God hates and doesn’t like lying. Lying tongue is one of the seven things mentioned in chapter 6 of the book of Proverbs. The seven things that God hates: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kills the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, and lastly, a person who sows discord in a family. Without a doubt, lying is the prominent common denominator here, of all the sins that were featured in this passage of the scripture. We may ask ourselves the question “Why God hates lying?”
In John 14:6, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Diametrically opposing bible fact to truth should be found in chapter 8:44. Here is where Lord Jesus in his reply to the Scribes and Pharisees, which He denounced as the children of the Father of lies; Satan. Naturally, if God is the personification of truth, then evil and existent of falsehoods, lies and deceits cannot and will not be tolerated by a God who is the epitome of truth and righteousness. On the contrary, Satan is the acme of unrighteousness through falsehoods, lies and deceits. Satan first destructive work before the beginning of time was his infamous revolt against God Almighty. His falsehoods and deceptions led one third of the angelic beings to challenge God’s authority. Was not his role in the rebellion of heaven, identical to the sin of “sowing discord in a family”? This was an aversion which was mentioned by God in one of the seven things that He hated? We know the outcome of that confrontation and the rest is history.
For a truth loving God, the Trinity of the God-head as a whole, He cannot and will not tolerate this abominable sin. He knew what destructive damages this sin can wrought if it is not put in control and put to an end. In the book of Revelation, it stated that a lake of fire and brimstone will be the everlasting abode for the Devil, beast and the false prophets, together with the liars and the other seven heinous sins of mankind.
We should, perhaps now delve into the definition of lie to further comprehend its essence and gravity that God sees as egregious a sin. What is lying? How do we define lying? The essences of lying begins with a made believed false statement to another person, or group of people/community with the intention that the deceived person or group of people must believe that the statement to be true. There are four necessary conditions that are inherent and present before we can assumed lying existed. First, lying requires a person or group of people to make a statement. Second, liar/s must believe that he or them that the statement made by them to be false or untruthful. Third, that untruthful statement must be circulated to another group of people, parties or communities. Lastly, the fourth essential condition requires that the intended person, people or communities must believe the falsehood as biblical truth. When the four necessary conditions are present, then we can defined and constitute it as a lie. Conversely, the absence of any one of the four requirements, that lie or falsehood cannot be established.
Lying can be disguised and appeared in several other forms. The sub-variants of a lie are gossip and backbite, flattery, denial, exaggeration and keeping silence or passivity in refuting falsehood. These can be known as the different shades and hues of the colours of these atrocities.
Now that we have established the perimeters of what constitute a lie; let’s begin to compare it with one of the latest developments or happenings in the worldwide news. Recently, we have witnessed a televised prominent presidential debate that was watched by millions of people locally and on online social platforms worldwide. In that debate, two debaters went at each other‘s throat, they were angrily arguing on various domestic and world’s issues. One of the debaters, well known for being a life-long liar spurned a baseless specious claim of racism in Springfield, a small city in Ohio, America. The eristical debater claimed that there were rampant reports of illegal delinquent immigrants seen slaughtering household pets such as dogs and cats for food. In addition to that, the free ranging fowls at the communal parks were also “kidnapped” for subsistence by the illegal immigrants in that community. Without establishing its fact of truth but still double down on its claims at subsequent rallies, this lie and rumour started to spread, began as a spark but grew out of proportion and control just like a raging wildfire. Such a baseless and disinformation rumour, may be disguised as an innocuous or perhaps ludicrous, or narcissistic in nature, would have a devastating effect on society when it is accepted as gospel truth by his mislead and credulous masses or followers.
There are 27 bible verses that highlighted God’s contempt and warning regarding the practice of lying. It is a small wonder then that lying went on to the “Top Ten of the Charts” in Moses’ Ten Commandments. The sacred Ten Commandments were given by God to His special people in the wilderness. The God inspired scripture is unequivocal towards the practice of lying, deception and falsehood. God hates them. But why, we ask? The reason is simply that God is an embodiment of Truth in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, He takes no pleasure in this reprehensible practice that is associated with the Father of all Lies; Satan. So, if anyone dares to claim that he or she is a follower of Christ, but still wallow in the mire of lie, deception and falsehoods, needs to be checked for credibility and sensibility. The bible warned us in chapter 7, verses 17 to 23 of the book of Matthew, saying that “every good tree produces good fruit; but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree cannot or will not produce evil fruit, neither a corrupt tree produces good fruit” If someone claimed to be a follower of the truth-loving God but in reality living his life of sins and falsehoods, do you still believe that person is the chosen one from God and will practise and exercise truth in his government? Let us not deceive ourselves. But let us be clear that this passage of scripture ended with a warning from God Almighty that “every tree that does not produce good fruit will be hewn down, cast into the fire.”
Awake, do not slumber, O Christians. Let us not be fooled by the showmanship of Evil but be sensitive to the truth in Christ. Do not be colour blinded to lies, deception and falsehood but pursue a life of faith and obedience to God. Choose wisely to stand in the truth with God than standing in a dangerous alliance with the devil, “The father of Lies”.