When Is A Lie A Lie?
An honest witness does not deceive, but
a false witness pours out lies.
– Proverbs 14:5
When is a lie a lie? I know. You’re probably
dismissing this question, thinking the answer is obvious. Are you sure?
A friend asks if you like her new dress. It is
hideous. Do you tell her it looks great on her? Do you try and come up with
something nice to say, such as “All that matters is that you like it,” avoiding
telling your honest opinion. You don’t want to hurt her feelings. What do you
say?
Or maybe your co-worker is ranting about something at
work. You remain silent until he asks for your support. You desperately try to
sidestep the issue because you don’t agree with him. Do you tell him you think
he’s wrong? Or do you sidestep the issue, trying to find a way to avoid
speaking your truth?
Truth isn’t always black and white. Sometimes it’s the
gray area between being honest and avoiding hurting someone we value. We aren’t
all wordsmiths, able to instantly come up with a truth that works without
giving away our honest opinions. Sometimes we tell a “white lie” to avoid the
pain. Is that wrong? Surely God understands. Doesn’t He?
Here’s another question: If you intentionally mislead
someone to believe something you know isn’t the truth, did you lie to them?
Technically, you didn’t. You used words to skirt the truth, knowing they would
believe a falsehood. You didn’t bother to correct their conclusion because that
was your point.
I call it playing word games with people. The
deception causes much hurt. What happens when the truth emerges? What happens
if your words lead others to think badly of someone? Maybe that was your point.
Is the intent to deceive really a lie? Well, that’s for
God to judge but here’s what the Bible says: God looks at the heart. In your
heart, did you lie? Did you deceive? There’s your answer.
My first semester of college included a Mass
Communication 101 course. One of the things we studied was how tabloids can
twist information to make it sound like something that isn’t true. They rarely
get sued because it’s all based on a tidbit of truth. But it sure does mislead readers
and viewers and hurt those who are the targets.
Oh, yes. The media. We all love to bash the media.
Look in the mirror. Are you a consumer of mistruth? Do you share it on Facebook
or other social media outlets? Do you check out your sources before you hit the
share button or do you just assume that if it sounds like what you believe it
must be true?
Hatred has a way of darkening our hearts without us
even knowing it. We’re so focused on being right that we miss the lies right
before us.
Think about your own language, your own beliefs, your
own heart. How many times do you pass on a bit of gossip? How many times do you
criticize without knowing the facts? How often do you judge what isn’t any of
your business anyway?
I’ll ask you again: When is a lie a lie? Think about
it. Look into your own heart. You may not be as honest as you think you are.
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