In today’s world, we are living in an era when “truth” is getting harder to find. We watch television shows in which the main characters often lie and manipulate the truth.  We see politicians, from the statehouse to the white house, lie and deceive to get elected or get their legislative agenda passed.  Pastors are all too often guilty of lying, sometimes to increase offerings.  Even our courts (which should be bastions of truth and honesty) are prey to sharp tongued lawyers that manipulate the truth and confuse the issues. When I was growing up during the 1970′s, there was a gameshow that came on called “Truth or Consequences.”  It was a favorite in our home.  The world in which we live may tolerate, or even reward those who lie and deceive.  Yet, God is not pleased with lies. In fact, the 9th Commandment says “Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness” (i.e. Lie!).  Author Dwight A. Pryor said: “Few sayings of Jesus are better known or more widely quoted than this: ‘You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free’ (John 8:32).  These memorable words, prominently incised on the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., hold a cherished place in our Western culture”  God will ensure that liars will receive the consequences for their destructive lies.

Now for lying to be lumped in with adultery, murder and theft in the 10 Commandments should be enough to make us realize the seriousness of lying.  Proverbs 6:16-19 spells it out even clearer” “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (ESV).  Wow, lying made it in twice in this verse.

Now, I hold the truth in high regard for many reasons, not the least of which are these verses above. However, even more importantly, Jesus Christ declared himself to be TRUTH.  John 14:4-6 says “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  So, if we are to claim we are Christ followers, it would stand to reason, that since we are commanded not to lie or bear false witness, and that we see the Lord calling lying a “deadly sin” or abomination, and because Christ declared himself “truth” then we too should always cherish the truth and speak the truth in love.

How can Christians flesh out truth? Well they can begin by always speaking the truth, in love. Then they must stand up for the truth. Edmund Burke is credited as saying “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” This is especially true when it comes defending truth. All to often Christians allow truth to be trampled and no defense ever made of it.  Help fight “truth decay” in our culture. Stand up for truth.