“No Insult Like The Truth” By Charlie Peacock
I’ve run my ship aground
on the rocks of the soul
There’s no lie like independence
there’s no demon like control
I’ve fanned the burning embers
til my house was on fire
There’s no parody like power
There’s no fever like desire
I’ve drained the wine of darkness
to the dregs of deceit
There’s no drug as strong as pride
There’s no blindness like conceit
I’ve railed against the mountain
With a pickaxe and a file
There’s no minefield like presumption
There’s no death wish like denial
There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth
I’ve adjusted my prescription
til I couldn’t trust my vision
there’s no killer like convenience
there’s no sickness like omission
I’ve amended resolutions and resisted explanation
There’s no trap door like emotion
There’s no pit like reputation
There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth
There’s no cancer like ambition
There’s no cure like crucifixion
There’s no cancer like ambition
There’s no cure like crucifixion
There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth
This is part of a series dissecting the song “No Insult Like the Truth” by Charlie Peacock. In the series, I am taking two of the statements he makes and exploring the depth of meaning behind them and what I can learn about myself in the process
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Dear God, so this is the culmination of this little series. I intentionally saved these two for last since they are the punch line of the chorus.
There’s no strength like utter weakness
When I think about the people I admire the least I would have to say that it is those who have the most bravado. If I’m around someone who needs to show me how strong they are, it is a complete turnoff, and they really don’t have anything to offer me.
One of the worst sermons I’ve ever heard was on Father’s Day several years ago. I was in a particularly bad spot as a father at that time, and I decided to visit a church I don’t normally attend but had been growing quite a bit. The pastor decided to approach Father’s Day by talking about all of the things he did well as a father and how great his kids turned out. I was devastated. I felt condemned and like a failure. It was terrible. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one because a member there told me he apologized the following week.
Portraying weakness is a strength, but what about genuinely recognizing the reality of my own weakness and living out of that. It’s a biblical cliche to say when I’m weak you are strong, but it’s true. Why does power corrupt? Because the person with power starts to make an idol out of themselves and the power they have instead of submitting themselves completely to you.
One last thing on this. The most powerful testimonies I have ever heard have been from those who talk about either a failure/weakness from their past, or a current failure/weakness. Vulnerability is where we all meet. There is no condemnation in vulnerability. If only I could truly learn that lesson.
There’s no insult like the truth
Hearing truth from someone else is important. Not that we need to seek out “insults,” but we have to put ourselves in situations where we are known by others so that they can speak truth to us about ourselves. This goes back into the vulnerability thing. If I build a wall around myself and create a facade of strength, then no one will know me and be able to speak truth to me. You will lose your ability to use others in my life to “sharpen” me.
Father, help me to embrace my own weakness and the truths about how I still fail you. Help me to leave myself vulnerable to those around me so that you can use my life as a comfort or inspiration for them. Love through me and help me to feel your love and acceptance.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen