Suppress the Truth: Not the Best Idea
As a Christian, do you suppress the truth to complement your lifestyle or to favor not-so-godly choices?
It’s never a good idea to avoid God’s truth by living one way and altering His Word to suit your actions.
Most Christians reason that allowing the Holy Spirit to lead is too hard and takes work and obedience. So, most follow their feelings and have unfavorable outcomes.
If you suppress the truth—God’s—you act like you know more than Him.
Suppress the Truth Meaning
This scripture teaches us what the phrase, suppress the truth, means.
Romans 1:18-21 (AMP)
For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth. That which is known about God is evident within them [in their inner consciousness], for God made it evident to them.
Ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.
For even though they knew God [as the Creator], they did not honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation]. On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and their foolish heart was darkened.
My first thought was the suppression of truth indicates a Christian quells God’s light. Who would knowingly do that? But doing so is a conscious decision.
If I fail to trust God, it means I don’t see His importance and I’m unthankful towards Him.
Other Problems When You Suppress the Truth
Lawlessness and unrighteousness are out of control. Department store clerks allow thieves to walk into a store with a plastic garbage bag. They take what they want and everyone, in disbelief, watches them walk out. Those criminals won’t be prosecuted.
We’re living in the last days as described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (paraphrased).
People will love themselves and their money. They’ll be boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, unloving, irreconcilable. Moreover, they gossip, are devoid of self-control, brutal, hate what’s good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure (rather than love God), and have an outward form of godliness but deny God’s power.
Every day we see people that fit this description. Governments and people have suppressed God’s truth on a global scale.
This is a huge problem for Christians. If we do the same thing (suppress the truth), we won’t recognize deception when it happens.
Again, the Bible does a great job of describing that when a person hates truth, they love sin.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 (TLB)
Then this wicked one will appear, whom the Lord Jesus will burn up with the breath of his mouth and destroy by his presence when he returns.
This man of sin (antichrist) will come as Satan’s tool, full of satanic power, and will trick everyone with strange demonstrations, and will do great miracles.
He will completely fool those who are on their way to hell because they have said no to the Truth; they have refused to believe it and love it and let it save them, so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts, and all of them will be justly judged for believing falsehood, refusing the Truth, and enjoying their sins.
Embracing God’s Truth
It’s human nature to want to take the reins and be in control. In Romans 1 above, the people mentioned in the scripture knew God. However, they decided it was a better idea to dishonor Him. They had blackened hearts eclipsed by foolishness.
But your Christian life doesn’t need to turn out the same way. You can take positive steps by embracing God’s truth.
- Endeavor to be God-centered. As soon as you awake, what pops into your mind? If God’s not first, then what is? The more attention you give to other things can cause you to suppress God’s truth.
- Identify idols in your heart. Idols come in many forms: people, houses, things, money, jobs, etc. And they blind us spiritually when we worship them instead of God. Be honest when you freak out because you can’t find your cell phone. Admit that the device takes God’s place.
- Recognize the world’s lies. Don’t fall for Satan’s traps he plants to guide you away from God’s Word which is God Himself (Jesus is the Word). He lied to Eve and started the ball rolling in the wrong direction. She believed Satan’s lies over God’s truth. Consequently, a believer’s sinful nature can cause them to turn from God.
3 More Suggestions to Not Suppress the Truth
- Put truth inside you. What you put inside you in abundance is what you have the most of. If you meditate on God’s Word every day, the Word gets bigger than anything else you think about. You lessen the opportunity to suppress the truth because it’s what you value.
- Choose God’s standards and His authority. Thankfully, God isn’t a dictator. He doesn’t force Himself on anyone. Try living by your standards for a while. Just know—it won’t end well for you financially, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I’ve been there and done that.
- Renew your mind to live out God’s will for you. Become familiar with Romans 2 and make living it a priority. “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”
In the sweet by-and-by when we look into Jesus’ face in heaven, we won’t suppress the truth. Until then, we must press on past the deception around us and live righteous and godly lives. We do that by acknowledging God’s truth in everything we do. Nothing more, nothing less.