Faith can be inspiring, hopeful, full of love, and change the world. Great movements of transformation, inspired by all religions, have made the world a better place. In this article, we will focus on Christianity.

Yet too many people utter lies that you'll Never Hear from God

Christians responded to a crisis during the Industrial Revolution. People of faith ensured that all children could receive an education no matter how much money their families had. Today, what we call public education originated from denominational schools that sought to stop the abuse of children. 

During the Slave Trade in the United States, many Christians came together to create the Underground Railroad that helped African Americans to escape to the freedom of Canada.

Christianity has been a mixed blessing. It has brought hope, love and justice to many who were denied it, and it has also killed many people in the name of God.

Our job as followers of Jesus is to shine the light on the shadow side to prevent these tragedies from happening.

Here are nine lies you’ll never hear from God that will help you stay accountable to the Holyl One.

1.      Love your neighbour, but only people you know and like: 

Jesus taught us to love unconditionally.  Jesus expects us to choose to love people we don’t like. This doesn’t mean you will agree with everyone, but we can acknowledge that of God in another person.

In our churches, we limit our understanding of our neighbour to being people like us who don’t threaten our understanding of God and our place in the world.

We do this in our churches without thinking. Have you ever been told you were sitting in someone else's pew? Have you been to a new church where no one talks to you, and you feel invisible?  This is a great way to keep undesirable out of your church.

Do you live in a neighbourhood of mixed race and heritage, and your church does not reflect your community?

Ask yourself, who is your neighbour?  Whom would Jesus call your neighbour?

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2.      Accumulate as much wealth as possible; it’s the most important thing in life :

Jesus emphasized spiritual wealth over material possessions. He lived a simple life. He was, in essence, a Christian communist because everything was shared with his disciples and whomever they met along the way.

The episode of Jesus in the Temple suggests that he would have some harsh things to say to corporations that prioritize shareholder earnings over everything else. Some corporate leaders will do whatever it takes to make a profit, even if it destroys people's lives.

Look at corporations like Meta, which create algorithms that focus on anything violent, abusive and sensational to drive people to their advertising. Meta does not tell the whole truth and says lies you'll never hear from God.

There is plenty of evidence to show that companies like this are doing little to stop bullying and sexual abuse and do little to reduce the addictive qualities of their software.

3.      Seek revenge on those who wrong you":

Jesus preached forgiveness and turning the other cheek. He suggested that the best way to resist is to be kind.  Turning the other cheek was a form of nonviolent resistance. 

Walter Wink, one of North America’s greatest theologians, offers insights into the phrase, “If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” He highlights that Jesus refers to the right cheek for a reason. In a predominantly right-handed world, striking the right cheek would require a backhanded slap, which was an insult rather than a physical fight. This method was commonly used by those in power (like masters to slaves or husbands to wives). It was socially and legally unacceptable when directed at equals, often resulting in substantial penalties.

By turning the other cheek, Jesus was giving power to the victim and embarrassing the perpetrator.

4.      Exclude those who are different from you:

Jesus welcomed everyone he met and helped people see their blind spots, which often made people uncomfortable.

Jesus had a particular concern for those living on the edge of life: the hungry, the oppressed, the foreigners, religious minorities, and women.

Amazingly, stories of women made it into the Holy Scriptures when women were considered the property of men.

One of my favourite stories is the passage about the Syrophoenician woman who tells Jesus off when he tries to ignore her. Her courage and persistence changed Jesus.  (Mark 7:24-30)

Many people keep lying about the worth and value of women, again saying lies you'll never hear from God.

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5.      Judge others harshly to show your righteousness:

Jesus was clear that you are never to judge others when you haven’t repented your sins. In the passage, Jesus confronts some Pharisees who want to stone a woman:

Jesus says: All right but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”  Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. (John 8:1-11)

         Jesus sets the women free.  It is the Pharisees who come out looking bad.

6.      Forget the poor and needy:

Jesus walked his talk. He often was feeding the poor and needy. People say platitudes such as the poor will always be hungry just you'll never hear from God.

7. Your status and achievements define your worth:

Jesus did not care about how much money, power, and influence you had over others. He saw everyone as equal in God's eyes.

Jesus says people with money and power have more difficulty being faithful than those with little.

Christians throughout the centuries have glorified money, uttering lies you'll never hear from God.

8.      Follow the letter of the law without compassion or understanding:

Jesus broke the law of the Sabbath many times. Jesus emphasized the sabbath was made for humanity and not vice versa. Mark 2:27

Jesus said that saving a person's life on the sabbath was a good use of the day even though it technically broke the law. 

How do you honour the sabbath in our world today?

9.      Faith is only for the strong and certain:

Jesus had great compassion for anyone. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus compared faith to a tiny mustard seed. A mustard seed is small and comes from a small bush that was common where Jesus lived.

I think Jesus questioned the faith of people who were too sure. We see much of this today, where people think they know the absolute truth and refuse to listen to another perspective.

Many like to show off by claiming to know the absolute truth about God and utter lies you'll never hear from God.

Jesus valued the power of doubt because it required people to be curious about what they believed.

Christianity, at its best, has made a positive impact on the world. However, to indeed be faithful, we must acknowledge the darker aspects of our faith. None of us are perfect. By focusing on Jesus' teachings and avoiding the misinterpretation of scripture, we can strive to follow in His footsteps rather than conform to what is popular now.

If we can focus on the life of Jesus through the Scriptures, we can avoid the violence of fascist and Christian nationalism that is opposite to what God desires.

Roland Legge is an Accredited Professional Burnout Prevention Coach for Clergy. I invite you to explore your faith. What is helping you be faithful, and what is getting in the way? Would you like to schedule a complimentary conversation to discuss your challenges? Yes, sign me up.