I am struggling over this one. Lying is too easily accepted in our culture.Ā When ‘caught’, a liar will often pass the lie off as a harmless joke.Ā And apparently, if youāre offended or hurt by their lie, you have no sense of humor.Ā If that doesn’t work, then a justification can easily be made by comparing the lie to the lies of so many other prominent people.
My all-time favorite is when a habitual liar finds joy in lifting up the lie of someone they consider their enemy as if THAT lie was the paramount instance of evil!
I need to reread my gospels because I can’t think of any stories that show how Jesus dealt with liars.Ā Since He is the TRUTH, maybe you can’t lie in his presence.Ā I can’t get the story of the Woman at the Well out of my head.Ā When Jesus asks her to bring her husband, what did she say? The truth! I have no husband.Ā How would a liar respond today?
Woman: Oh, okay… (returns two hours later). he wasn’t home… he’s not feeling well… he really wanted to be here, but he had an appointment…
Or,
Woman: Here we are!
Jesus: He is not your husband.
Woman: Oh, it doesn’t matter, it’s the same thingā¦ we arenāt into the āmarriageā thing, but weāre committed to each otherā¦ this just works for usā¦
I want to come back to this topic, but until then, here is a blog entry I found called, Dealing with Liars, fromĀ Eddie Williams,Ā June 25, 2013 | 3:30 pm
Jesus dealt with liars under the term hypocrites. They told people what to do, but didn’t do it themselves. They were lying to themselves, as well as to everyone else, and Jesus had very harsh words against hypocrisy.
Now listen to the strong words about who will enter into the kingdom of Heaven from God the Father:
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,Proverbs 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,Proverbs 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
All HARSH! Then Jesus’ words…(their righteousness was self righteousness, following the law to the letter with no mercy and no relationship with God. It was all for show)
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Now for the Good News of the Gospel…the Call of Christ to each of us, no matter how far we’ve fallen, no matter what sin we’ve committed!
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
God is calling us to repentance, to turn around completely and begin walking in His direction, instead of our own.
I’m listening to and receiving that call for myself. Who will join me?
Thoughts that have really stuck with me.
(1) How did I forget to mention that the devil is the father of all lies. (John 8:44)
(2) Temptations… evil desires… feed us a lie about God.
(3) Fighting against the devil is not a power struggle, but a TRUTH struggle. The only way to win is to call him out as a liar.