Is Your Thinking Skewed?

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here.
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

______________________________________

Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

___________________________________________________________________________

Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, July 4, 2022, Independence Day here in the United States, and this is Episode #27 of Series 2022. This episode is titled “Is Your Thinking Skewed?”

_________________________________________

When we say that something is skewed, we mean that it is slanted or off-center in some way. So, the word “skewed” as used in the title to this week’s message means “to be off center.”

We speak of picture frames that are skewed if they are leaning to one side on a wall. We also speak of ideas that are skewed when they are off-center.

But, in order to know if something is off center, we must first know center. And how can we know center? In order to know center, we need a tool or a standard which shows us what center is. Then, when we’ve determined what center is, we can determine what is off-center.

Let me illustrate. When my husband and I built a home years ago, we hired a general contractor to supervise the construction work. As the men put up the walls, they frequently used a level to measure if the walls were straight or not. They did the same thing with the doors and the windows. They used the level to determine if the windows and doors were installed straight, or if they were leaning to one side, or skewed. Every level the men used was exactly the same and worked the same way. So, every measurement was accurate, and the house was built straight.

Now, imagine if each workman decided to make his own level his own way because he did not like the level provided by the general contractor. One workman’s level would show the wall as being straight, while another workman’s level would show the wall as being crooked, or skewed.

Or, imagine if one workman used a ruler of 12 inches to a foot while another workman used a ruler of 15 inches to a foot. As you can quickly see, the result would be mass confusion.

If you haven’t recognized it yet, this is exactly what has happened in our culture. Each person is using a different ruler or level, and the result has been mass confusion and chaos.

When each person uses a different rule of measurement, this is called Relativism. Applied to a society, relativism is the view that each of us can decide for himself what is true and what is false, what is right and what is wrong.

For example, if Jody decides that abortion is wrong but then has an abortion, she is doing wrong. But if Mary decides that abortion is not wrong and has an abortion, she is not doing wrong because her standard says that abortion is not wrong. So abortion could be right for one person and wrong for another at the same time.

In a relativistic society, therefore, each person determines his own morality. Eventually and inevitably, those differing viewpoints will come into conflict with each other.

Take, for example, the recent Supreme Court decision to overrule the Roe vs. Wade decision. Those who believe abortion is wrong rejoiced at the decision, while those who believe that abortion is not wrong, rioted at the decision. We ended up with a country even more divided than before.

Why? Because truth and error cannot co-exist. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. Try going into a dark room and turning on the light. The dark will immediately disappear. The light will drive out the darkness every single time.

The same is true of Truth. Truth will drive out darkness and falsehood every single time. That is the reason that Jesus said knowing the truth will make us free.

Fittingly, as we celebrate America’s Independence Day today, we need to ask ourselves as a nation, are we truly free? I think not. Any nation enslaved by sin–as America is now–is not a free nation. On the contrary, any nation enslaved by sin is a nation that will not survive unless the people repent. And if the people do not repent, God will judge that nation.

Freedom begins on the inside. It begins with knowing Truth. In John 8: 32, Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Only truth will set us free. Circling back to the beginning of this message, only knowing center will help us to determine what is off-center.

Jesus Christ is Center because He is God. We read this in Colossians 1: 16 NKJV: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible . . . . All things were created through Him and for Him.”

If we want to know whether or not a philosophy or an ideology is skewed, we simply compare it to what Jesus says in His Word. If it agrees with what Jesus says, then it is true. If it does not agree with what Jesus says, then it is not true.

God alone is the Arbiter of Truth. He alone determines what is true. For man to attempt to do so is to seek to make himself god. It is idolatry. This is what America has done, and unless she repents, she will come under God’s wrath. Indeed, we are already beginning to see God’s wrath upon our land in the form of unprecedented weather patterns, disease outbreaks, and economic downfalls.

On this Independence Day, I urge all those within the sound of my voice to repent of your sin and to turn to Jesus Christ. He will welcome you with open arms. He will forgive you of your sins, cleanse you of all unrighteousness, and give you new life–His life. Once you turn to Him, your thinking and your life will no longer be skewed. They will be centered in Christ, the Rock of your salvation.

Pray this simple prayer with me now to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord:

Lord Jesus, I want to know Truth. You are Truth, so I want to know You. I repent of my sin. I ask You to forgive me and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I receive You now as my Savior and my Lord. Thank You for saving me. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, welcome to God’s family! Please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet, titled After You’re Born Again. This booklet will help you to get started in your walk with Jesus.

I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.

Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn Truth and experience fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.

If this podcast has helped you in any way, please consider supporting it by becoming one of my valued patrons. Just go to patreon.com/winningwiththeword to join my wonderful Team. Patrons receive numerous benefits in appreciation for their support.

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
________________________________
Featured Book of the Week:

The Italian Chronicles Trilogy

Are you looking for an entertaining, inspirational summer read? Then check out The Italian Chronicles Trilogy by Yours Truly.

Book 1: The Madonna of Pisano
A young woman, a priest, and a secret that keeps them bitterly bound to each other . . .

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0930037227

Book 2: A Sicilian Farewell
A young woman, a new land, and a dream that threatens to destroy her, her marriage, and her family . . .

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0930037235

Book 3: Return to Bella Terra
A mother, her son, and the man who threatens to come between them . . . .

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0930037243

Get all three novels in a single volume and SAVE!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0930037618

To subscribe to Winning with the Word, click on the link below:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w4q0z7

To subscribe to my author newsletter, click on the link below:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/x5i2r2

__________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2000-2022 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies.

__________________________________________________________________