The Truth is Generally Preferable to Lies
I've been reading through the Harry Potter books before I watch the movies. They are really good! I found this quote in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Harry and another student, Cedric Diggory, are taken by portkey to a cemetary where Lord Voldemort (the antagonist) is recreating his body. Voldemort kills Cedric but Harry escapes bringing Cedric's body back with him. The other students at Hogwarts find out that Cedric is dead and that it involves Harry, but beyond that, they don't know how it happened. At the final feast of the school year, Dumbledore stands up and says:
"The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so - either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies,..."
It is my belief, too.
"The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so - either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies,..."
It is my belief, too.
posted by allencoker at
8:04 PM
3 Comments:
Good post for some further reflection, Allen. Another movie line about truth " You can't handle the truth!" Evidently most of us can't as we live under the umbrella of certain lies. The Enemy has decieved us in many ways, and we cooperate by perpetuating them. How many of us are engaged in a sin that we know is bringing unhappiness to God, but we have no true intentions of stopping (or starting, if it is a sin of neglect)? Or how many of us blindly continue to tell ourselves that we are pretty much OK, leading us to a very surface level of repentance? Or how many of us will spin the truth about ourselves to others so that we will look better than we are? One last one .... how many of us criticize others and judgmentally condemn them without recognition of our own weakness? All of these are forms of living under the power of lies. I would say that one of our major struggles in life / kingdom is that the lies are easier for us to live with than they should be ... and the truth hasn't set us free because we haven't believed that it really would. Not being cynical. Just recognizing that you have hit upon one of the giant and most basic struggles of spiritual warfare. And i haven't even had coffee yet this morning!
By
JD, at 4:31 AM
True dat, John. The devil is known as the Deceiver and the Father of Lies. I think that's his basic strategy. I've been struggling with my own lies in Lent this season. Rob Bell has had some great lessons on the Mars Hill website. In referencing the temptations of Christ, he said one major temptation is "If you are the Son of God..." In other words, he attacks our identity. "You're a son of God? Then why does your life look like that?" To me, that's deception. The question is: do you really believe that you are what God says you are, i.e, a forgiven child of his. What do you think?
By
allencoker, at 6:55 AM
Great point, Allen. Yes, I truly do believe that I am what God says I am ... but for the life of me I don't understand why He would want to save me. I know me better than anyone except Him. I wouldn't save me. But He does. I think for those of us who believe in grace, the pendulum swings a bit ... and we may grow to believe that sin isn't that big a deal. I'm more likely to believe that than to believe that He hasn't really saved me. I can let assurance turn into permission in a heartbeat. Trying to keep it real. God bless!
By
JD, at 8:35 PM
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