Last week I asked a big question: What’s the cost of truth?

And I proposed three tests for what we do with Christian resources. When I engage with this resource…

1. Does it lead me to purify myself?

2. Do I grow in my obedience to God?

3. Do I sincerely love others?

This week I have three main points:

First, let’s consider how truth gets packaged.

Second, let’s consider how the packaging changes the truth.

Third, let’s look at how truth is meant to be delivered.

Now, bear in mind, that there’s always a limit to these discussions. I’m not talking about sports broadcasts, the daily newspaper, or late-night comedy shows. Perhaps this discussion has some relevance to those issues, but for now, I’m only trying to think through how “Christian” content gets marketed and delivered to us.

How does “Christian” content get packaged?

Presumably, if something is marketed as “Christian”, the idea is that it is also true. Right? That’s part of the brand.

So when we see a new “Christian” book, article, blog post, YouTube video, or magazine, the presumption is that the resource is connected to reality - to the truth.

Marshall McLuhan famously said, “the medium is the message.”

To play with this idea, if you package truth as entertainment, it changes our experience of truth. If you package it as culture war ammunition, that shapes us too. If you market it as a way to be successful, that supplies another narrative.

Why would you put truth in these packages? Because these are the kinds of things you can sell!

There’s a market for entertainment, culture wars, and personal growth. We want to have a good time, see our tribe ‘win’, and improve ourselves.

So there’s a strong motive for messengers to use these containers to send us messages.

From the content development point of view, it’s a pretty simple process: First, identify what people want. Then give it to them.

Here’s one tip: If you want to identify the packaging, identify what you want to hear.

Second, discern how the packaging of truth can distort the truth.

The other day I went to pick up a package from the local shipping store. Somehow, they’d managed to squash a book and its package into a tiny box. With their help, we managed to get it out, but the book was deformed. I felt sad to see a book so mutilated.

Depending on the package it gets shoved into, when Christians package content for our consumption, the truth can get mangled.

For instance, once the truth has to fit into the package of entertainment, sometimes it dies a little death.

If it needs to entertain, then truth becomes convenient and easy to hear. As an example: instead of conviction, we’re given self-righteousness.

For instance, the headline, “More people leave the church” can be presented in a way that leads us to grieve and redouble our commitment to love. Or it can be packaged in such a way that we despise those who have left.

Truth can be silenced. If the truth might offend, hurt the brand, or challenge a sacred belief, it will be omitted. It doesn’t fit into the package, so its left out.

Truth can create an attack. We can learn and share the facts because we want to hurt others.

Truth can be spun. One place to look? Church statistics.

Truth can be minimized. We can share exactly what’s happening — but then have a good laugh.

Truth can be diminished. You might hear it like this, “Ok, that’s true, but what about…” and then another truth is introduced to belittle the first truth.

Truth can be woven into insincere public relations. Instead of a transparent confession of sin, only some of the truth is provided, to deflect our attention from what is hidden.

Because we love the truth, we need to gain discernment about how the gift of truth is often repackaged and, in the process, butchered.

So how is the truth meant to be delivered?

I believe God designed truth for a different package: the shape of love.

When the truth is delivered in love, it can come as itself. Whole. Gentle. Kind. Freeing.

The truth is provided to serve the other person — and not ourselves.

Then truth can do its work. It might encourage. Or bring conviction. It might build our beliefs - or change our minds. It might correct us - or strengthen us.

But the point is, when given in love, the truth is free to accomplish its own goals. It isn’t being defiled. It isn’t misused for an ulterior purpose.

Ultimately, receiving the truth in love prepares us to know a greater Truth. The one who said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Can you think of greater Love than Jesus?

In Christ, we see the complete picture of truth in the packaging of love.

This is the embodiment of truth in love that Christians are so familiar with. We imitate Christ’s example as we meet together, in person, to love one another and communicate the truth.

But God also offers us disembodied truth in love! For instance, as we learn in John 4:24, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”

And what are the Scriptures? They are a gift of love that utilizes technology to deliver truth. What technology? Consider the production of paper and ink, printing machines, and book bindings. Or perhaps you access the truth through a computer, a website, and a modem. We know that love can use technological means to deliver truth.

You see, the truth can come - as itself - in many packages.

And as we receive truth offered in love, what is the intent? What is the desired outcome?

It isn’t the creation of self-centered cultural warriors who demand to be amused. Sadly, this audience might not give their attention to hearing the whole truth in love.

Rather, we are invited into our true identity: a community of image-bearers who love God and our neighbors.

A clarification

Of course, I believe truth can come in any genre or format. I’m not attacking movies, TV shows, or books that teach us a skill.

Instead, I’m seeking to awaken our awareness that truth comes in a package. So am I against all entertainment? By no means! Novels, TV shows, music, and movies can communicate truth in powerful ways. Is there never a time to challenge our culture? Of course not. Is it wrong to develop yourself? This email is an effort to develop our God-given capacities.

In an imperfect way, God’s image-bearers can offer their gifts in all these formats as an act of love. Still, ultimately, the truth is a gift. It is a gift from God and it is a gift we give to others.

At the same time, because the truth is so powerful, it can be packaged to serve many other objectives. And in doing so, it gets damaged, and we get harmed.

What’s next?

I understand that if you live in Los Angeles, air pollution is a concern. Still, it’s just part of life. But once you leave the city and look back, it’s much easier to see how heavily the smog sits over the city.

I wonder if we aren’t in a similar situation with the truth? We’re so used to it being spun, silenced, minimized, and manipulated that we’ve grown numb to the problem. Isn’t that how it’s always been? What can we do about it?

But still, there’s hope. God is still speaking. Let’s resolve - whatever the packaging - to wrap the truth in love.

Four discernment questions:

1. How can you develop discernment to see how the truth is packaged?

2. What environments do you need to remove yourself from?

3. What communities help you hear the truth?

4. How will you speak the truth in love?