Word of the Year

Dr. Doug Ford, Production Animal Consultation & Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp.

The local John Deere dealership that my son and I sometimes frequent had a nice display of gun safes in their front lobby. I had not previously noticed that John Deere was in the safe business, but there was a great selection in all colors and sizes with variations of the famous John Deere logo across the front. As I expressed an interest in one of the safes, I asked the sales representative, “How much?” He quoted me what seemed to be a good price and then added what he thought would be a little extra incentive. He stated that he would list the safe on the invoice as an “air compressor” so that I could write the expense off my taxes. Though tempted, I looked at my young son and replied, “We would not be comfortable with the invoice not being truthful.” I thought it was important to include my son in the decision. The sales representative’s response was interesting in that he stated, “Everyone else does it. What’s the harm? We do it all the time.” It would have been so easy to take the bait and send my son the wrong message regarding integrity.

Along a similar but more painful path, one of my clients recently bought a load of Holstein springers. As they began to calve, all of the offspring were bull calves. In that group of springing heifers, we also experienced an exceptionally high incidence of twins. The “invoice” in this instance stated that they were all checked, guaranteed bred and safe with calf. It was true that the heifers were checked pregnant, but an additional twist was that they were also sexed and checked for twins via ultrasound. Obviously the heifers were sorted, so guess which group arrived at the dairy? When confronted, the seller was very defensive and evasive.

His final response was, “Well, I don’t know what could have happened, but you know that I would never cheat you!”

It is interesting to note how many people’s lives are personally and professionally incongruent in regard to truth telling. I have known cattle buyers who could be trusted with a $250,000 check and professionally account for every penny. But in their personal life, they could not be trusted with $10 worth of beer money. C.S. Lewis famously stated, “Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.” If you are one who desires to be a man or woman of integrity, here is the final exam: What do you do or how do you respond when no one else knows your actions?

Truth and integrity are codependent. Is a little white lie like the air compressor invoice or a more layered deception like the heifers really that big of a deal?

According to the Oxford Dictionary the answer to that question is “not really”. Each year, the Oxford Dictionary selects a word that reflects the consensus and condition of our culture. The Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year in 2016 was “post-truth”. Post-truth is defined as “...circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than are emotion and personal belief.” This culture-defining “word of the year” is stating that in essence truth, as we knew it, is dead. This “new” truth in the 21st century is not based on facts or reality, but rather on public opinion and emotion much like the trial and crucifixion of Christ. Now we know why “fact-based” science and the scientific method has been thrown in the dumpster. In some respects, look no further for examples than climate change, EPA regulations and the current settlement surrounding the herbicide Roundup. This also brings insight into better understanding our current chaotic political environment including presidential elections, Supreme Court nominations and Special Council Russian collusion investigations. Now it becomes more obvious why anarchy or lawlessness seems to be on the increase and law enforcement and our military are often harassed, hamstrung or forced to “stand down”.

Truth, absolute truth, is an attribute of the essence and character of God himself. Truth always begins and ends with our Creator. The Bible constantly speaks to the sanctity of truth and notes that lying is part of our fallen nature. Satan has been identified as a “liar“ and “the father of lies”. This then clearly shows us that the opposite of truth is not holy1 It is paramount that we not only speak the truth, but that we live it out daily as well.

Standing for truth, God’s absolute truth, will get you noticed but not always in a positive way. History is full of individuals who have stood firm and not denied the truth or the faith. Our country is currently becoming more divided, hateful and violent. At the bottom of this cultural rot, one will discover that the necessary foundation or cornerstone of truth is being eaten away by feelings, emotions and other politically-correct termites. This is why we should not be surprised to learn that the culturally-defining Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year for 2018 was “toxic”.

It is easy to see that we are rapidly moving in the wrong direction. Currently the scoreboard looks like we are falling behind at half time with seemingly very little depth on our bench. However, the good news in this truth battle is that the One who identified himself as “The Truth” is for us and has not left us as orphans. He has sent a helper, the “Spirit of Truth”, to teach, guide and strengthen us. As deceit, lies, public opinion and other forms of “post-truth” seek to come against us, stand firm knowing that with Christ at our side, we are on the winning team, no matter the odds.

Isaiah 5:20 (ESV): Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

1 Corinthians 13:16 (ESV): Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

James 4:17 (NLT): Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

John 14:6 (ESV): Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Romans 1:18 (ESV): For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

John 16:13 (ESV): When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Reference

1 God is Truth; Ligonier Ministries; https://www.ligonier.org/ learn/devotionals/god-truth/