FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART
OP-ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
Let me crave your indulgence by asking that you take a moment to reflect on the expansion of my thoughts on “stopping the lie,” which I introduced at the end of a former reflection. One reason is that I am alarmed at how many millions have been captivated in the public square by “The Big Lie.”
This ongoing argument that the 2020 election was stolen is still percolating through the culture and building up distrust in the government that is threatening the collapse of the American Democracy. This discussion is not one of political persuasion, but it is of interest that nearly one-third of US citizens do not believe that Mr. Biden is the legitimate president.
40% of Americans, 70% of Republicans, 82% of Fox News viewers, 97% of OANN and Newsmax viewers, still believe the election was stolen. Most disturbing is that among the percentages named are members of the Evangelical Christian churches.
I have read of cases in several news sources where pastors have tried to debunk the theories of “The Big Lie.” They have been trying to draw their members’ attention to the Scripture that says, “And for this, cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth.” (1 Thessalonians 2:11, 12 KJV)
But many pastors have been forced out of their ministry practice because of their effort to correct “The Big Lie.” In addition, some congregations have split over the lie.
I was also drawn back to reflecting on the need to stop the lie because of a short line I read in one of my devotionals this week. It states, “Sin is corrupting in its nature. One man infected with its deadly leprosy may communicate the taint to thousands…” (SD 214). Another that struck me reads, “Can we then expect the youth to develop Christian characters while their education is molded by the teaching of those who set at defiance the principles of the law of God?” – (MHH 256.8). These thoughts push me to think of the legacy of the lie being passed from one generation to the other.
There are many scriptural warnings that many liars (deceivers) will enter the world as time passes. Some are called “false Christs” and “false prophets.” Others are “mountebanks” (not a scriptural word, but it is very descriptive of those going into the world and telling all kinds of lies to get money into their coffers). I need not say much about the “prosperity preachers” exploiting the poor and humiliating the gospel of Christ or the political leaders collecting the millions into their coffers; let me leave them to the public critics, who might help some to change their ways.
All I need to say is that they are truly hurtful to the culture. I need not say there is a special place at the judgment seat of Christ for anyone taking time to “twist” truths into lies and findings ways to profit from their deceptions.
But having said the above, let me turn to the Ninth Commandment, for that is what has been on my mind since I started the reflection. It is stated in many places in the Bible, but I quote, “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor,” as stated in Exodus 20:16 NLT. Other translations note the words “testify falsely,” as “telling lies,” “spreading false report,” “slandering,” “false accusations,” “manipulating the truth,” etc. It is a significant warning because it “defiles” the one telling a lie and makes a mockery of justice, even leading to historical resentment, murder, and wars.
All through the Bible, we are told that lying is profoundly dangerous, and every liar will receive their due punishment from God.
Here are a few reminders from the ESV translation of the Bible:
Psalm 5:6 “You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”
Psalm 31:18 “Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.”
Proverbs 19:9 “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.”
Revelation 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Revelation 22:15 “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
Until God deals with the lie, let us not forget that if at all we want to preserve our characters and society, we need to stop the lie. I am not just talking about “The Big Lie,” the phrase attributable to Hitler when he sought to exterminate the Jews and being tossed about in our contemporary political culture.
Still, I speak of the lies and deceptions in practice in our everyday culture. Call them what you will, “little white lie,” “big black lie,” “prevarications,” or “untruths.” Soften the terms or phrases, or harden them, depending on how you will make them seem; it does not matter – a lie is a lie; all liars and deceivers will be under the judgment of God.
We need to stop lying. We certainly need some truth-tellers in this hour of great deception. Let us line up with the truth tellers.
