clean from my iniquity. Purify me from my sin.

3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.

4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

Spring heralds a time when people step outside to “work the land.” Activities may range from basic yard maintenance and clean-up to planting new shrubs, grass, or a garden. Meanwhile, family farmers begin plowing and preparing the soil for sowing. After a day of strenuous labor, we find ourselves dirty, sweaty, and exhausted, prompting a desire for a thorough cleansing.

But what about internal impurities? How do we address those? David shows us the way.

2 Samuel 11:1-2

1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war . . .. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and walked on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.

David’s transgression stemmed from his decision to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Instead of leading his troops in battle, he opted for rest and relaxation in Jerusalem. On a picturesque spring day, while walking on the palace roof, he unexpectedly saw Bathsheba bathing on her rooftop (2 Samuel 11:2).

Overcome by lust, David yielded to temptation. He summoned Bathsheba to the palace, setting off a tragic chain of events. They committed adultery, and Bathsheba became pregnant. David’s primary concern shifted to self-preservation and avoiding exposure. To conceal his wrongdoing, he devised a plan involving Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. He called Uriah back from the battlefield, hoping he would spend intimate time with his wife.

David believed this would cover up his sin, leading everyone to think the child’s father was Uriah. He thought it was a “little sin” that could easily be hidden and forgotten.

However, David failed to account for Uriah’s noble character and integrity.

2 Samuel 11:8-11

8 Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace.

9 But Uriah didn’t go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.

10 When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, “What’s the matter? Why didn’t you go home last night after being away for so long?”

11 Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.”

David tried a few more tricks, but nothing worked. Bathsheba remained pregnant, and Uriah was sent back to war. From here, things went from bad to worse. Cover-ups rarely succeed, as we know well in our day and age.

David had the audacity to have Uriah hand-carry a letter to Joab, the commander of Israel’s army. That letter was Uriah’s death warrant (2 Samuel 11:14-17). Consequently, David became responsible for Uriah’s death. He was now not only an adulterer, which was bad enough but also a murderer. In his twisted thinking, David believed that with Uriah out of the way, he could marry Bathsheba, and she could have his baby without raising suspicion. However, David overlooked the fact that people can count. The baby was born less than nine months after their marriage.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father’s intention is not to punish but to administer loving discipline. He has no desire for retribution. While His discipline can be painful, responding correctly leads to refreshing, cleansing, and a sense of well-being. The Father’s discipline is always for our good so that we may share in His holiness (Hebrews 12:10).

Father, I am done hiding my sin! I no longer want to rationalize it or try to cover it up. Please gently reveal the error of my ways so that I may see and confess. I know You will always forgive me and cleanse me. Thank You!

INSIGHT

David believed his sin was private, unseen, and would never be revealed. However, he overlooked something crucial: the Father knew everything, including the thoughts of his innermost heart. The Father was aware of David’s lust, desire, and failure to resist temptation. In fact, the Father witnessed both the adultery and the murder of Uriah. He was grieved and displeased with David’s actions (2 Samuel 11:27).

If the Father were merely human, He might have thought, “How could he? Anyone but David, surely not David, a man after My own heart.” Until that moment, David had done no wrong in the Father’s eyes; his record was spotless. Yet one sinful act changed the trajectory of David’s life forever.

1 Kings 15:5 David had done what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight and had obeyed the LORD’s commands throughout his life, except in the affair concerning Uriah the Hittite.

But indeed, the Father knows everything all the time. What David thought was private and hidden has been front-page news for over 3,000 years. It is part of the eternal Word of God and will be known forever.

Psalms 51:2 Wash me clean from my iniquity. Purify me from my sin.

In Hebrew, the word translated as “iniquity” is avon. Avon originates from a term meaning to twist or bend. It transformed over time and came to signify something inherently wrong, wrong in and of itself. People typically perceive this type of wrongdoing as violating their sense of right and wrong.

Remarkably, in the 21st century, where there is a seeming near-total lack of moral restraint, people still recognize that some acts are wrong in and of themselves. Harming an innocent child would fall into this category. It Is considered iniquity.

David was guilty of such a sin. He was tainted and dirty. Although he tried to ignore it, a small voice inside, the voice of his conscience, kept accusing him.

