The Trouble with Lying

Psalms 12:1-2

“Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.”

A church, like Grace Church, was studying the Ten Commandments. As the pastor wrapped up his sermon on the Eighth Commandment, he told the congregation, “next week I intend to preach on the sin of lying. In preparation, please go home and read Mark 17.”

The following Sunday as he began to preach his sermon, the pastor asked for a show of hands: “How many of you read Mark 17 this week?” More than half of the congregation raised their hands. “Good,” the pastor said, “Mark only has 16 chapters. Now, let’s begin our sermon on lying.”

For most Americans–both believers and nonbelievers–the truth is no longer absolute. As long as there is an element of truth in what we are saying, then the entire statement is true. In the example above, most of us would be comfortable raising our hands, and if confronted with the fact that Mark only has 16 chapters, we would counter that we had read a portion of Mark during the previous week; therefore, raising our hands was completely defensible.

Indeed, most of us would agree with one little boy who confused a couple of verses of Scripture when he said, "a lie is an abomination to the Lord and a very present help in time of trouble."

As we study the Ninth Commandment this week we will be confronted with some basic questions: have we, as the body of Christ, bought into the world’s new belief that all truth is relative? Does God still expect his people to be people of integrity and honesty? Is it ever OK to tell a lie? Is gossip sin?

Application:

• What is truth to you? Is it absolute or is it relative?
• Ask God to reveal to you this week if your character is built on integrity and honesty? 

Father, as I examine my character this week, reveal to me areas where I have allowed the false standard of truth found in the world today to become my standard of truth.