“We live in a society in which spurious realities are manufactured by the media, by governments, by big corporations, by religious groups, political groups. I ask, in my writing, ‘What is real?’ Because unceasingly we are bombarded with pseudo realities manufactured by very sophisticated people using very sophisticated electronic mechanisms.“―Philip K. Dick-Science Fiction Writer
SPURIOUS means not being what it purports to be; false or fake: counterfeit. It means apparently, but not actually valid. Counterfeiters are a lot more sophisticated now than the photo to your left! Counterfeit means made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive or defraud; a forgery. Bank tellers were trained to identify counterfeit bills by handling hundreds of real bills. Their hands would easily detect spurious notes. Lies nowadays are so subtle and layered, they are almost undetectable.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had an internal lie detector to help us discern the bogus from the real? Glad we have the Word and the Spirit! In John 8, Jesus forgives and releases an adulterous woman after none of her accusers was qualified to inflict the punishment of death by stoning because they had all also sinned themselves. Jesus then testified about Himself, revealing He was the light of the world, God was His Father, and that He would be crucified for the sins of humankind. Some believed in Him, but others disputed His words and His identity. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
We cling to false or old views from the past because they’re familiar. These Jews resisted the Truth that their Messiah had come, by holding on to their historical connection to Abraham. Jesus stuns them when he says, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” (vs.58) showing His infinite wisdom and self-existence. The Truth was right before them, but they chose a lesser counterfeit. (We do that too.) He excoriates them in verses 39-44, “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Sometimes we object, believing we are on the LORD’s side, not realizing we’re really batting for the other team.
42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own; God sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Every day we have the opportunity to side with Truth over lies, with Jesus or the devil – diabolos- the one who slanders, falsely accuses, unjustly criticizes, condemns, severs relationships, and makes charges that tear down and destroy—as they’d done to this woman. With our words, we can kill or we can save—which will you do?