How do we deal with iniquity? How do we become clean? We must recognize our errors, confess, and allow the Father to forgive and cleanse us. This process involved confrontation, recognition, confession, forgiveness, and cleansing for David.

Because of His grace and love and His desire to restore David to the joy of fellowship with Him, the Father sent Nathan, the prophet, to confront David and expose the evil he had done.

2 Samuel 12:1-12

1 Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. . .

7 Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel.’”

9 ‘Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him . . .

12 ‘Indeed you did it secretly . . .

Nathan recounted to David a tale of a man who committed iniquity. Despite having an abundance of sheep, he callously seized a lamb from a man with very little and appropriated it for his own use. David was livid!

David shouted, “As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die” (2 Samuel 12:14).

Nathan then said to David, “You are the man” (2 Samuel 12:7)!

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die (2 Samuel 12:13).

Hebrews 12:10-11

10 God’s discipline is always good for us so that we might share in his holiness.

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening – it’s painful! But afterward, there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

The Father often uses other children of the King to strengthen us, give us hope, and improve our lives. We can find valuable advice from those who follow God, as demonstrated by Nathan serving King David (2 Samuel 12:1-14). Nathan helped David recognize his wrongdoing, repent, and seek forgiveness. Although confronting his guilt was challenging for David, it was essential for reconciling with the Father.

We need to be discerning in our choice of counselors. Good advice comes from godly people. What about your inner circle of friends? Do they give godly advice?

Proverbs 18:24 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

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APT attacks ∙∙

APT attacks ∙∙

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8

2 Corinthians 11:2-4

2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. . .

3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

In early November 2020, pharmaceutical partners Pfizer and BioNTech announced the development of a 90% effective COVID-19 vaccine. This achievement was hailed as a significant modern scientific breakthrough. Unfortunately, just a week later, Microsoft reported detecting cyber-attacks by three state-sponsored hacking groups, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), targeting at least seven prominent companies involved in COVID-19 vaccine research and treatments (ZDNet).

What is an APT?

Cyber APTs are a recent threat that endangers individuals, companies, and state and federal computer systems.

An Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is a sophisticated, covert cyberattack that infiltrates computer networks. Unlike a single attack or battle, it is more of an extensive campaign in which an intruder or team establishes a prolonged, unauthorized presence on a network to extract highly sensitive data (imperva.com).

These attacks carefully select and research their targets, focusing on large enterprises or governmental networks. The consequences of such intrusions are far-reaching and include the following:

Theft of intellectual property (e.g., trade secrets or patents)
Compromise of sensitive information (e.g., employee and user private data)
Sabotage of critical organizational infrastructures (e.g., database deletion)

Executing an APT attack requires significantly more resources than a standard web application attack. The perpetrators are typically teams of experienced cybercriminals with substantial financial backing, often funded by nation-state or state-sponsored groups. These entities represent a new level of cyber warfare (imperva.com).

If exceptionally bright human hackers can devise such strategies, brilliant spiritual hackers can potentially do even worse.

Children of the King are also susceptible to spiritual APT attacks. Our souls and spirits are relentlessly probed for weaknesses. The attackers usually possess sufficient intelligence about us; thus, their goal is not to extract information but to implant suggestions, ideas, and emotions. They utilize disinformation and misinformation in attempts to sabotage our relationship with the Father.

Revelation 12:9 The serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world… ..

We have an incredibly brilliant, cunning enemy who aims to thwart the Father’s purpose. “As the serpent, Satan deceives (2 Corinthians 11:3); and as the lion, Satan devours. The word ‘Satan’ means ‘adversary,’ and the word ‘devil’ means ‘the accuser, the slanderer’” (Wiersbe).

REFLECT & PRAY

“We must never forget that we are in a spiritual war. Regardless of how well things may seem to be going for us, we live in a perpetual war zone. How many casualties occur because we think we live in a time of peace” (Stanley)?

Father, our adversary is determined to harm us and turn us into spiritual casualties in our service to You. Teach us to recognize and understand our enemy, empowering us to stand firm and resist him until he flees.

INSIGHT

“The devil is always out to see whom he can ruin. Again, Peter must have been remembering how the devil had overcome him, and he had denied his Lord” (Barclay).

Luke 22:31-32

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.”

