“Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” Proverbs 12:22
September 15, 2023
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” “God’s will is that I never give false testimony against anyone, twist no man’s words, not gossip or slander, nor join in condemning anyone without a just cause. Rather, in court and everywhere else, I should avoid lying and deceit of every kind….I should love the truth, speak it candidly…and I should do what I can to guard and advance my neighbor’s good name.” Heidelberg Catechism, Answer 112 (1562). This bears repeating in our church services. It rests upon what the book of Proverbs says about lying: It will be judged (21:28). It brings only temporary results at best (21:6). It destroys people (25:18). It is an expression of hatred (26:28). It brings bitter consequences: As learned behavior it is passed from one generation to the next. The longer it is persisted in the more people get hurt, creating an ever widening circle of suffering. It will destroy a relationship. Like a deadly spreading virus we see it ruining reputations, wrecking marriages, starting riots, and destroying the credibility of our government. If we love God we hate evil and if we hate evil we will commit ourselves to be truth tellers.
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“O Lord, make me more sensitive to what it means to be a truth teller. Expose those in government and in the media who are telling us lies.”