This month we have been talking about spiritual armor as described in Ephesians 6:10-18, where we are exhorted to put on this armor so that we can stand against the wiles of the enemy.
We already talked about the truth that should be like the girdle we use to gird our clothes around the waist and we also talked about the breastplate of righteousness.
When we talk about the truth, we mention that if we always tell the truth when we express ourselves, we will never see difficulties or complicated situations in which we are accused or have to give evidence or be held accountable. Unlike when temptation wins us and we use other ways to express ourselves where the truth is distorted. Here is a group of examples of how the truth can be distorted. These examples were written by a group of young people from a club at the La Progresiva school in Cuba in the 1950s under the guidance of Master Rev. Castellanos and it is impressive the depth they reached when studying the different ways in which the truth can be altered
- The Weighting: It is the falsely inflated truth; it is exaggeration serving as a tail to the truth. I must be EXACT in exposing the truth.
- The Pretext: It is a lie with the appearance of truth that helps to get out of trouble: the deceitful reason that is alleged to excuse oneself from having or not having done something. I must be COURAGEOUS in telling the truth.
- The Hypocrisy: It is the lie about your feelings; it is a mask with which the inner life is concealed or disfigured. I must be CRYSTALLINE in presenting my truth.
- The Fraud: It is the lie twinned with theft; the deception that someone makes when negotiating, creating, playing, or being academically tested. I must be HONEST and live the truth.
- Slander: It is the lie associated with homicide. It is the delinquent falsehood that is armed against honor and personal decorum. I must be RESPECTFUL when telling YOUR truth.
- Flattery: Lying praise to win a smile or a privilege. The lie that humbles itself to ingratiate itself. I must be WORTHY in presenting YOUR truth.
- The breach of the word: Lie arising from irresponsibly not fulfilling the promise made. I must be RESPONSIBLE for promising the truth.
- The Indiscretion: It is the truth offered out of time; the truth that comes out when no one asks for it or needs it. I must be TIMELY to offer the truth
- Cynicism: It is a boastful manifestation of one’s own vices. The sick or dirty truth pleased to exhibit its filth. I must be MODEST in revealing my truth.
- Ordinary Frankness: It is rude and insulting; the truth spoken without respect or consideration. I must be SUBTLE when telling the truth.
- Gossip: It is the joyful truth of discovering the mistakes of others; the truth dressed as gossip to tell in a low voice “what everyone knows”. I must be CONSTRUCTIVE in speaking the truth.
If we avoid all these ways that alter the truth we will be protected. It is NOT easy because around us the use of these forms is very common, and it may be that we are accustomed to using them too, that is why we need the Spirit of God to help us stop temptation, so I invite you to pray this prayer:
Lord, I always want to tell the truth, I know that it is not easy because we are used to many forms of lying, but with the help of your Holy Spirit I know that I will always be able to speak the truth. I want to be a soldier of yours well girded and ready to face the enemy. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen
In the second week we talked about the breastplate of justice also as another element of the armor, but this time protective. Especially the breastplate protects the abdominal part of the body where the vital organs are. A Roman soldier could lose a hand or a leg and most likely he would continue to live, but if he was struck by an enemy soldier’s sword or spear in his abdominal area he would most likely die.
In proverbs 4:23 we find that it says: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”.
This is why we are afraid to put special importance on how we protect our vital organs spiritually speaking. According to the description of the armor in Ephesians, righteousness is like a breastplate for us. Here he is referring to a justice that goes beyond human justice and the example is Jesus himself in his ministry when he related to all kinds of people (sick people, prostitutes, thieves, soldiers, rich, poor, officials, people common, etc.), he denounced both the civil and religious authorities of his time and forgave his enemies. He was an example of integrity justice. Now we are called to imitate Jesus.
In the present, many times the church, the Christians, we close our eyes so as not to see the injustices that are present around us. I found some that I would like to mention:
Discrimination, Domestic and child violence, Human traffic, Labor exploitation, Violation of human rights, Fraud, Abuse of power, Dictatorships, etc.
These are just examples of many other things that happen around us.
The practice of justice is essential in the life of the Christian, the main call in the Christian life is to imitate Jesus who is the only person who has been totally just in this world. If we manage to love living in justice, we can protect the vital area of our spiritual life by filling ourselves with love and compassion for others. As the proverb that we read says and as Jesus himself expresses it in Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
When we practice justice, we are protecting ourselves and others around us because we are warriors of God’s army in an unjust world.
Let us live to please God. Amen
Rafa