I’ve seen quite a bit of it lately. Women in Christian circles—popular authors and speakers—ever so generously giving other women permission to “live your truth.” Here’s an example:
I want you to grow so comfortable in your own being, your own skin, your own knowing - that you become more interested in your own joy and freedom and integrity than in what others think about you. That you remember that you only live once, that this is not a dress rehearsal and so you must BE who you are. I want you to refuse to betray yourself. Not just for you. For ALL OF US. Because what the world needs ― in order to grow, in order to relax, in order to find peace, in order to become brave ― is to watch one woman at a time live her truth without asking for permission or offering explanation.[1]
While I know there are many who feel relief and even joy at the sound of this invitation to live so freely, I’ll have none of it. Not one word.
I’ll start by letting you all in on a little of “my truth.”
Of course when I say MY truth, I’m talking about all the thoughts, feelings, orientations, and goals Teasi Cannon would have if completely separated from God’s truth. And this is, in fact, what I’m being encouraged to embrace as my victory song.
So here’s the truth according to Teasi:
· I’m a failure.
o I don’t cook for my family very often because I have major food anxieties.
o I can’t remember things. My memory is embarrassingly bad.
o I’m a total loser at social networking and blogging, which is something I’m told I must do in order to build and keep “a platform.”
o I can’t ever seem to stay committed to my exercise or nutritional goals for more than a few weeks.
· I’m ugly.
o I’m almost 50 years old. Gross.
o My neck skin is sagging like old lady skin.
o My stomach is disgusting, and don’t get me started on my larger than ever B-U-T-T.
o If I go into a coma, I’m going to grow a beard because I won’t be awake to pluck the 30 or so hairs that don’t ever want to leave me alone.
· I’m boring.
o I don’t have any hobbies other than reading—non-fiction…about God…hermeneutics…apologetics...Jesus (zzz).
o I don’t go anywhere really. My favorite place to be is on the couch with my family watching home movies. I have almost NO social life.
· I’m mentally ill.
o I have such horrible hormonally induced clinical depression that there’s no hope for me.
o My poor husband is doomed to live with a basket case.
· Life is meaningless, so let’s just get drunk.
· My husband deserves a beautiful, young woman who is always nice. I should just leave. It would be best for him.
· My kids should have had a FUN mom. They would be better off without me, too.
Have you had enough yet? I sure have.
Which is why Jesus is so precious to me. Which is why HIS truth IS my new truth.
Teasi Cannon’s truth leads to…well, death. His truth leads to life.
Jesus tells me to die to everything that’s my truth[2]so I can truly live.[3]
While the new rising order of well-meaning freedom champions tell me to embrace everything that’s mine…to live it to the full...
I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS.
Sisters, we’re all standing at the same cross-road right now. We’re all going to have to decide which way to go—which path to follow. One path is a trap. The other leads to eternal life.
Here’s the deal about truth. There can only be one. Just go to the bank and tell the cashier that all the money belongs to you. If she tries to tell you that your account is empty, no problem. Simply say, “That’s your truth. MY truth is that all the money belongs to me.” See how that works for you.
Yes, there can be many preferences. There can be many beliefs. But there can only be one truth. Truth is not relative.
Here’s the real deal: we don’t HAVE a truth. There IS a truth.
And true Christ followers believe that Jesus is THE truth personified. That He IS the way, the truth, and the life.
And we follow Him. Only Him. What He says. What He does. What He affirms and what He condemns.
This is why it’s so important for us to study what Jesus really said. What He really taught, affirmed, and died for. All of it. Not just the easy parts and not interpreted through the lens of what we want Him to say and approve.
Jesus isn’t our life coach. He isn’t our social justice captain. He isn’t our cheerleader.[4] Yes, He encourages us, He models for us, and He inspires us. But He didn’t have to DIE for that.
There are countless other good men to follow both now and in history who didn’t die for me.
Only Jesus did that. And why? Jesus died to save me from MY TRUTH. My sinful, horrible, death-breathing truth.
He is my SAVIOR.
So, your heart-felt encouragement to live my truth. Please stop. Just stop.
You might as well be telling me to go to hell.
[1] [1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/abby-wombach-dating-glennon-doyle-melton_us_5829cb74e4b060adb56f377b
[2] Matthew 16:24
[3] Luke 18:29-30
[4] Great article here: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/sisters-jesus-is-not-your-cheerleader