What are Lies? Do you lie?
What are false and misleading Statements?
Can you if questioned provide evidence for what you claim?
Truth telling is a fundamental part of our faith and a basic standard for all Christians. People should never be able to say that Christians are liars and deceptive people, or that we are oath-breakers.
The term “Bottomless Pinocchio’s” was created by the Washington Post to help Track Trumps lying and making false statements. I have included links to two articles about this from the Post and another that rebuts the accuracy of what they say. Now I don’t intend to get into the nitty gritty of the statistics, as there is no perfect endeavor by any of us, I will let others and you reason that out.
I don’t need the Washington Post or any other source to just say that Trump obviously was the King of Lies during his time in the White house. That is obvious and if you don’t think so then, well we have a problem Houston!
Trump aside it is all of us who claim to be Christians that must consider our thinking and behavior. Consider the following:
There once was a Yale student who fabricated an entirely false life, becoming a local celebrity in New Haven, Connecticut. Eventually it was discovered he was just a regular guy from Utah with a police record. There are many other examples. If we can believe statistics roughly 8 percent of those who lie can be deemed pathological or malicious. Only 2 percent of the cases of lying are categorized as social or polite lies.
The Bible speaks of our deceit and lies. Our sin natures have no problem convincing ourselves we are not the ones who are dishonest. Lying, sinful people must be somewhere else perhaps on the other side of the political divide.
In general people don’t lie for lying’s sake, but instead to achieve goals we couldn’t achieve by telling the truth. Have you done this? All of us have. So the reality is human beings universally possess a talent and desire for deceiving one another. And as we see today in politics and on social media based on these lies, most of us can convince ourselves that we are perfectly honest in what we claim or say.
God has made it clear throughout the Bible that he abhors lying.
Leviticus 19:11 — “‘Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.”
Psalm 119:163 — “I hate and detest falsehood.”
Proverbs 12:22 — “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
Proverbs 13:5 — “The righteous hate what is false.”
Colossians 3:9 — “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.”
Many Christians citing a transactional reason for voting for Trump have shrugged off is lack of character and honesty. Yet as you can see in our current cultural moment what we say does have grave consequences. But does it matter? Does it matter if you lie all the time? If you vote for a politician whether it be Trump or whomever consider if they can promote the common good if they habitually lie? Does it bring dishonor to the name of Jesus to elect people who habitually lie and yet claim to be citizens of Christ’s kingdom? Which is what Trump claims.
And yes, many on social media claim the same.
The “I voted for the lesser of two evils” excuse fails as well because evil is still evil. To recognize it is one thing to buy into it or condone it as unimportant is damming. There is no Bible verse that says because a Christian is running for a secular/public office that they are exempt from the ethical standards/moral principles of being a disciple.
God’s standard is clear as Scripture tells us that habitual liars will be consigned to hell (Rev. 21:8). The question then to ask ourselves is why do we give politicians a special exemption or overlook and encourage behavior that is a threat to our very soul and the nation?
“Whataboutisms” are held high by everyone today. Citing the other people’s sins or rebellion makes our sins and rebellions ok and acceptable. Have you heard this recently of claimed it yourself? The ends justify the means. This is how we rationalize our sins. And additionally our acceptance of an alternate reality for politics is sinful in and of itself and mere pretext. All politicians lie so that’s just the reality. WELL NO! Our reality, the only reality we as Christians adhere to is, we do not lie, no excuses.
As we look to the Gospel, we recognize that all of us are the ones who deceive, not the ones who speak truth. Our natural ability to do so must be tempered by repentance, prayer and daily relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit. The results of the cross, grace, mercy and love frees us to admit that were are imperfect people, rebellious and prone to lie. Christ alone is the only man in whom no deceit was found.
Our commitment to our Lord and King Christ Jesus means we must be out of sync society ultimately doing things that will make other people, perhaps other Christians upset or despise us. So today if you are more upset about Americas politics than about the reputation of Jesus then you have your priorities aligned with the world. Better it be our political institutions crumble and our nation destroyed rather than do that which brings shame to our Lord.
Let us turn then to him and not our own sinful and willful selves for redemption and guidance.
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