God Comments on Lying
Robert Maxwell
Lying has become big news today because lying is the news. The Washington Post counted 30,573 lies or misleading statements that our former President made while in office for four years. While each of us make small or big lies at time, we probably would recognize them when pointed out. To many, however, including the former President, lies have become truth. And since there was a famous scene of our former President standing in front of a church holding up a Bible, I thought it might be useful to open the Bible to see what it says about truth and lying.
A good place to start is with Isaiah (65:16), where God is referred to as the God of Truth and since we are imitators of God, we must become truthful (Eph 5.1). I Googled the number of times lying is mentioned in the Bible and the answer I found was about 100. Truth is mentioned about three times that. In other words, lying and truth are high on God’s radar.
As I came across many mentions of how God felt about lying, it didn’t make sense for me to write about what God said, but to simply quote from the Word of God. What follows are a few verses about how God feels about lying.
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” (Prov 6:16-19)
“No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house, no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.” (Psalm 101:7)
“Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (Prov 12:19)
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.” (Prov 19:9)
You get the idea. God doesn’t like lying. God especially doesn’t like lying among us.
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Eph 4:25)
“Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.” (Prov 24:28)
“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace.” (Zech 8:16)
As stated earlier, many important people believe lies instead of truth. They endorse lying.
We know what God thinks. Maybe when more people open the Bible and read it — instead of holding it in the air — we can reach for more honesty about truth-telling and lying. Maybe, by God’s grace, we can even get along better together.