Editor’s Note: This is a short article for the purpose to generate conversation based on the book The Good Life by Trip Lee. Please join us on each Thursdays for our book discussion.*
We don’t want to admit it, but we fall for lies every day. Each day we are presented with a promise of something presumably good. It can be the promise of riches through a certain career path; the promise of instant gratification through viewing pornography or sexual immorality; or the promise of revenge if we slander another person or get angry and lash out—saying everything we want to say. Every single day there is something at war with us. Someone or something is teaching us how we ought to walk. Lee explains that all these promises are empty. Not only are they empty they are liars and often come from three sources: the world, the flesh, and the Devil.
We fall for these lies because of the Fall. Sin distorts the truth of God’s Word. We can fit these lies into three categories according to Lee: 1) Hedonism—our pleasure and happiness is the highest good and goal. 2) All-you-can-be-ism—be the best you can be. The end goal is greatness. 3) It’s-all-about-me-ism—everything including God, is about us.
Lee says, “We can’t go in for surgery if we don’t realize we’re sick” (p. 26). So the question is; do you believe you are sick? Are there any lies that you have believed lately? Is there anything you are pursuing that you know isn’t the best? What is a “worldview” and how does it affect us?
Proverbs 14: 12: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
“These lies promised the good life, but in reality they only kept us from it and led us to death. We need a better teacher” (26).
There is a better teacher and we will discuss Him next week. But if you are hungry now, don’t wait! Go ask a friend or pastor to explain to you the Good News. And Christians don’t despair if you realize that you have been steeped in sin. There is freedom through the cross of Christ. The same power that saved you is the power that can free you from your sinful pursuit. He will finish the good work he began in you (Phil. 1:6).
*Each chapter synopsis assumes the reader as read the chapter and will not be in-depth. The discussion questions are open to anyone so please, join in even if you missed your reading this week or do not own the book.
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4 comments
“We can’t go in for surgery if we don’t realize we’re sick.”
This is golden. I love this quote. This is humankinds main issue. We don’t know we’re sick. It’s equivalent to a person with apparent heart problems who remains in denial. All the signs are there: Rapid heart beats, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. Why don’t they go and see a doctor? It could be a variety of things from lack of faith in doctors to denial to refusal to sacrifice the cost of surgery. This is mankind. Our sickness is sin. We don’t want to accept the reality that we are broken. We don’t want to offer our lives as living sacrifices. We don’t trust Jesus to be our surgeon because he cuts like no other. His results of a successful surgery are not what we would always label successful, yet his success rate is flawless. He’s never lost a patient that he began operating on.
I agree, Phillip. Jesus is the ultimate surgeon. But, how should we properly convey that message to unbelievers? That God, in His Sovereignty, can save someone.
Looking forward to this book discussion. I’m hoping to learn more about how a hip hop artist like Trip Lee communicates Gospel truths in a way that resonates with young, urban-dwellers.
Amen, Jemar!
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