32 “But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

“Peter portrayed the devil here as a roaring lion seeking to devour its prey. The devil roars like a lion to induce fear in the people of God. In other words, persecution is the roar by which he tries to intimidate believers in the hope that they will capitulate at the prospect of suffering. If believers deny their faith, then the devil has devoured them . . ..” (Schreiner).

The contrast between the Father’s goals and methods and those of the enemy, the devil, is stark and unmistakable. The Father gently and tenderly cares for His children (1 Peter 5:6-7), inviting them to cast their worries on Him so He can sustain them. He promises to protect and care for His flock, even in difficult times (1 Peter 5:2).

In contrast, the enemy seeks to terrify the children of the King, aiming to instill a fear that will erode their faith. He desires not to deliver them from fear but to destroy them. He is like a wounded, crazed animal lashing out in its final death throes.

What should the children of the King do? Should they capitulate and turn the other cheek? Absolutely not. As the saying goes, “Wolves will eat those who act like sheep” (Anonymous). Children of the King are instructed to be vigilant and resist. They are to stand firm against the devil and his schemes.

James 4:7 Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James commanded us to resist the devil actively and persistently. The Greek word for resist is antistete. Antistetemeans standing against, resisting, setting oneself against, opposing, and refusing to yield, whether in deed or word.

“This promise of the devil’s flight bears upon our understanding of his nature and influence. The devil had been referred to only indirectly up to this point (James 2:19; 3:6). He is the embodiment of all that resists God and is at enmity with God (James 4:4). James . . . [Reveals] absolute evil is never a positive force.”

“Evil cannot coerce the human will but is dependent upon it, much like a parasite. The devil is the active opponent of God and his people, but he resorts to his lying deceptive capacities. Human creatures who believe these lies contribute their physical and mental strengths to his cause of influencing humanity for their destruction and his glory.”

“The devil is not called the tempter within James, for temptation results from evil desire within the self (James 1:14). But the devil is close by the temptations and conflicts that humans cause. Nevertheless, if he is consciously resisted, in submission to God, the devil cannot fight back and must flee the attack that is our resistance to him.”

“How do believers know that he is present? Wherever envy and selfish ambition are present in the conflicts and quarrels of the body of Christ, the devil is there” (Richardson).

How do we do this?

Each child of the King needs to lean on, believe, and trust the Word of God and stand unwavering, refusing to budge! “Unless we stand, we cannot withstand . . . Just as David took his stand against Goliath and trusted in the name of the Lord, so we take our stand against Satan in the victorious name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Wiersbe).

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

5 We are destroying speculations, and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

“Our faith must be like a solid wall against which the attacks of the devil exhaust themselves in vain. The devil is like any bully and retreats when he is bravely resisted in the strength of Jesus Christ” (Barclay).

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Spiritual facelift ∙∙

Spiritual facelift ∙∙

For as he thinks within himself, so he is. – Proverbs 23:7

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Dr. Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon and psychologist, made a groundbreaking discovery. He found that altering a person’s appearance could profoundly transform their personality and life. This revelation, which he termed ‘Psycho-Cybernetics,’ became a cornerstone in the field of personal development. However, for others, there was no change at all. This intrigued Maltz, prompting further investigation.

Why do people seek facelifts? Often, they are dissatisfied with their appearance and feel dejected about themselves. They have what is now termed a “poor self-image.”

Maltz shifted his focus to the spiritual and psychological aspects of the individuals he treated. He came to understand that self-image is closely connected to self-worth. Maltz played a crucial role in popularizing the concept of “self-image,” emphasizing that our self-perception and thought patterns significantly impact our behavior. Our self-concept guides our mind, establishing targets, goals, and aspirations.

The term “cybernetics” originates from the Greek word kybernetes. Kybernetes comes from the Greek verb kybernao, which means to steer. Kybernetes refers to a helmsman, steersman, governor, pilot, or rudder. It refers to steering or guiding mechanisms. Maltz coined the term “Psycho-Cybernetics” to describe how one’s mind automatically pursues goals based on self-concept.

The conclusion is straightforward: changing your outward appearance does not automatically transform your self-image. Often, a psychological or spiritual facelift is frequently also required.

Dr. Maltz’s work in Psycho-Cybernetics was pivotal in launching the self-help movement, creating a new genre focused on personal development.

