Take Heed

Matthew 24:25 – “Look, I have told you beforehand.”

Warnings. We live with them surrounding us everywhere we look or listen. They are so ubiquitous that we often ignore them. Yet, Jesus’ words are a warning to pay attention. Jesus is warning us to be on the lookout for these false prophets and saviors. Take heed of his warning.

Sadly, it’s a human tendency to believe only what we want to be true, even in the face of facts. Stephen Colbert coined a word for this phenomenon; truthiness, the idea that something is true because it feels true. We want to believe we’re on the side of good and therefore we’re more ready to believe the person who tells us that over the person who tells an uncomfortable truth. I think this is why Jesus is so adamant. (In the next verse, he reiterates what he said in the previous verse.) This is important.

Looking for a person to save us from ourselves will only leave us deeper in the mire. Not only is the only way out through the muck – ie in America, this includes having an adult conversation about racism, Nazism, and fascism in our history – but we must work together. Most of us have very little power on our own. It is when we combine our power that power grows. Working together creates power to help us keep going.

One power many of us do have is recognizing lies for lies, racism for racism, and fascism for fascism. We’ve been warned, and therefore any and all claims to saviorhood by any human being must be suspect. Unfortunately, we fight against that tendency to believe what we want rather than the truth. Such an attitude is dangerous and difficult to fight against, but that only makes fighting back more necessary.

Take heed of Jesus’ warning. Speak out against lies, false saviors, and false prophets wherever you are. We’re fighting for democracy as well as for justice and peace. Remember to fight with love.

B