Children
often see parents lie, while they are told by them, "Don't
Lie, Tell the Truth,
or no one will believe you when you do actually tell the
truth."
In business
and politics, lies are often expounded for the making of
money, position and influence, and to hide corruption. In
churches and religious groups, lies can be found as often
and for the same reasons as in secular groups. Many in fact
are intent on making 'merchandise of the saints' and
'fleecing the flock' by using lies. The Apostles Peter and
Paul warned of those who would lie for this purpose.
2 Peter 2:1 But there
were false prophets also among the people, even as there
shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring
in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought
them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason
of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words
make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time
lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
1
Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed
to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience
seared with a hot iron;
The meaning is clear. Speaking lies in
hypocrisy> <pseudologos> from Strong's Concordance:
Lies > 5573. qeudologov
pseudologos, psyoo-dol-og'-os > from 5571 and 3004;
mendacious, i.e. promulgating erroneous Christian
doctrine:--speaking lies.
See Greek 5571 (pseudes) >5571. qeudhv pseudes, psyoo-dace'
from 5574; untrue, i.e. erroneous, deceitful,
wicked:--false, liar.
5574. qeudomai pseudomai,
psyoo'-dom-ahee >middle voice of an apparently primary
verb; to utter an untruth or attempt to deceive by
falsehood:--falsely, lie.
hypocrisy <hupokrisis>
5272. upokrisiv hupokrisis, hoop-ok'-ree-sis from 5271;
acting under a feigned part, i.e. (figuratively) deceit
("hypocrisy"):--condemnation, dissimulation, hypocrisy.
In fact,
lying is so destructive that most religions address and
rebuke it, and it is found as a 'problem' which is much
discussed politically world wide. There is no group that is
exempt from it's impact and most would admit they have been
lied to by someone they know or follow, while having
believed them to be an 'example of integrity and honesty.'
Many would agree that Lying has to be one of the
most destructive and deliberate forms of manipulation there
is. It destroys trust. It destroys friendships, families and
relationships. It destroys credibility. It shows contempt,
disrespect and/or hatred for others. In other words, it makes love for
others a lie in that person's life.
It can cause
the person to avoid being held accountable to themselves or
others. Eventually,
particularly when in a position of trust, it
makes it impossible for a person to be believed or trusted by others
and is clearly spiritually self destructive.
In the definition of lying
or to lie, aside from outright untruths or fabrication of
information, it would include exaggeration,
and 'little
white lies', of which there is no such thing,
and
deliberately withholding
facts or beliefs so that others will draw wrong conclusions
about who a person or subject is about so that the
perpetrator of the lie benefits, often financially.
Deliberately
omitting or changing information is not the same as
forgetting information as we all retain certain
things and forget certain things. Nor can using wisdom in
sharing
information be condemned, as the Scriptures are clear on
that as well.
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I
send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Proverbs 29:11 A fool
uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till
afterwards.
Proverbs 14:33 Wisdom
resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but
that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
Most
would agree that lying is
more often than not used to manipulate the feelings,
thoughts and actions of others in order to benefit the
person doing the lying. People make all manner of excuses
for sin but the reality is, there is no excuse for lying. If
one is tempted and succumbs to lie, it needs to be dealt
with as sin, and confessed and repented of. For more on
rationalizing sin, please see;
Excuses for Sin.
Probably, from a spiritual
perspective, the lying that is the most manipulative of
others is to make claims to believe some doctrine or fact or
to manufacture information,
when in fact, the person's beliefs or actions are contrary
to what they state. Many lie to cover their own inadequacies
or ego, or to be accepted by others in some way.
They do so by having determined to deliberately deceive the
group, individuals or friends, because they want to be part of the group for
fellowship or other purposes. The end result is that the lie
invariably is shown and without repentance or admission of
the deception, one comes to believe that the person is
totally untrustworthy. Many in fact would question if the
person had ever spoken the truth to them about any aspect of
their lives or beliefs.
