Twisting Truth into a Lie

Reuters is reporting this morning that California has threaten to cut business ties with the pharmacy chain Walgreens.

In a tweet on Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom said that the state would refuse to do business with “any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk,” including Walgreens.

So what egregious action has Walgreens implemented to harm women?

The nation’s second largest Pharmacy chain has confirmed that it will not dispense abortion pills in 20 states. As a result pro-abortion advocates are expressing their outrage and calling for boycotts against Walgreens.

Walgreens is headquartered in Illinois. So, the Governor, J. B. Pritzker tweeted, “@Walgreens must rethink this policy. To all the other pharmacy providers, we’ll stand with you so you can provide this lifesaving care.”

We might be wrong, but we seriously doubt that any state in the union, regardless of its abortion restrictions, prevents medical treatment to save the life of a pregnant woman.

In Florida, where we live, The Denison Forum reported there were 79, 817 abortions in 2021. However, in only 0.15 percent of the cases was “the woman’s life endangered by the pregnancy.”

“Why, then, is abortion so often called “lifesaving” care?” asks Jim Denison.

His answer? “Because “truth” has been weaponized in our culture as a means to predetermined social ends.”

Sadly, our culture has twisted Truth to fit whatever social agenda is popular. Denison offers these examples

Sex change surgeries are now “gender-affirming care.” Euthanasia is “death with dignity.” To defend the unborn is to engage in a “war on women.” Those who support biblical marriage are “homophobic.” Those who believe women should not have to compete against biological men in sports are “transphobic.”

This, however, is not a new phenomenon. It’s as old as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God commanded them not to eat of the fruit from the tree in the midst of garden. Eve knew it. She repeated this to the serpent. But Satan said, “You shall not surely die.” The one word “not” changed God’s Truth into Satan’s lie.

Since that fateful day the devil has been using the same tactic.  Bible history, as well as all human history, records people twisting and changing what God said to fit their own personal agenda and feelings. For example, while Moses was on Mt. Sinai, receiving the 10 commandments, which included, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” Aaron was fashioning a golden calf for the people to worship.

The period of the Judges is characterized by this simple statement. “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Jdg. 21:25).

Somehow, human reasoning and our carnal nature has the ability to justify and rationalize actions and attitudes that are directly contradictory to Truth. Think of King Saul who  did the exact opposite of what God commanded, However, when the prophet Samuel approached Saul, the King said, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” (1 Sam. 15). Both the Lord and Samuel were displeased, and Saul was punished for his disobedience.

Today, calling abortion “lifesaving care” doesn’t make it so when unborn babies die as a result. Identifying a biological man as a woman doesn’t change the truth. Sanctioning same-sex marriage, and providing legal protection, doesn’t sanctify the union in God’s eyes.

In a similar way, we each need to look carefully at the basis of our religious beliefs. Are they founded in God’s Word, the Bible? Or are they the result of religious tradition, denominational dogma, and human reasoning?

The apostle Paul was concerned about the Corinthian Christians being blinded “by the god of this world.” And failing to see “the light of the gospel” as Paul proclaimed it through Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:1-6). And so, the apostle offered this warning.

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted — you may well put up with it! (2Cor. 11:3-4).

Know this. When Truth is twisted to fit our own opinions, what is culturally popular, or politically correct, it is no longer Truth, but a lie.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman