Jump directly to the content
Jump directly to the content
Dear Rihanna: 'Your Truth' Won't Set You Free
Avrillilla / Flickr

Dear Rihanna: 'Your Truth' Won't Set You Free


Feb 11 2013
Our individual exceptionalism has theological consequences.

Rihanna and Brown's situation is certainly complicated by the presence of abuse. Victims of domestic violence face a complex gauntlet of psychological obstacles, and it is not helpful to pave over them with simplistic theological truisms.

That said, the doctrine of human depravity entails a universal susceptibility to the "my truth" lie. None of us is stronger or smarter than Rihanna, Britney Spears, or any other adherent to the "my truth" mantra. Each of us is just as likely to self-deceive. That is why the pursuit of truth begins with humility. Until we acknowledge the personal truths that have supplanted God's truth in our lives, we too will join the throngs of foolish journeying toward folly.

Comments

Displaying 1–10 of 17 comments

S Griffin

February 22, 2013  4:51pm

Great comment Steve Skeete but Bobby Brown did not get Whitney involved with drugs, her own brother did which he recently admitted to. My issue is why is so much attention being paid to Rihanna and Chris, is it just because they are celebrities. We don't give this much attention to everyday folks involved in domestic violence situations. If that's where Rihanna wants to be, let her be there, you can't force her to leave him. When she gets sick and tired of being sick and tired, she will make a change, hopefully. Until then, pray for them and keep it moving.

Report Abuse

Steve Skeete

February 14, 2013  3:51pm

Stop pretending you don't know why supposedly bright, intelligent, wealthy not to mention beautiful young women fall for 'bad boys' like Chris? If you really don't know ask Whitney why she allowed another 'bad, bad, Bobby Browne' to take her on board a speeding train named addiction headed for a major crash. 'My truth' is what keeps the tongues wagging. It sells magazine with your face on the cover, and gets you another opportunity to talk to Oprah. Thousands of periodicals are dedicated to 'My truth'; without it where would 'good girls gone bad be? I bet she is laughing! All the way to the Grammy Awards, and all the way to the bank. The beautiful princess falls for the ugly troll, whom she hopes will one day become a prince. Yeah, right! It's all an act ladies, it's called show-business.

Report Abuse

Steph MacDonald

February 13, 2013  3:45pm

Christians should read Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey. And How Should We Then Live by Francis Schaeffer.

Report Abuse

Doug Knox

February 13, 2013  7:33am

While the comments regarding variants of biblical truth are accurate, the point that human beings continue to relativize truth is secondary. More importantly, Sharon has documented a manner of thinking in our postmodern culture while it is taking place. Insights as timely as this are rare. Thank you, Sharon, for an excellent post.

Report Abuse

Kathleen Mch

February 12, 2013  11:59pm

"My truth" is no different from "God told me to (fill in the blank)" or "God wants me to (fill in the blank)." It does, however, seem to be more honest, since it doesn't try to whitewash personal delusions as endorsed by some deity.

Report Abuse

Jim Ricker

February 12, 2013  5:32pm

"My truth" is just a shorter version of, "doing what is right in my own eyes."

Report Abuse

Rachel Stephan Simko

February 12, 2013  1:07pm

Reinterpreting the Bible or God as "my truth" is just another way of proof-texting and being comfortable with your sin. My brother once said, "If you're comfortable with the Bible, then you are reading it right." (evenonesparrow.blogspot.com)

Report Abuse

MICHAEL H CONSTANTINE

February 12, 2013  6:12am

It seems that "my truth" is just a more current expression of the ever popular, yet deadly, "My way."

Report Abuse

Tim Fall

February 11, 2013  4:53pm

Sharon, it seems that when people claim "my truth" what they're really saying is "my reality". And of course that makes no sense, unless the person is a diehard existentialist. But even then it's nonsense. God's the only one who can say "I am" without reference to anyone or anything else. The rest of us and the reality in which we live is always in reference to God. Some people just don't know it yet. Cheers, Tim (timfall.wordpress.com) P.S. Grady, that was Rhiannon, not Rihanna. I saw Fleetwood Mac perform it at the Cow Palace better than 30 years ago. Great concert.

Report Abuse

Grady Walton

February 11, 2013  3:58pm

My truth is this: Rihanna who? The last time I devoutly followed popular music, “Rihanna” was a title song by Fleetwood Mac. (But why let my shortcomings in knowledge of current pop music dissuade me from weighing in on the subject.) Seriously though, this is a very well-written and studious article. But at the risk of sounding critical, the church is no stranger to relativist “my truth” philosophy. Consider these statements: Contemporary worship music is my truth. Old hymns are my truth. Liturgical worship is my truth. Topical charismatic worship is my truth. Speaking in tongues is my truth. The Bible has replaced the work of the Holy Spirit is my truth. The King James Version is my truth. The New Living Translation is my truth. The Lutheran denomination is my truth. Non-denominational church is my truth. Infant baptism is my truth. Infant dedication is my truth. And so on. Of course, I understand that some of these “truths” are matters of style, not truth. But some are indeed matters of truth and falsehood within the faith of Christianity. I am conflicted on this issue. On one hand I love that Christians have a tremendous variety to choose from in the development and expression of our faith, on the other hand I wonder if we don’t cater too much to individualism. Ultimately, those who seek truth must be willing to find truth no matter what it looks like, not how they want it to be.

Report Abuse

 *

1000 character limit

* Comments may be edited for tone and clarity.

See All 17 Comments
To add a comment you need to be a registered user or Christianity Today subscriber.
Login
or
Subscribe
or
Register
More from Her.menutics
Stay Sexy or Else? Well, Please Forgive These Mommy Hips

Stay Sexy or Else? Well, Please Forgive These Mommy Hips

When the joy of sex gets replaced by the fear of not being sexy enough.
Desperate for Their MRS. Degrees

Desperate for Their MRS. Degrees

Pressure to put a ring on it can distract from other pursuits and callings.
'The Office' Shows Even TV Romance Isn't Picture-Perfect

'The Office' Shows Even TV Romance Isn't Picture-Perfect

How Jim and Pam's struggling marriage saved the show's final season.
The Double Shock of Unexpected Pregnancy

The Double Shock of Unexpected Pregnancy

How faith meets this scary, stressful, but ultimately divine surprise.
Get Instant Access
Christianity Today Magazine
Subscribe now for a year (10 issues) at $24.95 for print, iPad, and instant web access.

International Orders

Include results from Christianity Today
Browse Archives:

So Hot Right Now

Are Women Really Saved through Childbearing?

Mother's Day, infertility, and redemption.

Follow Us

What We're Reading

CT eBooks and Bible Studies