Romans 1
Suppressing the Truth
Have you ever been at a party
Or have a friend who loves to talk about him or herself?
I heard this person referred to as the “Me Monster”
Everything is about them
They make you feel like what you have to say is not important
The Me Monster suppresses the voice of others
Because the Me Monster is so consumed with him or herself
The Me Monster is the person whose conversation is all about Me, Myself and I
You, Us and We, are not a part of the Me Monster’s vocabulary
When you can get a story in the conversation
The Me Monster is quick to say “That is nothing, I got one 5 times better than that”
Why is it some people always have to have a better story?
Me Monsters cover up everything that is not about them
They suppress everything that infringes on their world
Sadly, we all have a Me Monster inside of us
We can only see life through our own eyes
Me Monsters pick and choose their own truth
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness Romans 1:18-19
Suppressing the Truth
In a court of law, witnesses are required to take an oath.
The oath will go something like these examples…
I swear by Almighty God that I will tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Affirmation…
I solemnly, sincerely and truly declare
and affirm that I will tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
When truth is suppressed in the courtroom,
justice and righteousness are hindered.
Sadly, we all suppress the truth.
Truth is suppressed by withholding information.
Truth is suppressed by the way we frame questions.
Romans 1:18 charges mankind with suppressing the truth.
From the Greek in Romans 1:18
we get the word katecho meaning to hold down
The NIV says…
who suppress the truth.
The AMP says…
who in their wickedness repress and hinder
the truth and make it inoperative.
And, The TEV says…
whose evil ways prevent the truth from being known.
Why does this holding down or suppressing the truth happen?
Have you ever been at a party or have a friend
who loves to talk about him or herself?
I heard this person referred to as the “Me Monster”.
Everything is about them.
They make you feel like what you have to say is not important.
The Me Monster suppresses the voice of others
because the Me Monster is so consumed with him or herself.
The Me Monster is the person whose
conversation is all about Me, Myself and I.
You, Us and We, are not a part of the Me Monster’s vocabulary.
When you can get a story in the conversation,
the Me Monster is quick to say…
“That is nothing, I got one 5 times better than that.”
Why is it some people always have to have a better story?
Me Monsters cover up everything that is not about them.
They suppress everything that infringes on their world.
Sadly, we all have a Me Monster inside of us.
We can only see life through our own eyes.
Me Monsters pick and choose truth.
The Me Monster has gotten so popular that,
we have come up with a term to
help us all live in our own world.
It is called Relative Truth…
As long as you don’t bother me
with your truth, it is okay what you believe.
When truth is suppressed, there is division.
On the contrast side is the person
who speaks the truth in love.
This person speaks the truth
because they are not self-centered.
They care more about others than themselves.
Jesus modeled this selfless lifestyle.
Jesus said…
The truth shall set you free.
But in context He said…
…"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:31-32
So, is Jesus a Me Monster? No!
Jesus came not to do His will
but the will of the Father God.
Jesus laid down His life for everyone.
Me Monsters don’t do that.
They serve Me, Myself and I.
Although Romans 1 lists gross evils of
denying the truth, suppressing the truth starts
with little cover ups that make us our own god.
Jesus made a bold statement…
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Jesus did not say this because He was a Me Monster…
It was because He is God.
The God of Love who wants you and I
to be set free from the things that harm us.
The Me Monster will…
hold down, suppress, repress, hinder, make it
inoperative, and prevent the truth from being known.
Jesus Christ came so we might know the truth and be free.
The Me Monster wants to be god
and justify their own reality and truth.
The person who lives by the truth has taken
up their cross and died to themself,
so that they will be able to receive the uncovered truth.
Truth does not need to hide.
Truth that is partly covered by the Me Monster becomes a lie.
All truth that is self-serving is made inoperative.
Don’t hide or suppress the truth.
Scripture Reading
Romans 1:18-19 NIV
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
Romans 1:18 AMP
18 For God's [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative.
Romans 1:18-19 TEV
18 God's anger is revealed from heaven against all the sin and evil of the people whose evil ways prevent the truth from being known.
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