Denial Is Delusion--Take 2

(One of my most dear and trusted readers suggested that this post, in its original form, needed a bit more context.  I believe she is right.  And so I offer the following version with more context  to better communicate what's on my heart.)

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life."  

--Jesus of Nazareth, God come in the flesh  

recorded in John 14:6

   In today's postmodern world of relative truth, a strategy has emerged for dealing with uncomfortable ideas.  People just simply choose not to believe something and feel confident that they have sufficiently invalidated the idea by doing so.  They choose to deny whatever they don't like or whatever makes them uncomfortable.  If they view truth as relative (so nothing is absolute), they are able to let themselves off the hook when an idea has implications they don't wish to face.

   But denial is only a delusion.  It changes nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  If my house is on fire, no amount of denial will put the fire out and restore my burnt possessions.

    Delusion-- (from the Apple Dictionary) an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument.

   Denial is often accompanied by a companion strategy that is equally delusional.  Denial's companion strategy is that of concocting one's own "truth."  Simply create a belief system that appeals to your personal whims and live by it.  However, no amount of dreaming will put money in the bank to cover my checks when my account is empty.  No merchant will accept my concocted delusion as payment. 

   The problem is that neither of these strategies acknowledges reality.  Yet this is the kind of world we live in.

  We are now down to two weeks before our first daughter leaves for college.  For nineteen years, we have seen God prepare her to stand unashamed and to speak boldly and winsomely for God's truth.  In today's world where, increasingly, the environment in our culture, and even in the Church at large, has been one of watering down at the least, if not outright denial of, truth, our young people must be apprised of the kinds of strategies they may face, be assured that Truth is unchanging, and be prepared to defend their beliefs and challenge the delusions.

"Beloved, while I was making every effort 
to write you about our common salvation, 
I felt the necessity to write to you appealing 
that you contend earnestly for the faith 
which was once for all delivered to the saints.  

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, 
those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, 
ungodly persons who turn the grace of God into licentiousness 
and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."
Jude 1:3-4

~ Remember, friends ~ 

Denial of reality doesn't change reality;

it only delays one's apprehension of reality.

Eventually, the elaborate delusion always crumbles,

and one is right back to simple reality.

"But false teachers also arose among the people,

just as there will also be false teachers among you, 
who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, 
even denying the Master who bought them, 
bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

And many will follow their sensuality, 
and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
and in their greed the will exploit you with false words; 
their judgement from long ago is not idle, 
and their destruction is not asleep."
II Peter 2:1-3
(excerpt from a letter from one of Jesus' original followers)


~ Take Heart, my friends ~
Denial of the truth will never change its substance.
Truth is a constant.
For no matter how hard denial tries to undo,
Unbelief does not make truth untrue.

So don't be ashamed to hold fast to truth; be neither ruffled nor dismayed when someone denies it.  Instead, pray that Truth will shatter that someone's delusions before it's too late.