My finger was literally on the button. Everything in me wanted to click Like and Share. Why am I not doing it? I thought. The author of the meme was a Christian, the quote sounded positive and life-affirming, and it would surely encourage and uplift my social media friends. I still can\u2019t do it. But why? With my index finger lightly tapping the top of the computer mouse, I sat pondering my hesitation. Then, in a sudden burst of clarity, the Holy Spirit was all like, \u201cSnap out of it!\u201d Oh yeah. I was hesitating because although this quote sounded nice, it was not biblical. It was actually a lie . . . a happy little lie.<\/p>\n
Have you ever found yourself in a similar spot? I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve checked social media only to see a message like \u201cFollow your heart.\u201d And I\u2019m thinking, Awww. That\u2019s nice. I hit Like before I have a chance to remember, Oh, wait. The last time I followed my heart it got smashed to bits and took me years of counseling to recover. \u201cTrust your instincts. They never lie.\u201d That one landed me in traffic court.<\/p>\n
Are you tired of feeling like you have to check social media to find out what you\u2019re supposed to think? Are you weary of the latest self-help book that promises to set you free but only imprisons you with a laundry list of studies to consider, positive affirmations to recite, Facebook groups to join, causes to advocate for, and other books to read? (It seems as if it were really \u201cself-help,\u201d I shouldn\u2019t need all this outside support!)<\/p>\n
In that moment of hesitation over a meme, I realized that there are endless ways truth can be spun, manipulated, covered up, and even used to promote deception. Often, the lie is christened with religious language, so the temptation to share it without thinking is real. As A. W. Tozer said, \u201cToo much of contemporary Christianity is borrowed from the philosophies of the world and even other religions\u2014phrases and mottos that on the surface look great but are not rooted in Scripture or that mostly bolster one\u2019s self-image.\u201d1<\/p>\n
These happy little lies are pithy assertions that sound good, safe, optimistic, and constructive. They look great stitched on a pillow, digitized into a meme, or turned into a slogan. They are<\/p>\n
usually stated in a positive form, like \u201cBelieve in yourself\u201d and \u201cYou are perfect just as you are.\u201d You see, the best lies are the ones that sound the most beautiful. They are made up of at least 50 percent truth. Sometimes they are almost totally true. But that small bit that spins the entire outcome? That is the important part.<\/p>\n
Our culture is brimming with slogans that promise peace, fulfillment, freedom, empowerment, and hope. These messages have become such an integral component of our American consciousness that many people don\u2019t even think to question them. They sound nice and carry an illusion of truth. Often these messages are popularized by social media celebrities who claim to be Christians, promote their materials as being in agreement with Christian principles, and publish on Christian formats and venues.<\/p>\n\n\t\t