Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales…
Summary: Paul’s challenge to avoid “godless myths and old wives’ tales” makes us wonder how we tell the difference between truth and fiction.
What is the difference between the truth and a “godless myth”?
Paul’s challenge requires discernment, and lots of it! At the very beginning of his letter, almost his first words to Timothy are, “command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer” (1 Timothy 1:3).
On the scale of Truth versus False Doctrine, “godless myths and old wive’s tales” sound rather innocuous. But are they?
If we were to stretch a line from Calvary to the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14-15), we would have a long, straight line. Now, imagine that we put all the people who truly and fully understand the Gospel at the Calvary end, how many people would there be?
Personally, my answer would be that there is only one: Jesus Christ. He, and only he, fully understands the sacrifice that was needed to save humanity and the sacrifice he made.
At the other end of the line are those who reject Jesus. Oddly, they might think they understand the truth, but their proximity to the eternal fire suggests otherwise.
Everyone else is strung out on that line. We are all somewhere in between.
From a human perspective, I think it can be argued that Paul, formerly Saul, is one of those closest to Jesus on the line. Did the other Apostles understand the Gospel better? Perhaps you could make a case that they did, and I would be glad to listen to your thoughts on this, in terms of the historical record and the New Testament as we know it today; however, it is hard to know who would stand closest to Jesus. Certainly, all those who knew him joined with Paul, pointing the way to him.
Paul’s letters paint a picture of a man standing close to Jesus, calling other believers to come near. “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales,” he shouts. Come this way!
From where Paul stands, the Gospel appears very clear. There is no room for anything that attempts to draw attention away from Jesus, yet there are always people who try. They stand at various points along the line and say, “Hey, look at me! I have some truth here!” Like Satan (Genesis 3:1-7, Matthew 4:1-11), they might mix a little truth with a point of view that is pulling the wrong direction, toward the Lake of Fire instead of toward Jesus.*
Application: Keep our eyes on Jesus – always!
Food for Thought: Why is it so difficult to tell the difference between truth and myth?
*I realize that this metaphor can be misconstrued to suggest Jesus can’t save us if we are too far ‘down the line.’ This is not what I mean to say at all. The metaphor is about conflicting narratives, not about any limitation on God’s ability to save us from destruction.
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Why is it so difficult to tell the difference between truth and myth?
I think it is a very difficult thing to let go of one’s own bias. We all have pre-established beliefs, or we all seek answers to fill in the missing pieces of what we already think is correct. Myths seem to contain some elements of the truth, but the details cater to our own understanding, and take us far away from the real truth.
Take the adage “Seek and you shall find.” Its a common misquote of Matthew 7:7-8. When people use it, they are really speaking to their own bias, basically stating that one will eventually find what one is looking for. It seems correct, but it is not really. Usually people latch onto the first thing that resembles what they are looking for. So, in that context, they are putting their faith in a myth. What Jesus said is:
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Jesus is speaking about seeking the Kingdom of God. He articulates a very basic truth about God:
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
I have learned in my walk with the Lord that His Word contains the answers to all things in life. Not in a “to-do” list way, but in shining light on our intent and motivations. The Word has a gentle way of cutting through the myths and exposing the truth of our hearts by showing us what the whole truth is.
John 8:31-32
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Thank you, Chris!
Yes, that “bias” you mention is, I believe, self-interest. And self-interest, in turn, is the can of worms that was opened when Adam and Eve ate from the Forbidden Tree in the Garden of Eden.
Good response CH.
I agree – personal bias and preference can taint our willingness to accept truth. Part of the problem is sometimes we want to believe the myth more than the truth.
Thanks, Rich!
Yes — I guess you might say we “myth” seeing the truth! 🙂
Why is it so difficult to tell the difference between truth and myth?
As believers, we are spiritual beings, confined in a physical housing, living in a physical world, occupied by physical beings as we profess the truths conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit, and wonder why so many reject His message being delivered to them through us.
The truth is food for the starving spirit, the myth, proclaiming power of our physical self is the lie
Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Thank you, Ron!
Well said! The Truth is food for the spirit! As the Word says:
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” — Psalm 34:8