Many lie about their
beliefs because they have rejected or overturned the
Scriptures that would show their error, while claiming to
advocate or believe the Truth of the Word of God. Even upon
being revealed as deceptive or upon rebuke, the rejection of that Truth is clear. The
Scriptures are clear:
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that
call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for
light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!
Titus 3:10 A man that is
an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth,
being condemned of himself.
Robin McKie, in a Guardian
article in the UK, stated the end result as being, Lying
destroys trust, and said:
"The real problem is that a
person who tells too many lies is clearly untrustworthy.
We have no confidence that we can have a relationship, no
matter how distant, with that person. There are no
trustworthy rules or guidelines for dealing with them."
[Robin
McKie, Observer, Sunday March 12, 2000
www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3973046,00.html]
From a personal
perspective, this writer has seen the end result of those that have
been lied to by some who have claimed to be of Christ and
while claiming friendship. Lying simply does make the pursuing
of a relationship impossible because the question is always
there, 'is this another lie,' or 'is it real or true,' especially when
dealing with beliefs and Biblical Truth.
Trust once broken,
especially when dealing with the deliberate hiding of
un-Scriptural beliefs, is very difficult to set aside, even
when forgiving the person. Especially when the individuals have been
shown that what is being done is wrong according to the
Scriptures and their subsequent actions and words concerning
it, is sin or rejection of Biblical Truth by Biblical
standards.
When there is no
acknowledgement or repentance of the lie or lies nor
admission to the rejection of Scriptural Truth then the
relationship is invariably closed or distanced, until things are
dealt with appropriately.
Friendship
betrayed through lies and deception is rarely brought back
to a deep level of trust again, although caring for one
another is not lost.
That is not
to say it cannot be restored over time, but it can take a
long time to prove one is honest in spiritual matters and
can be trusted with one's friendship. We are to prove all things and not blindly trust simply
because someone states they are being straight with us,
after they have deliberately misled and lied, regardless the
arena of deception. In saying that, it must also be said,
Christ is able to deal with these things when we are not.
Leadership or associates
that have been shown to have lied, deliberately misled or
fabricated information or have hidden their beliefs or
behaviors to gain an audience, money, friendship, even upon
a declared repentance, could never be fully trusted again in
many people's minds.
Not because they cannot be forgiven, but because, by their
very own deceptive words they have deliberately misled people for gain
in some way, while being in a place of influence or control
and trust
in another person's life. The lies have fully broken their
trustworthiness, and saying they can now be trusted is not
the same as being able to trust them. True Biblical
repentance would likely have those in leadership remove
themselves from any position of authority, because of the
very necessary Biblical qualifications for being placed in
leadership in the first place. Leadership must prove
they are indeed trustworthy, honest and sound in the faith,
which would of necessity take more than a little time to
prove,
especially for those who have betrayed trust through lies
and deception.
1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover
he must have a good report of them which are without; lest
he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued,
not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
It might be suggested that the person
giving the lies about their beliefs, really doesn't know
what they believe themselves, because deception about who
they are and what they believe have become so much a part of
their persona. Or they recognize that their beliefs are
contrary to Biblical Truth and sound doctrine, but are not
willing to repent of them. Some would go so far as to
believe that they are actually exempt from various aspects
of Biblical Truth, because of God's 'special call' on their
lives, or because of, in the case of some leaders, their
deliberate changing of the Word of God to suit their
purposes. That is not what God's people are called to.
2 Corinthians 4:1
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have
received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the
hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness,
nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by
manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every
man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are
lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of
them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine
unto them.
The bottom line is that
lies and deception are deliberate. They are a choice people make. The end
result is that it causes the loss of much, including trust,
which is never easily won back, even when forgiveness is
desired and obtained.
Truth,
Honesty and Freedom
Broken trust can take a
lifetime to repair, because a person's word is the stamp of
who they are, from the inside out.
Jesus said that out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, which means if a
person lies about who they are or their beliefs, or
fabricates information for gain in some way, that is merely showing who
they really are.
Luke 6:45 A good man out
of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of
his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the
abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. [Mt 12:34-35]
Jesus said that lies come
from the 'father of lies'.