Although modern Psycho-Cybernetics was formulated in the 1950s and 1960s, it is not a recent discovery. Solomon understood this concept three millennia ago. He wrote about it in the Book of Proverbs circa 1000 BC.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

The Hebrew word translated as “thinks” is shaar, which means to arrange, similar to arranging scales of balance or thoughts (Ross). Shaar carries a sense of calculation; thus, it can be interpreted as “as he calculated in his soul.” This suggests that our inner thinking reveals our true self-identity. As Waltke observed, “Johns Hopkins noted that one’s ‘inscape’ determines their landscape.”

Many modern discoveries derived from experience, thought, imagination, and reflection are often rediscoveries of truths that the Father revealed thousands of years ago. Revelation frequently precedes and surpasses the findings of modern rationalism and empiricism. It is incredible to have a Father God who knows everything all the time.

REFLECT & PRAY

Our inner thinking reveals our true self-identity. As Stanley put it, “God is after transformed lives, not merely reformed ones.”

Father, I am acutely aware that my inner self is a feeble reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please encourage me to let the Holy Spirit transform me daily from one degree of glory to another.

INSIGHT

The Scriptures teach that our actions reflect our thoughts; we act out what we think. They provide guidance on transforming our inner selves. This transformation requires “personal training” in an entirely different sense. We invite the Holy Spirit to act as our personal trainer.

The Holy Spirit works in the lives of each child of the King, gradually transforming us from what we were to what we will become. This transformation is a lifelong process, not an instantaneous change. It necessitates spending significant time in God’s Word. “As we train our minds to focus on the person of Jesus, as we meditate on Him, the Spirit begins molding us into His image” (Stanley).

We see the Father’s glory through His Word. “The image of God that we see in the Word accurately reflects God, though we do not yet see God Himself. We see the Lord in the mirror of God’s Word, not ourselves. We experience gradual transformation. As we observe Christ’s glory, we advance in Christlikeness and reflect His glory, not in our faces but in our characters” (Constable).

Every day, we look into a mirror and see our faces. Paul teaches that this image changes over time to reflect the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. The more we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and contemplate His glory and the glory of His Son, the more Christlike we become.

The Father is an expert at performing spiritual transformations. He doesn’t need an MD; He has something far greater, a GOD “degree.”

The Greek word for “changed” is metamorphoo, from which we get the English word “metamorphosis.” Metamorphoo describes a transformation from the inside out, akin to how insects transform from larvae to pupae to adults.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “presents a truth so exciting that I marvel so many believers have missed it – or ignored it. You and I can share the image of Jesus Christ and go ‘from glory to glory’ through the ministry of the Spirit of God” (Wiersbe).

This transformation occurs in our minds, involving renewal, remodeling, and reconstruction.

Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

There is a natural principle at work. We begin to take on the characteristics of the people we spend time with.

Psalms 1:1-2

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

2 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

With whom or what do you spend most of your time? If you desire to become more like the Lord Jesus Christ, spend more time with Him in the Word. The Holy Spirit will handle the rest.

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Cancel culture ∙∙

Cancel culture ∙∙

“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” – John 9:25

Isaiah 5:20-21

20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light, and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.

21 What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.

Cancel culture, also known as callout culture, involves publicly denouncing individuals or products considered to be at fault, aiming to damage their reputation and credibility.

Cancel culture operates on certain assumptions that can have significant consequences for individuals or products deemed at fault. It often categorizes people into two distinct groups: those considered ‘woke’ (morally progressive) and therefore good, and those not considered ‘woke,’ who are viewed as bad. This black-and-white perspective can come across as both arrogant and naïve, overlooking the complexity of individuals. It’s important to understand that individuals can evolve their opinions, perspectives, and ideologies as they gain new experiences, information, and insights.

While it is crucial to call out prejudice and bigotry, the definitions of these concepts can be highly subjective. Who decides what constitutes bigotry in our society today? Who determines which groups are favored and, thus, potential targets of bigotry and discrimination and which groups are not? These determinations often reflect the collective mindset of those canceling others. It begs the obligatory question: who controls the controllers?

Accountability for past actions is not just important; it’s essential. Yet, cancel culture frequently denies individuals the chance to take responsibility and make amends. Instead, the focus is on leveraging real or imagined incriminating evidence to cancel a person outright. Apologies are not accepted, and there is no room for reconciliation, redemption, or forgiveness. This approach ultimately stifles personal growth and transformation, leaving no pathway for individuals to recover their reputation and credibility. The seriousness of this issue cannot be overstated.

