BOGUS DEAL
Have you ever bought something that turned out to be phony? Maybe you were traveling, and grabbed a can of soda without noticing that it was a “Pespi” or a “Coca-Gola.” The name on the can looked right (at least close enough to fool you), but it was definitely not right. One taste will tell you!
Sometimes, the fakery is more hidden. Scammers and ripoff artists who profit from substandard wares have learned to obscure the truth in many ways: A picture suggesting far more chips than are actually in the bag, a smaller amount of deodorant inside the same old package, online merchandise made to appear much larger than it actually is, counterfeits that look (but don’t perform) just like the genuine article—and a million other cheats, tricks, and ploys. In contrast to all of this, here is how Jesus tells us to measure things:
“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” -Jesus
Generosity. Overflow. Jesus would fill your bag of grain, press it down, shake it, and then top it off! This is the economy of the kingdom. These are good measures. God has always opposed our stingy dealings:
“Do no wrong in judgment, in measurement of weight, or volume. Have accurate balances, accurate weights.” -God
“Can I justify dishonest balances and a bag of fraudulent weights? The city’s rich people are full of violence.” -God
Whenever something is made to appear more valuable than it actually is, in God’s eyes this is fraudulent. Some might excuse it as “just business,” others might say, “let the buyer beware.” Some could even think that it’s a good salesperson who is able to sell something for more than it’s worth. We can justify our dishonesty and greed in many clever ways, but God never will. He sees these things as violence—theft, by thieves in fine clothes.
Products and packaging aren’t the only things where appearances can deceive, either. Sometimes, what is being peddled is a philosophy, or a political cause, or a conspiracy theory, or a scientific position, or a religion. Hawkers and hucksters, charlatans and chameleons, all assuring us, “This is good; this is the way.” For followers of Christ, it is especially important to be on the lookout for spiritual fraudsters:
“There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them.” -Peter
Heresies. False teachings by false teachers. Destructive words that deny the Lord. Peter tells us we will encounter such people—they will be among us, although they’ll often only share their opinions secretly. “This is good!” they will say, but it will all be a lie. God decisively judges all such switcheroos:
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness! Woe to those who declare the wicked innocent for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!” -God
Evil is not good, though some will call it that. Darkness is never light, no matter who is making the claim. The wicked are never innocent, regardless of the fine credentials of the judge saying so.
A very clever seller, with a quick mind and no regard for truth, can often convince the unwary that a poor item is actually excellent—that his tawdry darkness is actually light. And none of us are immune to being fooled. In fact, thinking we can’t be fooled actually makes us more gullible:
“Let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.” -Paul
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception.” -Paul
“Be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unscrupulous people.” -Peter
Be on guard. See to it. Watch out. These would be strange things to say if we couldn’t be deceived, or be carried away as captives, or fall. Whether buying something, or believing something, we’re much wiser to think that we can be fooled—so that we’ll remember to keep our eyes open!
Sometimes, though, even having open eyes might not be enough. Some things are very hidden:
“Such men are false apostles, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” -Paul
Many disguises are easy to see through—a couple guys in a horse costume probably can’t fool anyone. But, what if the disguise is more convincing? What if, as best as we could tell, an angel of light appeared before us? How could we see beyond appearances? Here’s Paul’s earlier quote, with a little more context:
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, in accordance with human tradition and the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.” -Paul
The key is whether the thing on offer is in accordance with Christ. Does the angel of light speak in such a way as to lift Christ higher, or tear Christ down? Is Christ being reduced or limited—or is Christ being exalted, worshipped, and glorified? Is there an accord between Christ and what we’re being asked to believe? These are questions of discernment. And John is fully in accord with Paul:
“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits—many false prophets have gone out into the world! Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not is not from God. They speak as the world, and the world listens. We are from God: the one who knows God listens to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and of error.” -John
John says to test these things by what is being said of Christ. Is the messenger telling you that Christ truly came as a man—or that Christ is a myth? Is the message the way of the world, or the way of God?
John also says that anyone who knows God “listens to us”—to the Apostles, who both saw and heard Christ. And all the Apostles, without fail, exalt Christ, affirm His teachings, give Him preeminence, and do not glorify themselves. This is how to discern truth from error—not by appearance but by accordance.
Peter tells us much more about the false prophets, including this:
“Promising freedom, they themselves are slaves of corruption.” -Peter
“It is good! Freedom!” they will say, about all their products and philosophies, politics and piety. “It is good!”
But, beware of counterfeit goods.