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I am not a liar. There is actually some discussion about that on the intertoobz right now, which actually has gone and really ticked me off. It can be frustrating having people invested in trying to dismiss everything you say, trying to portray you as a liar, crazy and unworthy. A heretic. Christian people. Let that resonate for a moment. My biggest obstacle, my biggest stumbling block in trying to share my faith with others actually comes from Christian people. Not liberals, not atheists, not feminists, but rather people claiming the name of Christ.
The idea that women are liars, deceptive, crazy, mentally ill, is such a deeply ingrained social narrative, one I have encountered so frequently, I’ve just surrendered all and named myself insanitybytes. Why do we dismiss what women have to say by labeling them crazy or deceitful? So their ideas will carry no weight, so we can justify not listening to them. So we can lesson their sphere of influence and power. To make them smaller. So we don’t have to let their words impact us in anyway.
So “female” right off the bat means potentially deceptive, likely insane. I say that with all good humor and cheerful fortitude. There are guys walking in the world right now who are instantly perceived as, likely dangerous, probably a criminal. That’s the same kind of unjust preconceived notions that reside in our world. You can’t change it, it’s just human nature.
But when you’re smart, there’s the additional issue of being able to see some things others can’t. That’s not bragging, trust me, it’s a disability, a real pain in the neck. The thing is, just because you can’t see something, doesn’t make someone else a liar. If you’re color blind and I tell you red and blue are real things in world, I am not lying. My intent is not to deceive you.
Then there is the additional issue of speaking the truth. Lying is not my problem, speaking the truth in a world so allergic and resistant to it, is my problem. Our culture, our social realities are encased in so many layers of lies and self deception. Lady, you aren’t “fine,” you’re encased in an eating disorder, addicted to pain pills, and totally freaked out because you can’t afford the electric bill.
Try speaking the truth to people and see what happens. Try not wearing a mask and speaking the truth about you own self and see what happens. That stuff is not for the faint of heart, I’m telling you. Do it anyway, it’s worth it.
If I ever write a book, I think I’ll call it “Liar.” I am forever trying to tell people, the Truth is a person. And the Truth shall set you free. Where your eyes are is where your heart will be, too. If your eyes are on me, they’re in the wrong place.
See, there's this thing called biology... 
Link please?
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The Truth is a person. We don’t need a link, we need to look up.
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Truth can be very uncomfortable, especially for those who do not know Truth. When one knows Truth, it can still be uncomfortable but he gives grace and comfort and his followers adapt to him. But he, himself, adapts to no one. That brings us back to those who do not really want to know truth. Hey, did I talk in circles? I think I said what I wanted to say. 😀
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Circles! Circles can be good. 🙂
Once you know grace, and the steadfast love of our Lord, the Truth is a wonderful thing. In the absence of grace, well, that would be pretty awful. I guess I’d avoid it, too.
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they were abused children. don’t listen to them. it’s not worth your time.
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Good point. I have a soft spot for abused children. That’s probably half the problem right there. 🙂
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Pure supposition on their background. And, if true, who was doing the abusing?
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“It can be frustrating having people invested in trying to dismiss everything you say, trying to portray you as a liar, crazy and unworthy. A heretic. Christian people.”
Um, and you said you’ve never seen pharisees? You may want to look again. 😉
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Nah, they’re all dead.
Or as the Italian grandmas say, they’re all dead to me. 🙂
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lol! Riiiigggghhhhht!
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🙂
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They are calling you a liar, not only because…(gasp)…you’re a woman (Ah!!! women should be silent! Danger Will Robinson!) 🙂 but because they define lying as anyone who disagrees with their view of things. And as Kierkegaard once said, we must label so we can dismiss….
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“they define lying as anyone who disagrees with their view of things.”Keep your blinders on. What you don’t recognize must not exist?
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“who exchanged the truth of God for the lie” – Ro. 1:25.
“speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron” – 1Ti. 4:2.
“outside are dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie” – Rev. 22:15.
Sadly, repeating a lie often enough to enough people tends to tarnish the truth irreparably.