John 8:44 Ye are of your
father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the
truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh
a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the
father of it.
Some would go so far as to
say that God wanted them to lie and deceive others for a
particular 'beneficial' end result. That thinking makes God
a liar.
God does not
lie nor lead into temptation or into false doctrine, or
call us to deliberately declare false doctrine as truth. That is
not His Spirit that does that.
1 John 2:21 I have not
written unto you because ye know not the truth, but
because ye know it, and that no lie is of the
truth....27 But the anointing which ye have received of
him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach
you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all
things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath
taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Titus
1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus
Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the
acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie,
promised before the world began;
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted
of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither
tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he
is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when
it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my
beloved brethren.
To imply or boldly state
that God would want a person to lie and deceive, manufacture
information or be in
deception in His Name is an indication of not knowing who
God is and what He is about, nor what He calls His children
to.
James
3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive
berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both
yield salt water and fresh.
Matthew
7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather
grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so
every good tree bringeth forth
good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree
cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt
tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast
into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall
know them.
Proverbs 14: 5 A
faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness
will utter lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not:
but knowledge is easy unto him that
understandeth. 7 Go from the presence of a foolish
man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips
of knowledge. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to
understand his way: but the folly of fools is
deceit. 9 Fools make a mock at sin:
but among the righteous there is favour.
1 Corinthians 13: 4
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth
not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her
own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the
truth;
Those who
love the Lord Jesus Christ have put on the new man
and are called to holiness and honesty, not lies.
Ephesians 4:20 But ye
have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard
him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in
Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former
conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to
the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that
ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away
lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we
are members one of another...29 Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is
good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace
unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of
God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with
truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Colossians 3:8
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the
old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in
knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Every person who belongs to
Jesus Christ makes the choice of obedience to do what God
calls them to do.
Ezekiel 3:21 Nevertheless
if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin
not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because
he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
Romans 5:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might
grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by
Jesus Christ our Lord. 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall
we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid.
How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer
therein?
Jesus said IF we love Him
we will keep His commandments. We don't prove our love by
lying, deceiving others and deliberately sinning:
Phil 4:8 Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there
be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on
these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both
learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do:
and the God of peace shall be with you.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no
man deceive you with vain words: for because of these
things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with
them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye
light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For
the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and
righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is
acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them. .... 15 See then that ye walk
circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be
ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the
Lord is.
In fact, we are told that
people who do not love the Truth, will be given strong
delusion by God Himself, and they will believe a lie to
their own destruction. Truth is no longer an option for
them.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And
then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall
consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy
with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose
coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12
That they all might be damned who believed not the
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
God reminds us of the rewards of abiding in His Truth, and
the consequences for those who do not.
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is
the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor
sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his
delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law
doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be
like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf
also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall
prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the
chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the
ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners
in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD
knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the
ungodly shall perish..."
4:3 But know that the
LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:
the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 4 Stand in
awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon
your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the
sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in
the LORD. ...5:4 For thou art not a God that hath
pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell
with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy
sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity..."
Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter
into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever
worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which
are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 22:14
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they
may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in
through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and
whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and
whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you
these things in the churches. I am the root and the
offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
God calls us to a change in
our lives because of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit changes
us to reflect Christ more and more. We're to use sound
judgment and temperance, self control and honesty, based on
the Word of God. Every thought is to come into
obedience to Him. We are to be honest and not lie. And
when we err, we are to repent and get out of the falsehood
or wrong choices we may have embraced. We all sin or make
wrong choices, but it is what we do when we know we have
sinned that really is the measure of our spiritual
condition. That then can show our obedience or
disobedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to
God's Word.
Luke 8:15 But that on
the good ground are they, which in an honest and good
heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth
fruit with patience.
2 Corinthians 8:21
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of
the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
James 3:17 But the
wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good
fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
True freedom from sin
and lies is found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
2 Timothy 2:25 In
meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if
God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare
of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
John 8:36 If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
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