Stop lying to yourself
Dear Mosaic Family,
It's clear why people lie to others, particularly when caught doing something wrong: save their job, reputation, relationship, or perhaps avoid embarrassment, fighting, or a fine. "Do you know why I've pulled you over?" "No, officer, I have no idea." Yeah, ok. "You're telling me I hurt you with my words? But you started it, and remember the time you said..."
But why do we lie to ourselves? Why do you lie to yourself? When you clearly make a mistake, do the wrong thing, take the foolish course of action, why is the immediate natural response to self-lawyer-up and start justifying yourself to yourself? Why do we feel the need to lie to ourselves about ourselves?
Underlying our incredible reluctance to be wrong is something psychologists called "cognitive dissonance": the discomfort we feel when our beliefs and actions contradict each other. We like to think we're smart, kind, ethical, good. When the evidence around us proves otherwise, we have a choice: admit your mistake and learn from it, or justify the mistake and keep doing it. Guess which option is most popular. This self-deception is the reason why we often stick with a mistaken belief or a disastrous course of action, even when all the evidence around us is screaming that we're wrong. However, admitting that we're wrong is painful and humbling. So we remain in our proud folly.
Many problems in the world are caused by bad people doing bad things. More problems in the world are caused by bad people, convinced they are good, justifying the bad they do, in order to preserve the false belief they are good.
Join us tomorrow as we study 1 John 2:1-17 where the Apostle John tells us, "whoever says “I know God” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." John calls out our "cognitive dissonance" or as Scripture would call it: hypocrisy. He then lovingly calls us to repent of our sin, and follow Jesus by walking in light and love.
With Love,
Pastor Jan
This Week's Announcements
Membership 101 Class
Sunday, January 26, 1 p.m.
Want to learn more about what Mosaic Boston is all about? Come hear the story of Mosaic, why we are here, and how you can join the church through membership. Pizza lunch is provided. Please RSVP here.
Songs for Sunday
If you would like to know what we'll be singing on Sunday, you can find the playlist here.