Deception

 

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Are you an honest person? Most people would answer in the affirmative: “Yes, I am an honest person.” Redirect the question as “Do you always tell the truth?” and most people would say that they try to do so. If you pursue it further though, they will admit that they often do not tell the truth because sometimes it is easier to lie, such as when they want to avoid a conflict or avoid offending someone.

 

In today’s society, most people do admit that they lie sometimes. Usually they try to smooth over their deceit by calling it a white lie, tale, story or exaggeration. There is no such thing as a “white lie” though: a lie is not black nor white, it is simply a lie. Tales and stories belong in books and not in our conversations. As much as we try to excuse ourselves, we cannot negate the fact that lying is wrong.

 

The Bible is clearly against deception. There are numerous Old Testament stories to warn us of the perils of lying.

 

One of the best known deceptions is that of the Israelite king David’s illicit affair with Bathsheba^[1]. To hide their adulterous relationship, David sent for Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, who is at the battlefront of an Israelite military campaign. David tried to persuade Uriah to stay with his wife but Uriah was an honorable man and refused to do so while his comrades were still at war. The king treacherously orders Uriah’s murder at the battle scene. God sent the prophet Nathan to confront king David about his wickedness. Upon exposure, the king repented of his sins. Although remorseful, David still had to face the penalties of his sinfulness: the child conceived during their affair died.

 

According to biblical history, it seems that king David was not alone in his deceitful nature. Abram, who later became the patriarch Abraham, twice tried to pass off his wife Sarai as his sister^[2]. Rebekah deceived her husband Isaac into blessing his younger son Jacob instead of his eldest son Esau^[3]. These are only a few of the lies and deceits that the Bible narrates to warn readers of the results of deception. These chronicles should be enough to persuade us to shun deceit; if not though, the Bible contains many verses which strictly forbid it.

 

In the Ten Commandments which are God’s original laws given to Moses for the Israelites who were His people, it forbids “false witness against thy neighbour.^[4]” In addition, the levitical laws required that if a person lied against another person, then the deceitful person should suffer the punishment that he sought against his victim^[5].

 

There is no doubt that God requires His people to always be truthful and honest. There are too many verses which direct Christians to veracity. The Bible also indicates that integrity is an indication of righteousness. Proverbs 13:5 reads, A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

 

 

Lying - The Easy Way Out?

 

Whether we want to admit it though, it is difficult to be forthright. It is much easier to lie our way out of compromising situations and awkward moments. Sometimes the other person does not want to hear the truth. Proverbs 20:17 acknowledges this: Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. What should we do in those cases? Tell the truth anyway, if for no other reason than the truth will be revealed eventually. In addition, we will face God’s judgment for our actions, thoughts and conversations, not the actions, thoughts and conversations of others.

 

 

The Truth Will Come Out and Liars Will Be Punished!  

 

Often liars believe that no one will ever discover their untruth. They erroneously think that they have gotten away with the deception. The Bible tells us that, The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment^[6]. Granted, the prevaricator may actually pull off his dishonesty to other people, but he cannot deceive God. Psalms 52:1-6 tells of God’s judgment upon deceptive people:

 

      Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah^[7]. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

 

It seems that the person described above must have been a horrible person, right? Not if we examine his sin. He is guilty of not telling the truth. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. How many times do we outright lie or subtly deceive people and not consider the impact of our falsehoods? We often fail to recognize that those “simple, white lies” are not so simple or white. They are wrong. One day each of us will have to stand and face God’s Final Judgment for the manner in which we lived and for the conversations we held. Jesus warned us of this:

 

      But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.^[8]

 

What will your conversations say at your judgment? Will you be happy to hear them repeated to you in front of God? Proverbs 19:5 says, A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. What will happen to liars? Once again, the Scriptures are clear on this:

 

      And there shall in no wise enter into it [heaven] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life^[9].

 

      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^[10].

 

 

Do Not Lie!

 

How do we avoid facing God’s punishment for lying? It is simple: tell the truth, even when it is not easy or beneficial. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another^[11]. The next time your friend asks you what you think of her clothes, tell her tactfully if you do not like them. If someone asks you what you think, graciously convey your opinion. Your honest, thoughtful answers will be more appreciated than prevarications.

 

Likewise, do not try to justify your dishonesty by pretending you were joking. Likewise, if someone deceives you and then excuses it as bantering, remember the wisdom found in Proverbs 26:18-19, As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

 

 

Whom Should You Trust?

 

With dishonesty being so common, how do you know whom you should trust? It is not always easy to make that determination. The Scriptures do provide us some insight into this also.

 

Although it may seem simple, you should not trust those whom you know to be deceptive.  A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies^[12]. . . . If you know someone often “bends the truth,” you should not take anything they say at face value. What do liars do well? They lie. You should not expect them to be honest if they have proven themselves to be dishonest.

 

You should also recognize your enemies and be wary of their statements. If it is to their advantage to deceive you or others, they probably will. The Bible also states this in Proverbs 27:6: Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.  Always be cautious of your enemies, whether they are co-workers, ex-spouses or unfriendly neighbors.

 

The fact of the matter is that you simply cannot take what people say at face value. You should understand that people do lie and some more often than others. This is not mean that you should be distrustful; it means that you recognize the lack of veracity in today’s society. The Bible forecasted this lack of truthfulness.

 

The Scriptures warn that in the final days before Jesus Christ’s return deception shall be prevalent: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived^[13]. With this in mind, we should use judgment and challenge those that we know to be deceptive and use wisdom and caution with those of which we are uncertain.

 

 

 

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