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You’re on a roll!!! I loved growing up with the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I guess that left the school system when they threw God out. Oh, how I loved our mornings where we had a Bible reading and we all stood and pledged allegiance to the Flag of the USA! I guess I am aging myself. Those were the good old days, you’d just punch someone if they called you a liar…..
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Wow, the good old days! My oldest kid remembers saying the pledge, but the younger 3 never said the pledge, never had prayers in school,never heard the bible spoken of at all.
Ha! I remember when you could just punch people. “He called me a jerk” and the teachers would go, “oh well, than hit him again.” Today I think that’s called assault. 🙂
Shame too, because back in the day we had very little conflicts or violence. It’s amazing how reluctant people are to act like bullies when they face the risk of someone fighting back.
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My mother always said a bully is someone without conscience, care for others and lacks self confidence. I believed her so I taught the same to my own kids. Somewhere along the line we have forgotten that the bully is the one with the problem, not the bullied, But a good swift kick works too if all else fails.
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Liberals can’t be Christian?
Interesting.
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Did I imply that in some way? That was not my intention.
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Yes, you did.
My biggest obstacle, my biggest stumbling block in trying to share my faith with others actually comes from Christian people. Not liberals, not atheists, not feminists, but rather people claiming the name of Christ.
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Ooh this is great john.
If one was a first time reader or visitor to this web site, you may draw that conclusion. Still a wrong conclusion, but consider:
It is a statement about CONTRAST, not one of absolutes.
An atheist will post a meme of a homeless man mocking Christianity, a liberal will chastise believers for not taking the homeless into their home, and a believer will tell him to get a job. All are wrong, yet it is the Christian who is marked out as unchristian.
Can a liberal be a Christian? Uh hello? If a camel can go through the eye of s needle, then anything is possible. Of course anybody can be a Christian, even you. But the liberal is generally known for his politics, and not his doctrine.
A liberal is generous with someone else’s cash. But what I see here in your complaint is the missing of the greater point; that the antagonism toward believers is greatest from they who make the greatest of professions.
And oh btw, there are Christian feminists, they are simply at the moment untaught. There is this thing called time and understanding. Once more, the greater point is hostility by they who claim the name of Christ. I’m pretty sure the host here would agree with these observations.
But you are not a first time reader right? Therefore you should reconsider your gripe.
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Thanks, Colorstorm! That is indeed what I was thinking of, the contrast of those labels, not the faith behind them.
Somewhere around here I have a few posts stating that both liberals and feminists can be Christ followers. We believe, put our faith in Him, and follow. You can be all wrong headed about about everything else, from dinosaurs and the illuminati, but get that part right, you’re a Christian.
Wrong headed, Zande. I just called people wrong headed. That means even atheists can come to Christ. 🙂
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Sure. It’s all good msB.
As noted, anybody who has given you any bit of consideration, knows you are above all, fair minded in these things. 😉
.
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Memi, the truth is worth it for one’s self alone, and is a bonus of course, if other people “get it”! 😏👍🕊
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Amen, A-dad. I’ll just have to stop demanding bonuses. 🙂
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Sounds as if you are right on target IB. Reading through that last week of Jesus’ life on earth, and what continues to impress me is the increasing hatred, settled opposition and hostility Jesus faced…in the walls of the temple. It’s one thing to read, “You will be hated by all for My Name’s sake,” (Luke 21:17) quite another when it hits the heart full force. Whether it was the way He unmasked hypocrisy or brought to light that which preferred a dimmer setting, He definately stirred things up! I pray the Lord will continue to guide You as He encouraged His disciples with the reassurance that He would not only “give them a mouth” but the kind of wisdom which silences contradictions. (Luke 21:15)
Blessings to you IB!
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“I am not a liar.”
Well. Dang…
That’s no fun. 🙂
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somewhere I’m hearing Richard Nixon in my head….no that was I’m not a crook….I think it was Bill Clinton….yes, that’s the one, Bill Clinton—complete with finger pointing at the camera with a big fat lie—now that’s lying—not IB
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It was amazing he could do that without spontaneously bursting into flame.
There must’ve been a guy with a fire extinguisher standing next to the camera.
