Know When to Walk Away

Our capacity for self-delusion, for being led by the nose by this conspiracy theory or that radical dogma, is remarkable. Just look around. Amidst the swill of social media, many are being sucked into the deep vortex of delusion. Imagine you meet someone who's convinced that the earth is flat or that aeroplanes spray chemicals to control people's minds. So you patiently sit with them, showing them NASA photos, explaining basic physics, even quoting trusted scientists. But no matter what evidence you bring, your friend just shakes their head and says, "That's what they want you to believe." Your words of wisdom and truth wash over them like water off a duck's back—completely wasted. What do you do with that? Proverbs 23:9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.  ESV Fool is such a harsh word. But sometimes, it's also the right one. Doing what I do, I receive a lot of hate mail from people who call me all sorts of names, accusing me of all sorts of things. It really bothered me at first and I'd spend hours writing to each one, trying to shine the light of God's love into their hearts. But can I tell you, not a single one of them came round. And harsh as it may sound, eventually you have to heed God's advice: Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.