LIARS AND OTHER FORMS OF EVIL

The Problem of Untruth

Maybe you have run across this quote by Winston Churchill regarding Russia:

Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

Being roughly translated that means it’s hard to figure out.  Why would that be?  The Communist government operating under Stalin was not all that helpful in providing the truth.  The term disinformation came from 1950s Russia in which false information was spread to promote one thing or one group and destroy another.  Lies.  It is a problem. 

Consider the plight of Christians following the burning of Rome in 65 AD.  Emperor Nero decided the Christians were a weird bunch and it would be good to blame them for the fire.  He had the lies spread like wild fire and Christians were killed as a result. 

Another instance is the focus on the Jewish people of Europe as the cause of the depression and hardships in Germany following World War 1.  Hitler spread the cancerous lie and it caught on.  It cost the lives of six million Jews. 

These words found in the Book of Jeremiah speak of the problem of lies that has existed for centuries:

They all fool and defraud each other; no one tells the truth. With practiced tongues they tell lies; they wear themselves out with all their sinning. They pile lie upon lie and utterly refuse to acknowledge me,” says the LORD. Jeremiah 9:5-6 (NLT)

These who refuse to acknowledge the Lord are identified as lying.  And not just a little nicety toward another human to spare their feelings, but out and out deception at the cost of defrauding another.  They pile lie upon lie.  With practiced tongues they tell lies.  This flows from the inner person.  This is the character of the people. 

How can a trusting person have a real relationship with someone who doesn’t tell the truth? 

We tell children not to take candy offered by a stranger who may be trying to lure them into their car for some horrible reason.  Children want to trust and like candy so they may not recognize the danger and believe the lie.  Families are often taught to keep family secrets.  Not just the location of the checkbook or the password to the bank account, but the twisted kind of secrets.  The lying parents want to project an image of a loving family with honor and integrity when in reality children are abused and the parent’s extreme fighting creates tremors every night. Lies.  Pretending.  Untrue. Nobody can help the family who lies. 

God’s Perspective on Liars

God is the standard of truth.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  It was Satan’s twist on the truth that provides us with a recorded lie.  All the way back to the beginning of the book of Genesis.  Remember this clever conversation.  Satan shows up and enters into friendly chat with Eve.  They get around to what God’s been saying.  She says they can’t eat of one tree because if they do God says they will die.  So Satan offers an answer which calls God a liar and then he offers a lie in place of the truth.  “You won’t die.”  Our first parents went with the lie.  God hasn’t been real affirming of lying ever since.  Look at this in the book of the Law:

You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. Leviticus 19:11 (NASB)

Don’t do it people!  He wanted better for His people.  Don’t rip off each other in stuff or emotions or in conversation.  Be real.  Be trustworthy.  Sounds good, right?

Another perspective from the book of wisdom:

The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. Proverbs 12:22 (NLT)

From that verse it is hard to imagine who will be closer to the Lord or one of His favorites, isn’t it?    It seems better to be one He delights in.  And as people go God’s way they grow in agreement with His way of thinking.  As this verse shows. 

The godly hate lies; the wicked cause shame and disgrace. Proverbs 13:5 (NLT)

The godly (those going with God and living His way) hate lies.  Why?  You know, destruction, delusions, death.  The wicked cause shame and disgrace?  Really, how?  They lie.  They reject God.  If you haven’t experienced it yourself you have seen it in the news about someone’s lies being exposed and then the shame and disgrace that follows.  Bernie Madoff looked like an amazing finance guy until his $68.5 Billion scheme was uncovered and then shame and disgrace followed.  It can happen to us or those around us if we don’t deal in truth. 

What is behind the lies?  You are aware of the desire to protect ourselves and sometimes to promote ourselves which is part of the motivation.  But the evil lies intended to deceive and harm others is the dark work of the enemy.  Jesus nails it with this. 

For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 (NLT)

Jesus identifies the devil as an influence.  His words are heart wrenching when He calls them “children of your father the devil.”  How awful to be identified that way.  How much better to be called the children of God or the children of light, but children of the devil is awful. 

What is the future for liars? 

Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.  Revelation 22:15 (NLT)

Revelation 22 offers us a picture of God’s goodness and desire for people to come enjoy life with Him.  The gates are open to those who want God and what He offers, but outside the city are those who choose their own way.  Included outside are those who love to live a lie.  Not much of a future.  God is offering more. 

God’s True Offer

Dealing in lies can become an addiction.  The practice of lying gets to be routine.  Lies upon lies.  And for the liar what once was known to be a lie to deceive others after a while becomes believed as the truth and that liar is not only a deceiver but is now deluded.  The deluded people among us pass on lies as truth.  They could pass a polygraph declaring it true because now they believe the lie as well.  Ugly.  God offers a way out.  It is a true offer. 

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)

Simple.  Turn to Him.  Own the sin.  Admit it to God.  Turn it over to Jesus.  Let it be nailed to the cross of Christ.  Take Him at His truthful word that He will forgive and cleanse. 

Breaking the habit of lying may take some practice.  Seeking God and living God’s way in truth and giving up some old ways of doing things. 

Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Colossians 3:9 (NLT)

Recognizing the old habits have to go helps, but also adding some new habits helps. 

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:29-32 (NLT)

Observing the language we use, the emotions, motives, and purposes can help break old habits and make way for new ones.  Being kind and saying things that are good and helpful is a great start for those who once were liars and children of the devil. There is hope in Christ in breaking free of all kinds of evil.  There is a life full and abundant available in Him.  If you know someone stuck in the web of lying point them to Jesus.  Point them to truth.