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White lies? You know how easy it can be. A question is posed, “How much do you weigh?” and you answer, “Oh, somewhere around 180 lbs” when really you know full well the answer is 200 lbs. You’ve “stretched” the truth, we sometimes say. When you find yourself in a pinch, a moment of embarrassment or some consternation, then before you know it you quickly adjust the truth a little bit to avoid the problem. No one, apparently, gets hurt. No one’s the wiser, and the incident passes away. What are Christians to think of these so-called “white lies?” It helps to begin by understanding how important truth is to God. We learn from Samuel that unlike mankind, God is not disposed to lying whatsoever: “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind."1 Another passage presses this comparison between us and God, “Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception… And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.”2 Far from engaging in lies and deceit, we are told that, “the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice…”3 The LORD God Himself is the bastion of truth. It’s also telling to see that His Son Jesus Christ made the claim, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”4 The Bible clearly sets God and His truthfulness over-against mankind and his lying nature. Paul condemns all men as liars when he writes, “All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."5 Our sinful nature is one which lies and deceives without any extra effort on our part. What is even more damning for us is that our natural tendency to deceive makes us akin not to God but to the devil. Jesus says of the devil that, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”6 This should be abhorrent to us as Christians. People who love God must love the truth. We’ve got to fight against our natural tendency to lie. We must see deceit for what it really is: the work of the devil, and so flee from it. God makes it clear that He want us to be free from the devil’s grip when He commands us to uphold the truth: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.”7 The people of God must speak the language of God: truth and fidelity, faithfulness and loyalty. Paul emphasizes this as well, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor,”8 for that is the only way to live in peace and harmony with each other. That’s the only way to live in harmony with our God. White lies? According to the Bible, that’s really a contradiction in terms. Rather, let’s speak and promote the truth wherever we have the opportunity. Let me add one caveat to all of this: we must be truthful with each other, for the benefit of each other. Because something is true that doesn’t mean it must be spoken publicly or spoken at all. If you know a dark secret about someone, don’t spread it around – that will only destroy him further! Instead, privately try to help him out of his sinfulness.9 We must speak the truth in love.10 Sometimes silence is the best recourse when nothing upbuilding or helpful can be said. Christians must also in this respect live more and more like Christ – in truth and faithfulness, hating the lie. And when we in weakness fall into the sin of lying let us confess our sins to the Lord Jesus who is the Way, and the Truth and the Life. Let’s seek His forgiveness. For then we will remain in the truth, truly free from the guilt of sin. Biblical quotations
on this page are from: 1) 1 Samuel 15:29; 2) Psalm 12:2,6; 3) Psalm
33:4; 4) John 14:6; 5) Romans 3:9-13; 6) John 8:44; 7) Exodus 20:16;
8) Ephesians 4:25; 9) Matthew 18:15-17; 10) Ephesians 4:15 Looking for more? Has God planted a hunger in your heart to seek Him?
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about the faith, encouragement and support then please consider joining
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