It brings to mind the oft-repeated phrase used by Shakespeare in his plays. “Off with his head” (Henry VI, Queen Margaret).

The sentiment was likely popularized and became part of modern English slang through the Queen of Hearts in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. The Queen, a vile monarch filled with blind fury, was quick to issue death sentences at the slightest provocation. She repeatedly commands “off with his head,” “her head,” or “their heads!”

Instead of simply seeking accountability, cancel culture has evolved into a tool for belittling, shaming, and insulting individuals. Those deemed unsuitable or troublesome are effectively ostracized from public discourse. Such audacity! While attempting to highlight actual or perceived bigotry, do the cancelers inadvertently reveal their own biases? Could they be bibliophobic or Christophobic?

What is the impact of cancel culture on public discourse and conflicting views? The emergence of cancel culture has fostered an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Opportunities for dissenting opinions, education, and unity are lost, creating a form of modern-day bullying. Ironically, this behavior resembles the bullying these individuals strive to eradicate. What’s really going on?

The Father’s absolutes are just that: always true and right, never varying, changing, or compromising. He provided them to serve as a moral compass.

Contemporary society has largely abandoned the concept of moral absolutes. People are absolutely sure that there are no absolutes, believing that whatever one thinks is right is right for them. The only certainty is uncertainty; the only thing that you know for sure is that you can’t know anything for sure.

The trouble is that we cannot live without absolutes. When we abandon the Father’s absolutes, we inevitably create our own. This phenomenon is nothing new and has been around for millennia.

Judges 21:25 In those days, Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.

REFLECT & PRAY

When the Word of God calls something evil, it is evil. When it labels something as bitter, no one can make it sweet. The Father is our absolute authority (Stanley).

Father, help me to embrace and consistently live by Your moral absolutes. Guide me to avoid rushing to judgment against those with whom I disagree.

INSIGHT

The Father’s perspective often contrasts sharply with those blinded in their moral judgment. Individuals suffering from moral blindness call evil as good and good as evil.

Isaiah 5:20-21

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.

A subtle interplay exists between self-deception and arrogance. When people reject the Father’s authority and absolute standards, they elevate themselves as the ultimate authority.

They redefine words and rules to suit their preferences. Sin is rationalized, and truth is replaced by error and deception. These new definitions of sin erode moral standards.

People use the Father’s vocabulary but not His dictionary (Wiersbe).

Psalms 12:2 People lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.

“People in any generation can senselessly and defiantly reject the idea that they are doing wrong because they have no moral anchor” (Gary V. Smith). Good things are reinterpreted as evil, while evil and immoral acts are twisted to appear good.

“Without an absolute standard of divine justice, false human reasoning and uncontrolled passion can rationalize and justify almost any act, particularly if the primary criterion is ‘Will it benefit me?’ When sweet and bitter, light and darkness, and good and evil are relative values based on wishes, whims, and selfish ends, righteousness, and justice do not exist” (Gary V. Smith).

In New Testament times, most Jewish leaders opposed the Lord Jesus Christ, firmly believing Him to be a sinner. In their view, He was canceled. When He healed a man born blind, instead of responding in faith to the miracle and worshiping Him, they called out the blind man and canceled him.

The blind man retorted, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).

In response, they threw him out and ostracized him from the synagogue. The Lord Jesus Christ found him and spoke with him.

John 9:39 Then Jesus said, I entered this world to render judgment – to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.

In modern terms, we would say the Lord Jesus Christ came to expose “wrong thinking.” He unveiled the masks of misjudgment, misperception, and misunderstanding. He judged righteously through the lens of reality and Truth, turning darkness into light (Isaiah 42:16). He encouraged people to recognize and embrace the good when they see it and reject what is paltry and evil.

“Those who admit that they do not see are given sight. But those who insist that they can see perfectly, without the Lord Jesus, are confirmed in their blindness” (William MacDonald).

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

11 For this reason, God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

12 They will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.

Wrong thinking is a downward, slippery slope leading to even more wrong thinking. The Father will send a powerful delusion, causing belief in ultimate falsehood from the enemy, prompting them to reject the one true God revealed through His Son, the Savior of the world (Fee).

¯\_(ツ)_/¯6-14-3

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