Extreme blood-letting aside, few things bug me more than lies. Adultery is a lie. Betrayal is a lie. Telling someone they’re awesome when they aren’t is a lie. It doesn’t matter how great or small the lie – a lie is a lie. Fallout from lies range from momentary disgust to global war, but the crime is still the same.
There’s a weird similarity between virginity and lying; once you’ve done it you’ve done it. What do you call someone who tells one little lie? A liar.
Lies have become commonplace. Responses are generally tepid, “Oh, he lied? Meh. Where did you say we were having lunch?”
Truth Conforms with Fact or Reality
Truth is generally defined as the “actual state of a matter” or “conformity with fact or reality.” (Dictionary.com) In other words, truth is neither a consensus opinion nor a description of the present cultural mood. Truth is what IS.
In our day, however, lies repeated often enough begin to qualify as truth. “Being accepted as true” now qualifies as the definition of truth in more than one dictionary. Truth and opinion will soon be wholly interchangeable.
Truth and perspective are not synonymous, but the devil and progressive humanists work diligently to spread that particularly offensive lie whenever and wherever possible. For something to be true it must be true in all circumstances, in all places, and at all times. Truth is what is real.
[su_quote cite=”A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God”]What do I mean by reality? I mean that which has existence apart from any idea any mind may have of if, and which would exist if there were no mind anywhere to entertain a thought of it. That which is real has being in itself. It does not depend upon the observer for its validity.[/su_quote]
Perspective is a way of regarding situations or facts and judging their relative importance. Truth describes what is, while perspective is an opinion about the relative value of what is. A flawless diamond is a precious to many but worthless to a hungry child. A diamond is a mineral. That’s the truth. Whether it is beautiful or nuisance is the stuff of perspective and opinion.
[su_quote cite=”Ghandi”]God is, even though the whole world deny him. Truth stands, even if there be no public support.[/su_quote]
The Best Blueprint to Successfully Sell a Lie
The best way to sell a lie is to hide it. Few people realize that rat killer is yummy rat food. Rats eat it because it is good stuff – sweet rat fruit – except for the tiny bit of poison hidden within the nutritious bits.
Discerning what is good from what is not is challenging in the 21st century. Definitions of equality, love, fairness, family values, and healthy marriage can be polar opposites. Which is the sweeter fruit of compassion; welfare or requiring folks to work to meet their needs? Is marriage a covenant relationship or abomination when the bride and groom are Steve and Mike or Samantha and Jillian?
Rat poison is 99.95% good food seasoned with a wee bit (.05%) of warfarin (anticoagulant). One-half of one percent evil diluted among 99.5% good is sufficient to kill. If you believe and swallow the 99.5% true testimony of the angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and father of lies (John 8:44), the tiny lie wrapped in honesty may lead to a far worse death than rodents suffer.
The best way to sell a lie is to wrap it with incontrovertible truth. The only way to avoid swallowing the poison is to critically evaluate every message. Examine its origin and context; compare it to related conversation or opinion, and test it against God’s Word.
Lying using “nothing but the truth”
It’s possible to agree on the facts of a matter yet draw completely different conclusions. In his book Telling Lies, Dr. Paul Ekman writes: “There are two primary ways to lie: to conceal and to falsify. In concealing, the liar withholds some information without actually saying anything untrue. In falsifying, the liar takes an additional step. Not only does the liar withhold true information, but he presents false information as if it were true.”
A little leaven affects the whole dough and one little falsehood sours every bit of the otherwise delicious fruit of truth. It matters what books you read, which preachers you listen to, which homes your children visit, and how rusty your Bible skills have become.
[su_quote cite=”Romans 1:24-25″]Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.[/su_quote]
Guard against the lying “but”
The correct interpretation of the word “but” following a comma is often, “Ignore everything I said before the comma, I didn’t mean it but it sounded good.” Some of the biggest buts to watch out for include:
- “Jesus Christ is Lord, but…”
- “God created the earth, but…”
- “I believe the Bible is God’s Word, but…”
- “I believe in traditional marriage, but…”
- “I am a born-again Christian, but…”
- “I know that some of the things this pastor says aren’t quite right, but…”
Have you accepted as truth the opinion or perspective of a best-selling author or preacher? Many are slick lie-wrappers in disguise. Others pass along their own delusions. Much of the New Testament warns of false preachers and false prophecy – don’t be one. (Proverbs 12:17, Exodus 20:16)
The only way to know what is true, what is real, is to study God’s Word under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. Rightly dividing the word of truth is your responsibility.
Related post: “Lies We Believe About God”
Related scriptures:
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- John 8:44
- 1 John 1:20-21
- 3 John 2-4
- 2 Peter 2:1
- Jude 3-4
- Genesis 3:13
Suggested reading: Rapture and Revelation – paperback and Kindle formats
Photo source: Pixabay
