You Want the Truth?

Q 112: What is the aim of the ninth commandment? A: That I never give false testimony against anyone, twist no one’s words, not gossip or slander, nor join in condemning anyone rashly or without a hearing.  Rather, in court and everywhere else, I should avoid lying and deceit of every kind; these are the very devices the devil uses, and they would call down on me God’s intense wrath. I should love the truth, speak it candidly, and openly acknowledge it. And I should do what I can to guard and advance my neighbor’s good name.

“Honesty is the best policy.”

“I’d rather be honest than impressive.”

“No legacy is so great as honesty.”

There are many pithy statements about truth and honesty. Throughout history, their importance has been defended. Even today many clamor for the truth, but it in a world of ‘alternative facts’ and ‘your truth versus my truth,’ it is hard to come by. But why does it matter?

The catechism does not mince words: lies, half-truths, gossip, slander, rumor-mongering, exaggeration, uninformed judgment are not different in kind. They are all on the same spectrum. All of it is deceit. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the truth, specifically why we ought to be sure to speak truth. Frankly, it has been convicting. How often do we try to escape difficult situations or hard conversations with a quick ‘white-lie’? You don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings; you don’t want to appear odd; you’d rather be doing something else; you need to win an argument. It is all too tempting to rely on one form of deceit or another to get what we want; it is so easy to do and seemingly get away with.

Some may argue for ‘tender lies’ that are told out of love for others. While cases may be made where a lie is told out of love in order to save a life (consider those who hid Jews from Nazis in order to save them), those are the extreme. In most of your life, you’ll be tempted toward tender lies in response to “How does this make me look?” or “Don’t you agree?” or something similar. But in those small, seemingly insignificant cases, how can you consistently say something true that is also loving? After all, we must avoid even small lies. They erode our soul’s commitment to truth. 

So be wary of how you speak of others. Ask yourself if what you are about to say is verifiably true; and, even if it is, ask yourself why are you saying it. Be wary of what you repeat. Have you done the work to discern whether it is true? Pay attention to that twinge in your heart warning you that what you’re about to say conflicts with the truth in your soul.

At its core, lying (deceit) is an attempt to manipulate the world towards our own desired end – it is a distorting of reality for our own sake. This is a dangerous move. The psychologist and author Jordan Peterson wrote about deceit: “Taking the easy way out or telling the truth – these are not merely two different choices. They are different pathways through life. They are utterly different ways of existing.”

Do you really believe that the world could be made better through deceit and falsification? How could it? That world would not be reality! It would be built on lies; that world would crumble.

The devil uses lies and deceit; he is the father of lies (John 8:44). And deceit is the antithesis to our God. Deceit will only bring destruction and slavery.

But Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The Spirit is the Spirit of truth (John 14:16-17). The truth will set you free (John 8:32).

Christians live in the light, and we walk in truth. That is our path. That is the way to exist in the world. May the Spirit of truth spark within you a deep love for the Truth. ~ Pastor Tim