The False Dichotomy – The Devil’s Forked Tongue

Introduction

There are always only two choices and there are always many more options than the two. Now stay with me, I did not just break the first rule of formal logic, but you will have to read to the end to decide if you agree or disagree.

Starting with the many

As I scan the landscape of the past couple of decades, my observation is that far too many pastors and leaders in the church have gone underground—they’re nowhere to be found—subterranean poetry is always a good start. Here is my meaning. They have taken Brené Brown’s advice and gotten all the way in the hole. See what I mean and a helpful critique HERE.

The reason that many pastors and leaders have gone missing is that they have jumped in with both feet. Where you might ask? Answer: into the hole dug by the devil and his seed. That hole is that corner of the world’s imagination into which they demand we climb down in order to discuss our options. The whole is dug by folly, using the spade of sentimentality, and descended on the ladder of lies. And once the leader falls down the ladder, taking the bate dangled with the stick of empathy, and lands, usually on the head, in the cavern, the options presented are limited to no more than two.

Let me be clearer

The church has been duped into believing what the devil has told us, that there are only two options. Take a recent case study in mind. A pastor was asked whether a grandmother should attend the “wedding” of her granddaughter, who was going to walk down the aisle to be “joined” to a transgender [male or female]. That is the setup, and then like clockwork, in walks the two options. The world, speaking its native forked tongue says, you must attend, and if you do then perhaps you will surprise the young “couple” with your love for them. Or option #2: If you refuse to attend, you will prove that you are what they knew you to be all along, judgmental, critical, bigoted. This option is presented with no lack of furrowed wrinkles above the brow.

Now remember the context, the pastor is in the hole, and the world says, you may go left or you may go right. And so the pastor, hands tied makes a choice between the two. The result, he and the world are still six feet underground, and no-one is helped.

The missing option(s)

The problem is not in the options, but it is the pathetic variety offered for the choosing. And you could, of course, multiply the examples. But it seems that every time the options given by the world are always limited to two. But therein lies the fallacy of the false dichotomy. There are always more than these two options presented. The best option would be to scurry as quickly as you can out of the hole and bring the world up into the light of day with you.

You might do that by inviting the granddaughter over for a meal and discussing her heart, her pains, her sorrows. Asking what marriage is, what covenant is, what her standard for good, evil, truth, goodness, beauty is. And all the while you might cook the good steak and pour the great wine. Space does not allow me to elaborate on the other 99.5 options available to the dear grandmother.

The problem lies in letting the world define the parameters. If we do, we will always be presented with the two options, tolerate, accept, and celebrate… to the destruction of those we love. Or refuse to celebrate and expose the dark vile recesses of our hearts… or so they say. And, not wanting to be thought of as mean (not thinking about whose definition is at play) too many pastors take the bait, agree to the terms, and turn left through the dark door labeled, “Maybe they will be surprised by my love and affirmation.”

But we’ve seen this scene before. Take the fruit and be as gods, or leave the fruit just hanging there and be a pathetic puppet for the mean man in the sky.

Always but two options

Having compelled you to believe that there are always more than the two options presented, let me make the seemingly contradictory assertion that there really are always only two options. The problem in the hole is that there are always only two options down there, and those, set by those who say in their heart, there is no God. But it is that final referent that I fear many pastors, unknowingly and… knowingly fail to acknowledge. God.

The trap of the above fallacy is not only allowing the world to set the standards and the acceptable range of options, but more devastating to all parties, is when the pastor falls in for believing that the cares and approval of the blind cave dweller is the chief value. The hook comes when the world says, if you don’t do ‘X’—attend the “wedding.” Give the gift. Use the pronouns. Provide the DEI training. Hire the ‘7’—then you will be labeled mean, judgmental, hateful.

If the pastor’s response falls short of, “Who cares!” then he has lost the battle. And notice the grammar. You always capitalize, proper nouns, especially when referring to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all live and move and have our being. Who cares! The pastor loses when the care, approval, and applause of the world eclipses his vision—and the approval of the God above all things… you know, up in overland, where the Light shines.

There are always only two options. Love God and His Word, or love the world. Seek the approval of the world or delight in the approval of the Maker of all and every chromosome. Fear God and be used by Him for the healing of the nations, or fear man and be as useful as subtitles on a silent movie for the blind.

Conclusion

If first we come to realize that there is only one life-giving option out of the two, then we will discover that there are as many, and creative options under the sun as the Lord would be so kind to give. The crux comes in the name and the tongue of the One who gives the options. So pastor, who are you listening to? The one with a forked tongue, or He, that One, Who from His mouth comes a sharp two-edged sword. Will you listen to that dragon who spews bitterness from his mouth in order to flood and drown the woman and her offspring? Or will you love the One who speaks, and from His mouth pours forth rivers of living water? The options lie before you.

By: Jefff Rodland