Telling the Truth in a World Full of Lies

You receive a friend request on Facebook, but you know it’s fake because you are already friends with that individual, and you’re aware of others being scammed by such “friends” begging for money for an emergency.

You read a news article or health advice on one website, then a contradictory post on another, so you know at least one is untrue. Fake news and dangerous advice often spread faster than the truth.

You click on a YouTube video because of its title or description, but then realize it was deceptive clickbait, designed just to get views.

You look over a friend’s résumé, seeing several places where he has “stretched the truth.”

Why do these things happen so often? Are some lies okay? Is honesty always the best policy?

The prevalence of deceit

How common is lying today? Research on the subject is somewhat mixed. One University of Massachusetts study found that 60 percent of respondents could not avoid lying for even 10 minutes.

A study at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, however, determined that most of the respondents (75 percent) told between zero and two lies daily. Most of these lies, according to the researchers, were “inconsequential.”

One possible reason for the discrepancy is that both studies relied on self-reporting. In the first study, the subjects were videotaped in conversation, then later interviewed about those conversations.

Some of the participants of this study were surprised at their own deceit. This finding highlights our human ability to gloss over our own bad behavior, or even to deceive ourselves about what we have done.

The reasons people lie

The University of Wisconsin study provided a list of reasons people lie. The most common reason, accounting for 21 percent of the lies told, is “to avoid others” (for example, telling someone that you can’t talk because you’re late for a nonexistent meeting).

Other reasons included “to protect one’s self” (14 percent), “to impress or appear more favorable” (13 percent), “to protect another person” (11 percent), “for personal benefit or gain” (9 percent) and “for the benefit of another person” (5 percent).

Quite a few of these might seem to fit the “inconsequential” label. Perhaps they even seem noble. But is that right? Are any lies inconsequential?

Is there any good reason to lie?

Everyone recognizes that fraud and malicious lies are harmful. But modern Western culture accepts some deceit as necessary. That’s why the Wisconsin researchers labeled the lies told by the majority of respondents as inconsequential. A more commonly used term is “little white lies.”

Is their premise correct?

Not according to Scripture. God condemns lying throughout the Bible. The Ninth Commandment prohibits bearing false witness, or in modern terminology, committing perjury (Exodus 20:16).

Some might argue that this commandment is restricted to testifying in a legal setting. The people of Israel, however, understood the law as far more comprehensive, encompassing all manner of deception.

The prophet Hosea, for instance, used the word lying in a series of words representing several of the commandments: “By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint” (Hosea 4:2). Lying in less formal settings must be included in the commandment.

Most significantly, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of the spiritual intent of the law as going beyond the letter. For example, unchecked anger could be viewed as murder; and lust, as adultery (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28).

Changing the focus

As Christians, we should recognize the pervasiveness of deceit in the world, but since we can’t change other people, our focus should be on changing ourselves. Even if we don’t tell malicious or selfish lies, do we tell lies that seem more “noble”? Do we lie “to protect another person” or “for the benefit of another person” we care about?

It’s easy to think such lies are “inconsequential.” They aren’t. Lies, even so-called “white lies,” break God’s law and thus incur the death penalty (Leviticus 6:2; Revelation 21:8). God hates “a lying tongue” (Proverbs 6:16-17). He wants us to love truth (see “The Love of the Truth”).

We should always strive to speak the truth in love. And consider that even white lies can have unforeseen consequences. Perhaps your spouse asks you, “How do I look?” You certainly don’t want to be rude in any way, but neither should you lie. If you really care, you’ll think about your spouse’s likely encounters throughout the day and respond truthfully.

If the shirt is wrinkled or the dress isn’t flattering, what will your spouse’s boss think? And what will happen to your relationship if the boss, or others, make more truthful remarks?

Solomon addressed this issue with a profound truth: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6). A true friend tells the truth, using tact, so that his or her friend is better prepared to meet life’s challenges.

Speaking the truth in love

The apostle Paul urged the church in Ephesus not to be “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14), but to “walk worthy” (verse 1) of their calling.

He exhorted the congregation that they should be “speaking the truth in love” (verse 15). The truth here is spiritual truth, but the expression offers us a key to any truthful expression we utter.

We should always strive to speak the truth in love. That means, first, telling the truth, not a “white lie.” More than that, it means considering the needs of the other person, as well as the tone and approach we adopt.

Solomon provided another insight. After writing that “lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (Proverbs 12:22), Solomon pointed out an important technique for remaining truthful.

The key is keeping our mouths shut more often. Solomon stated it this way: “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness” (verse 23).

Admittedly, none of this is an easy or a simple task. It is, however, necessary for us to “walk worthy” of our calling as Christians.

Who can know the human heart?

Unfortunately, there is another question we need to consider. Do we see life’s events objectively and truthfully, or do we deceive ourselves? Would we be like the subjects in the University of Massachusetts study—surprised by our own lies?

Speaking to the people of the kingdom of Judah during its final years, the prophet Jeremiah addressed the problem of self-deception. He had the daunting task of proclaiming God’s message to a people often unwilling to listen (Jeremiah 1:19).

Through Jeremiah, God bluntly stated, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Immediately after this, He asked a striking question: “Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

He provided the answer in the very next verse. God knows our hearts. He searches hearts and tests minds. God knows, but we don’t, and we can’t without His help.

Why is there so much deceit in the world?

Jesus identified the source of deceit while teaching at the temple. Some of those listening to Him believed (John 8:30-31), but apparently their belief was superficial.

When Christ told the group, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (verse 32), they objected. In their minds, they had always been free because they were descendants of Abraham (verse 33).

The climax of this confrontation came when Jesus explained that they were, in a spiritual sense, children of the devil, and that the devil is a murderer and “a liar and the father of it” (verse 44). They could not know the truth because they were deceived by the devil.

The same is true for most of humanity. Satan “deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9) and has done so since he deceived Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3). That is why there is so much deceit in the world.

How you can walk in truth

If Satan “deceives the whole world,” and if our own hearts are “deceitful above all things,” what hope do we have to walk in truth? Fortunately, we have the answer in Scripture.

That answer comes in John’s Gospel, which provides an extensive account of Christ’s teaching on the night of Passover immediately preceding His crucifixion (John chapters 13-16). During this instruction, Jesus spoke of going away (John 14:2-4), an allusion to His impending death.

Thomas told Jesus that the disciples did not know where Jesus was going (verse 5). In response, Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (verse 6).

Jesus didn’t just claim to know the way, the truth and the life. He is the way, the truth and the life.

We begin to discern truth, and we begin to know it, when we build our lives on the foundation of Christ’s life and example.

Ultimately, Jesus “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). When that wonderful day comes, there will be no more lies. Deceit will be a thing of the past.