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Liar, Liar By Lorelei Nettles How important is being truthful and just how much lying will we accept into our lives?
Inspired by John Elliott heard a sermon recently on a subject that has always been very important to me -- the subject of honesty. I have always prided myself on being truthful; but over my lifetime, I have, as is often said, "bent the truth." Although it is now infrequent for me to do so, it nonetheless happens. I never intend to do it, and it is never blatant; but after the fact, when I review my words, I realize I have indeed lied. Sometimes we reason we have not truly lied because we never actually said the words. If we are caught doing something we don't want to admit to, we may act innocent or talk around the deed, a tactic often used by children. This, too, is a form of lying. It is a sin I strive to correct in my life, as I am sure is true for most of God's people.
It has become commonplace for people to lie and then say they have misspoken if called on it. This often happens in politics, when each party makes up stories about the other, or if they try to make themselves look better than they really are. It is common for people to pad their resumes, tell you they know something when they really do not, but do not want to appear ignorant. It is a horrible practice benefitting no one. Little white lies
I think the old saying "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" applies here. Why do we find it necessary to cover our true feelings with untrue words? I, for one, would love to know if I am leaving my home looking worse for wear, or if I have spinach in my teeth before approaching someone at a party. I also would rather have you say nothing at all rather then telling me how fat I may be or that one of my ears may be longer then the other. These are not useful comments and are unnecessary to convey. A person is fully aware of his or her body flaws and may or may not choose to change them. Think about the following scenarios. Have you ever gone to the dentist and had him ask you if you brush twice a day and floss? Do you tell him "yes," even if you do not? Do you ever tell your husband or wife how good they look, while in the back of your mind you are thinking you wouldn't be caught dead in what they are wearing? Have you ever told a police officer you were not speeding or never saw a sign? How about telling your parents you cannot come home to visit because... (insert lie here). When we stop and think about it, we can probably come up with many instances where we tell "white lies" or maybe even bold-faced lies. Scamming the other guy
Most of us have walked through a car lot, found a car we liked and then watched the salesman fidget as we try to offer a lower price before he goes running to the manager, who then at the last moment approves it. I once walked all the way to my car and had gotten in, when suddenly the salesman came running out the door with the good news -- it seems my offer had suddenly been approved by the manager at the last minute. Oh what a surprise! These claims can be very subtle or in your face. We probably brush them off as just doing business, but if it walks like a duck... The pastor also spoke about people living in poorer areas of the world who will use ploys and deception to con people out of their money. The people are poor and need the funds to survive, so it is okay, right? So what, if a few "richer" people lose a few dollars? What's the big deal?
People willingly send these scammers their cash and, of course, never see anything in return. It is such a lucrative business that some of the con artists have even made music videos about it, with lyrics that talk about how they have taken the money of stupid people, although they use their own term for the word "stupid." They especially victimize those in America. They make their living off of lies and deception. Father of lies Who was and is the father of all lies? John 8:44 says that Satan "was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."
In Revelation 21:8 we read, "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Throughout the Bible, we are told repeatedly how important truth is, and yet we are still so willing to lie. White lies, bending the truth, compromising the truth and making excuses do not make what you say any less of a lie. God is truth God wants nothing but truth to come from our lips. It is very important to Him and should be very important to us. Christ said in John 3:21, "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." In Zechariah 8:16 we see, "These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace."
Lastly, in Philippians 4:8 God says, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, , whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things." Copyright 2008 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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Origin of article "Liar, Liar"
Keywords: lying truthfulness honesty white lies
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