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WisconsinChristianNews.com
Volume 25, Issue 5
Should You Tell People the Truth Even If They Won’t Like It?
By Carey Kinsolving September 2024
“Speaking the truth in love,” as the Bible ad- vocates, doesn’t demand one style of speak- ing. Tough love sometimes requires drastic language and measures. It also requires dis- cernment. To the religious leaders who brought a woman caught in adultery, Jesus said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7). Before Jesus answered the woman’s accus- ers, the Bible records that He “stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.” Just because someone asks you a question doesn’t mean you have to answer. Of course, if the person asking has authority over you, as in the case of a parent, boss or police officer,
After hearing a speech in the House of Com- mons, Winston Churchill remarked, “I should think it hardly possible to state the opposite of the truth with more precision.” Whether lies are told with precision or ambigu- ity, they’ll eventually be exposed. The truth is sometimes painful but welcome compared to that sick, sinking realization that you’ve been had by a liar. As Matthew, age 10, painfully discovered: “I lied to my brother once, and I got beat up for it. Please don’t lie.” “People need to know the truth whether they like it or not,” says Conner, 6. “Life is not easy.” You’re right, Conner, but sometimes, they’re
one’s appearance. Though it may seem like a small thing, it damages your integrity and your commitment to the truth. Let’s get some help from Hannah, 12: “If my friend wore this really weird outfit to a party, and she asked me if I liked it, I would tell her that I liked another dress she had better.” “If someone asks you if they look good, and they really don’t, you should tell them so that they won’t be embarrassed,” says Jacky, 12. Hannah’s answer is diplomatic but true. Jacky’s answer in- dicates she probably has a close relationship with her friend. We should prefer unpleasant truth from those who love us over pleasing flattery from those who would manipulate us.
not ready for it. A commitment to tell the truth doesn’t obligate you to open your mouth every time you have a truthful thought. Jesus said, “Don’t cast your pearls before swine.” Have you ever seen a pig wearing a pearl necklace? People who enjoy wallowing in the mud of self-deception are not ready for your pearls of truth and wisdom. Jesus also said, “Be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.” In the Arizona desert, I nearly stepped on a rattlesnake. It was coiled, ready and waiting to strike. Be alert, and wait for the right moment to speak truth into someone’s life. “If somebody asks you if she looks nice in a super-dirty, ugly and disgusting dress, you should say she’s pretty,” says Jonathan, 12. It’s very tempting to lie when asked about some-
you should answer quickly and truthfully. “God would want you to tell the truth no matter what hap- pens,” says Blake, 12. “Because you get paddled or some- thing doesn’t mean anything because Jesus had to suffer on the cross.” Think about this: Make a commitment to speak the truth in love. Memorize this truth: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:6). Ask this question: Is your speech seasoned with truth and grace? KidsTalkAboutGod.org
Remember this wise truth: “Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise,” says Proverbs 17:28 (NASB).
Trump Hatred — America’s National Shame
By Michael Bresciani September 2024
Biden administration count for anything? Kamala’s changing policies and skullduggery is what makes
All we need is a moment of honesty and a little dose of common sense – things that lately, have
the power and wisdom of the angel that spoke to him, that he fell on his face and began to worship the angel. He was quickly rebuked and told to redirect his worship to God. “Then saith he unto me, ‘See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.’” (Revelation 22:9). There are three things about Donald Trump we should all know if we have been paying attention. First, he is not God. Second, He has never claimed Divinity. Lastly, He has clearly proclaimed that we should all worship Jesus Christ, not him. So it is only respect for him as a man, and re- spect for his stellar record as the 45th President of the United States that causes us to support him. We love and support Donald Trump, not for some angelic nature, but it is a rather very human quality that he has consistently shown to all Amer- icans. He obviously loves this country, and he loves its people. When Jesus visited the little fishing village on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he was ap- proached by his own disciples to visit a Roman Centurion’s house to perform a healing. It is interesting to note, first that the disciples used a reference to the Centurion’s nobility, and his kindness to the Jews. In fact they bragged on his love for the Jews. “And when they came to Jesus, they besought Him instantly, saying, that He was worthy for whom He should do this: For He loveth our nation, and He hath built us a synagogue.” (Luke 7:4, 5). Jesus recognized the officer’s genuine love and did heal his servant. But it did not end there. Later Christ commended the Centurion for his faith, something that Jesus rarely did in his entire public ministry. Jesus could recognize genuine love for country and so can we. Hatred buries that discernment, and the loss is great. Donald Trump is an ordinary man, with an ex- traordinary love for his country.
Adoration for a cackling chameleon is a poor substitute for a tested patriot with a proven record. “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” (1John 2:9). “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1John 4:20). No one needs a seminary degree or a special anointing to discern the generic theology con- tained in these two passages. They mean exactly what they say – the best in- terpretation is...‘Who do you think you’re kidding?’ All Trump hatred, great or small comes under the scrutiny of this passage. The anger in Joe Biden’s face when he men- tions Donald Trump, and the disdain on Kamala’s face when speaking and lying about Trump is what this verse directly addresses. Add to that the screaming liberals, the fake media and the gen- eral population that intends to waste a vote for our nation, to put a giggler in chief in the People’s House. Will we gamble our future on a career politician once again? Doesn’t the poor example of the
the ancient proverb of a ‘reed shaken in the wind’ so very modern once again. Trump hatred is the worst example we have ever shown our young, and it is partly what is fueling the open hatred of Jews, criminal behaviors, and a general disrespect for our nation’s citizens, our property, our founders, our heroes, and our con- stitution. They are connected at the hip. We do not need a theology degree, or a degree in psy- chology to see this.
become alarmingly scarce. But Trump hatred has become so pervasive that it is now a pop culture fad. It has roots in govern- ment, politics, media, Hollywood and academia. In an excerpt from my article written in February of 2021 entitled ‘Are Democrats Emerging as the Party of Hatred, Vitriol and Vengeance?’ I said “But, more to be feared today, is the growing num- ber of haters, and vengeance seekers. We don’t expect the party that has blocked their ears to hear it, but all cries of racism are being drowned out by the lefts driven hatred of Donald Trump and his followers. While they are calling every Ameri- can a racist, has it become an obsession resound- ing so loud in their conscience that they have lost sight of their own transformation? “All the racists in the nation would now be a mi- nority compared to the new leftist, liberal, and de- mocrat haters. Racists are a dying reality from our past – haters are an emerging reality of the pres- ent.” It is a national disgrace of our own making. We are not Trump worshipers – we are Trump re- specters. When John the Revelator had his futuristic vision on the Isle of Patmos, he was so overwhelmed by
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