The Casey Anthony trial reflects our public discourse
I have some balance problems due to nerve damage prior to my back surgery. The result is I have little feeling in most of my left leg. Consequently, sometimes I stagger like a drunk depending on how tired my legs are.
This past week I had one of those times in the house. I ended up kicking the corner of the end table with my left leg as I was falling. The fourth toe ended up swelling up, turning very red. I don’t know if it is broke or not. I can’t move it. It doesn’t hurt because I have no feeling in it.
This reminded of a verse in 1 Timothy 4:2 which reads, “Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” Seared with a hot iron reminds me of a cattle brand. The skin becomes insensitive where the hot iron brand is placed.
What the writer is saying is that some people’s consciences have become branded by “giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,” (Verse 1) that they are no longer sensitive to truth. (The devil is a liar and the father of lies; there is no truth in him and his puppets follow in his footsteps, John 8:44.) His puppets be they politicians, preachers, unfaithful spouses, etc., speak his lies. Some are deceived and don’t know it, others know they are lying but don’t care. They are hypocrites. They give one an impression of having pure motives while in reality they have quite different ones like job security.
According to 1 Timothy 4:1-2, lying is going to a big part of public discourse in the latter times. Our airwaves are filled with contradictory claims. Someone has said you can only believe half of what you hear. I agree, but the problem still remains which half do you believe? Things were so bad in Jesus’ day that even Pilate didn’t know who to believe in Jesus’ trial, John 18:38. The jurors in Casey Anthony’s trial didn’t know who to believe.
Sadly the Casey Anthony trial is a reflection of the public discourse in our society. (Have you listened to politicians debate the debt limit? Facts don’t matter.)
One person I can trust is Jesus. What he says he will do, he will do. One thing he promised when he left is: he will come again.
When his kingdom comes, his will will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). There will be no more debate about marriage, abortion, lifestyles, deficit spending, Obamacare, etc., his will will be done. Even so come Lord Jesus.
May you have a good week unless you have other plans.
Maranatha. (Maranatha means, “Our Lord Cometh.”)
The Rev. Elton Yutzy is the associate pastor of the Maranatha Community Fellowship Church in Plain City. He can be reached by e-mail at revelton@gmail.com.