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Ha! Good point, Julie. Maybe I should start saying , “I am NOT a liar….. I’m training for a future in politics.” 🙂
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Ain’t no doubt – so said the fake news 😊
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When someone falsely accuses you of being a liar just remember that they are causing you to be blessed.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11,12)
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Does God bless those who correctly state that someone is actually lying?
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Well, I can’t comment on the most recent accusation, but you did lie about the proposed Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill when you declared on your blog that it was ONLY about protecting children from child abuse. The ‘truth’ as opposed to your ‘lie’ was that they proposed lifelong imprisonment and potentially death for people in mutually consenting adult homosexual relationships. I’m not even sure if you can see the difference now, but you certainly refused to consider your post as a lie then.
You also lied about your statements regarding homosexual men being pedophiles, and then did a ‘feel sorry for me being attacked’ post. So you lie, dodge the truth, avoid facts and rewrite history on your blog in an attempt to show everyone you are actually ‘good’ and ‘truthful’. It’s curious viewing. Because I genuinely think you mean well and think you’re being truthful.
My personal conclusion is that it’s a common side-effect of the necessary cognitive dissonance that goes hand in hand with invisible, benevolent god belief, and trying to reconcile that with a whole pile of ugly stories about that god and its wishes.
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Hi v
just an observation re. something that’s been gone over more times than a broken record:
Misunderstanding or misinterpreting someone else’s words, context, or frame of reference does not make them a liar. And to remind such an one of a ghostly offence is pure foolishness.
But to leave you with something worthwhile, it is in fact, according to the laws of observation, natural law, science, and of course scripture, that there is a God with whom you have to do.
To say other wise is to be deceived by your own heart, Let God be true, and every man a liar. God is true, and men (and women) lie to themselves about what they instinctively know. And yes, we have also been over this a thousand times.
Now to make the point further, will you call me a liar because we have not been over over this a thousand times, or do you not recognize a figure of speech?
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“Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill”
Back when we discussed that, it was flat out a bill written against those who rape children and cause them to contract AIDS. So no lie there, I was speaking the truth. It was just not a truth some people wanted to recognize.
“You also lied about your statements regarding homosexual men being pedophiles”
Also,not a lie. Homosexual men can indeed be pedophiles. I believe were talking about the Seattle mayor. He is a popular gay man who has been accused of exploiting young boys for decades. Until recently, he’s never been held accountable because of a narrative that insists on declaring homosexual men simply can’t be pedophiles. So again,that was not a lie.
“…and then did a ‘feel sorry for me being attacked’ post. So you lie, dodge the truth, avoid facts and rewrite history on your blog in an attempt to show everyone you are actually ‘good’ and ‘truthful’.”
I’m going to say that’s highly unlikely on account of the fact that I don’t think I’ve ever asked anyone to feel sorry for me. I’ve never declared I was “good,” in fact, the precise opposite,”why do you call me good? None is good save one, that is God.” As to the truth, I am forever saying the Truth is a person, not a thing.
Beyond all that, I’m pretty honest, Violet. If I weren’t, I’d be out tickling ears and winning friends and influencing people.I actually do know how to tell people exactly what they want to hear. That however, is not necessarily what is true. In fact, most of the time it isn’t.
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I am right there with you! My husband is an atheist, and thinks that I am an idiot, because I am a Christian, and he sees how many books I read. Not to mention the trolls on Facebook, that would call a dollar bill pink, just because you called it green.
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As you know, you are not an idiot. You just can’t go wrong with Christ, He is the best thing ever. 🙂
My husband and sometimes my kids see some really poor behavior from Christians and they use it to shy away from the church, from faith itself. It makes me crazy sometimes. All I can say is that people are works in progress. Some miracles just take longer than others.
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If people would only learn that it’s about the foundational beliefs, not the people who proclaim to believe in them.
I can’t even bring up Hitler in a conversation , without getting my head handed to me, because they think I just called them Hitler.
If they would only apply that same logic to Christianity, and realize that just like one atheist doesn’t make them all mean and nasty, one “Christian” doesn’t make all Christians mean and nasty. Our foundational belief is Jesus, we should judge Christianity and “Christians” based on his behavior.
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