Yes, It Was

I heard it twice this week.  Once from “the left.”  Once from “the right.”  Both on news shows.*

“No pun intended.”

Here is what is odd.  For both of them the pun was intended.  It was scripted, crafted, prepared, maybe even tele-prompted.  If that is not intended, what is?

It was a blatant falsehood—from both sides, both of which claim to be purveyors of truth.

How far have we come from truth that we say intended puns are not so, and that no one is expected to notice?

Innocuous?  Small thing?  Typical banter?

Chill!

Or symptomatic?  We are living in an era of newspeak or doublethink.  2020 is 1984.  “Up” is “down.”  “Down” is “up.”  “Yes” means “no” and “no” means “yes.”  It was a goofy little lie, “No pun intended,” but a lie none the less.

And problematic.  All lies are from the Evil One.  Jesus said about Satan, and he should know, “He is a liar and the father of all lies.” 

There is more afoot than political machinations, people on the right and left vying for power and position in America through white lies, half-truths and “necessary” prevarication.  Satan is at work.

Pandemics, elections, relations between people groups, concerns about civil order, poverty and unemployment are problems enough.  All are made worse by the presence and pervasiveness of lies and falsehood.

Surprised?  Of course not.

But on guard. 

Long ago the Apostle Paul warned us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”  Ephesians 6

Christians, as followers of the Great Amen (truly, truly), we must be scrupulous about the truth.  Finding it.  Getting to the bottom of it.  And always telling it.

This may seem like a little thing, but Christian, when you intend the pun, say so.  “Up” must be “up” and “down” must be “down.” Being people sensitive to and committed to the truth in small and large things is both a very Christ like thing and, ultimately, a patriotic thing.

A small thing this week. But significant.

What has seemed significant to you?

*I seek to balance time spent watching news with reading the comics.  That helps balance everything!