Lies you may have heard (or told):

• If you keep working as hard as you have been, you could manage this company some day.
• Helen, this meatloaf tastes wonderful.  I must have the recipe.
• My that's a pretty dress!  It looks great on you!
• You have a wonderful voice.  Have you been singing long?
• I did not have sex with that woman. (Bill Clinton)
• I love you Lord.  (OUCH!)

How many times have you told little white lies?  Let's clear something up once and for all.  There is no such thing as a little white lie.  There is the truth and there are lies.  So, with that out of the way, how often do you lie?  We might attempt to justify the lie by telling yourself you do not want to sound harsh or you want to make the other person feel good or it's not hurting anyone.  Face it, lying is a sin.

I tell my kids they can say it if they can prove it in a court of law. This has been the cause of some interesting conversations around our house.  I teach them that the truth is much more powerful that any lie. Telling the truth makes you strong and confident. You cannot always tell the truth if you are living a lie.  You can even learn to be truthful about your faults. Proverbs 14:5
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. 
Deuteronomy 5:20
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 
1) A proud look,
2) A lying tongue,
3) Hands that shed innocent blood,
4) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
5) Feet that be swift in running to mischief,
6) A false witness that speaketh lies, and
7) He that soweth discord among brethren. Lying is a sin.  It is also completely unnecessary.  There is enough social content in this world to fill conversations throughout eternity.  There is no reason to focus on a particular area and lie about it.  When confronted with a question, tell the truth.  If you lie to cover something you did wrong, you have added another sin on top of the one you are guilty of in the first place.  The hole you are digging gets deeper and deeper. The truth will eventually be known anyway.  All that is hidden will be exposed.
Disinformation When someone lies on the witness stand in a courtroom, we call it perjury.  It is punishable by a jail sentence.  When the government lies, they call it disinformation.  That's a clever word, disinformation.  Almost sounds like a misunderstanding.  Lying is still wrong no matter what name you give it.  And it doesn't matter what your definition of "is" is. (a Clinton era reference) Propaganda, Misinformation, Political Correctness are all ways of describing lies.  Anytime you disguise or dilute the truth, it becomes a lie.  Additionally, you cannot disguise a lie.  Putting a dress on a pig does not change the fact that it's still a pig.
A Testimonial Lie Have you ever heard someone's testimony that was so incredible it put yours to shame?  You've seen it happen.  Someone will stand up and give a testimony.  The next person will give a more incredible testimony and so on.  There are those who compete as though there were a prize given for the best testimony.  We may think our words are important, but it is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin.  God does not need our assistance.  In fact, we can easily get in the way if we try to "help" by sprucing up our testimony. Here are some examples of testamonial lies. Mike Warnke (The Satan Seller)
Published by Logos International, The Satan Seller sold over 3 million copies and catapulted Mike Warnke to national fame in Christian and secular circles.  In the book, Mike claims to have been a satanic high priest and then became a born-again Christian.  He made claims of presiding over a coven of witches that numbered 1200 at the age of 19.  He used this incredible story to sell books and tapes across the country.  He spoke with such conviction that many came forward to be saved at his meetings.  The story has since been proven to be a complete lie.  http://www.watchman.org/occult/warnke.htm
http://answers.org/satan/warnke1.html Michael Esses lied when he wrote his book, Michael, Michael, Why Do You Hate Me?, published by Logos International. Fernand Navarra lied when he wrote Noah's Ark I Touched It, published by Logos International. Marjo Gortner was a child evangelist who later turned actor.  He later admitted to deceiving thousands. Has someone really experienced a spiritual conversion if they lie about that conversion?  Without repentence, there is no remission of sins.
A Lie From The Pulpit Question: What happens when a spiritual leader lies from the pulpit?
Answer: A greater condemnation falls upon them.
James 3:1
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.  Jimmy Swaggert lied about his encounter with a prostitute.  He was later faced with photos taken by a tabloid reporter.  Oops!  Be sure your sins will find you out.  No apologies to Jimmy Swaggert followers.  You see, that is what's so powerful about the truth.  You never have to apologize for it.  It stands on its own merit. Matthew 5:27-28
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.  I have personally known other pastors who have boldly lied from the pulpit.  Two had affairs with members in their congregation, which they denied. Another lied about the money he was taking from the church bank account.  All of these people continued preaching for a while after their sins were publicly exposed, but eventually left the ministry.  One later died from cancer.  Notice the word "affairs" in the second sentence of this paragraph.  This is a politically correct way of saying they were adulterers.  We even smooth over blatant sins with politically correct jargon. An "affair" is not the absolute truth of what took place. Consequently, it is a lie. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (I wonder if "friendship of the world" covers Christians using words like "affair" instead of "adultery".)
Why would anyone lie? John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  Satan is the father of lies!  Earlier, we read where Proverbs states that a lying tongue is an abomination to God.  We are instructed not to bear false witness.  Sin is sin.  The sin of lying will put you in the same hell as the sin of murder.  Liers will share the same hell as Adolph Hitler. Those are strong words that need no apology because they are the truth. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the Truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Apparently, the truth is important, isn't it? Now What? If you would lie to someone, you would lie to yourself.
If you lie to yourself, you cannot be honest with God.
Be honest with God.  He already know the truth anyway.
Confess your sins and repent.
Tell the truth.  You will find that it is one of the most powerful things in the world. God forgives liars. No more "little white lies" spoken from a little black heart.
- Rod

• Topic: Sermons

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