Is lying a sin? It seems like everyone is doing it. Lies are the merchandise of the world. They are part and parcel of their daily trade. Lying and deceit is commonplace. It’s confirmation that Satan is the force that fuels the world. Before His crucifixion, Jesus warned his followers that “the ruler of the world is coming” John 14:30. The world’s ruler is Satan, “he is a liar and the father of lies” John 8:44. Making things worse is we live in a world of denial and self-justification. Instead of owning and repenting, when caught, the liars will twist and turn to continue and enhance the deception.
Satan has tricked the world into believing that there is no absolute truth; truth is relative and you can create your own reality. Our society lives on popular opinion, not truth or righteousness. You only have to look at social media. The majority is right, social media approval is the desired standard. The writer of Hebrews said, “Jesus is the same yesterday and forever”, Jesus is the standard Hebrews 13:8.
Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, then you will be my disciples for sure; and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. When we live (knowing, believing and walking) in His words, we will be free. His words are truth and life.
Know the Truth
When you walk in His words (walking in the spirit) you are open to spiritual understanding and discernment and learn to hate lies. That’s the mindset of someone putting on the new man, a new creation created in Christ Jesus. We are called not to lie but “to speak truth in love“ Ephesians 4:15. Nodding your head or supporting those that tell lies makes you a liar too.
“Jesus is the way, the truth and the life” John 14:6. If you walk after Christ, you will speak truth as Jesus was both true and the truth. He did not lie.
“The devil does not “stand in the truth because there is no truth in him” John 8:44. When he lies, it is because it is who he is. Every lie a believer tells is a loss for the liar and a gain for the devil. It is a spiritual battle. Whose side are you on?
In our world of liars, we have many words for lies. Misinformation, distortion, fabrication, misrepresentation, and fibbing are only a few. This makes telling lies easier, more acceptable and with room to grow. There are different types of lies. The more common types of lies that are prevalent in our modern culture are:
A lie by any other name is still a lie. All lies are sins. “The penalty for any sin is death“. Regardless of the reason, if it’s not true, it’s a lie. A liar will try to justify themselves by using their own standard of measurement. The bible calls that self righteousness. Their justification or estimation is not greater than God’s judgment. All sins are equal in that they all lead to death Romans 6:23.
White lie: tactful or diplomatic falsehood
Sure, some will say some lies aren’t as bad as others, like blasphemy or murder. There is no such thing as a harmless lie. Lies kill the truth for anyone hearing and believing the liar. You might think it harmed no one, or it made someone feel good. A lie, even a little white lie, for whatever reason, is still a lie. Minor lies do not differ from gigantic lies. They’re both designed to deceive and blind the hearer to the truth. God hates for His children to be deceived. Satan benefits from every single lie because it destroys the truth, upsetting God’s plan for you. It’s a victory for the enemy. On judgment day, we will be accountable for every lie told “on the day of judgment people will give an account for every careless word they have spoken’’Matthew 12:36.
Lying Gossip: backbiting and defamatory. Whisperers and busybodies
We all have heard lying gossip. Gossip of any sort is wrong and God warned His people to stay away from gossipers Proverbs 20:19. What you do when you‘re exposed to gossip says a lot about you. The results from mere words have destroyed lives, relationships, businesses and loss. A few words from the tongue can light the world on fire James 3:6. Raging flames, of lies is what happens when cruel lies are told to satisfy someone’s selfish desires. Paul says God treats gossipers and slanderers like fornicators, murderers and will turn them over to their sinful natures Romans 1:29-32.
While I do not gossip or lie yet, I have been and will continue to be harmed by those that do. Lying gossip can be hurtful. I know some of you have been wounded by gossiping liars. Yet as believers we are called to forgive the liars. We are long-suffering. It’s in the believers’ nature, Colossians 3:12. Vicious lying gossipy talk maligned Jesus and the apostles throughout their ministry. They rebuked and chastised them and when that didn’t work they separated themselves from them. God the Spirit told me decades ago that being maligned by liars is a mark of His highly favored servants. God is the avenger for the righteous and just man Deuteronomy 32:35. Jesus tells us to shake the dust off our feet and leave. You can love them from a distance. Proverbs 20:19.
Boldface lie: everyone knows it’s not true
The obvious lie. You know it’s a lie; people believe the lie because they want to. Maybe from fear or it’s to their advantage. Some will say they believe the lie out of love; love for the liar or the object of the lie. That’s not Godly love, but it is love the way those in the world loves.
I’ve seen churches accept and tolerate liars among them saying it’s out of love. That attitude has destroyed the faith of some and closed churches. Love without discipline is not of God, but of the world. God both loves and disciplines those He loves Hebrews 12:6. We have heard and seen the results of the blatant liars amongst family, friends, or associates. I have. We are called not to be deceived and to separate from them. Don’t be pressured to be associated with them. Man can only kill the body; it is “God who can destroy your soul“ Matthew 10:28?
Deception and Exaggeration
misleading, creating a false impression, mixing truth with lies
Mixing truth with lies is the foundation of the very first lie. Satan used it to deceive Eve. Deception remains his primary weapon against us. To defeat him you need to know the truth of Jesus Christ. Satan is deceiving the entire world Revelations 12:9. When Satan tempted Jesus, he twisted the intent and meaning of scripture to deceive. Jesus corrected, then rebuked the devil, sending him away. From childhood, Jesus had the favor of God and grew in grace, wisdom and understanding of the truth of God Luke 2:40. You can too.
Remember the “name it and claim it” and the “prosperity ministers” they were greedy men who told lies and twisted the word of God for their own profit. They practiced and some continue to indulge in their pride and greed. They twisted the spiritual for the material to their fall from grace and now suffer the consequences. If christians knew the truth of scripture? They would not have been robbed by those greedy and boastful liars. Ignorance of the truth is another victory for the enemy.
Jesus’ weapon against the lies of the devil was the truth of the word of God. God has given us His word, the bible and given believers His Spirit to help, remind and lead us into truth and understanding John 14:26. Jesus said: If you continue in my word you prove you are My disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free John 8:31-32.
Lying to one Another
When believers lie, especially to another believer, they make the Spirit sorrowful. Believers are the body, Christ. When we knowingly tell a lie to another christian, we seek to deceive the soul and the Holy Spirit in your fellow believer Eph 4:25. This is not to be taken lightly.
In Acts 5:1-5 a man named Ananias lied to Apostle Peter about a piece of land. Peter didn’t believe him, saying to him; why have you lied to the Holy Spirit? When Ananias heard that, he immediately dropped dead. Today, God may not strike you dead for lying. But, you have killed the truth for anyone hearing and believing your lies. Peter did not believe the lie. God hates lies when believers speak a lie. They are saying God is not enough for them. That is the mindset of Lucifer, the father of the lie.
Truth should be the believers’ “bread and butter” of their speech. But that’s not always the case. Many faithful are dealing with their walk and talk with a Godly mindset Col 3:9 . However, others continue to struggle with the habit of lying and deceiving and they are doing great harm to themselves and the faith of those that hear them.