Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. – 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Today's Scripture Reading (February 6, 2021): 2 Thessalonians 1 & 2

American poet and philosopher Criss Jami argues that "Just because something isn't a lie does not mean that it isn't deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman of destruction." Some of the most dangerous lies are the ones that share space with our truths because we often can't tell the difference between their lie and our truth. And if our truth becomes corrupted by a lie, our truth becomes a lie, and we are destroyed.

This is the danger present in our echo chambers. Only listening to points of view with which we agree ultimately weaken us. Those on the political right need to hear the ideas of the political left, and the left needs to listen to the right. Both sides need to be able to listen and even accept when the other is correct because these moments will reveal the lie in us, the lies that are dragging us closer to destruction present in all of us.

Inside the church, it is unlikely that we will be deceived by people who do not share our faith. Often, what deceives us comes from within. Deception comes from people who profess to believe what we believe. Deception originates with organizations that we think we can trust because they promote a Christian ethic. I know that there are a few Christian organizations that a decade ago I accepted almost without question, that now I regularly question because I fear that they have been deceived. Often this seems to happen when the founder of an organization passes off the mantle of leadership to someone else. In those moments, extra caution to avoid deception is often necessary.

Paul warns his readers not to be deceived in any way. It is a repeat of something that he wrote to them in his first letter to the Thessalonian Church. "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22). Our quest against deception means having conversations with people over ideas and concepts while valuing the person with whom we are in conflict. It means being willing to test everything and to hold onto what is good. This is who we are as Christians, not the judgmental community that those outside the faith think that we are, but a cautious community of loving believers wanting only to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

So, don't let anyone deceive you. Be on the lookout for deception from outside the faith as well as within, and be willing to confront all deception with love and consideration.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3