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A Nation of Liars

There is a certain power of attraction in numbers. Advertising agencies are so aware of this fact that they put it to use in what is commonly know as the "join the bandwagon" approach: "All these people are doing it; why don't you do it too?" Quite often we hear of groups and organizations boasting of being "the fastest growing" of their kind; and the amount of believers of a particular doctrine is sometimes cited to urge its acceptance. Then there are the familiar terms like "peer pressure" and "social conformity." Without going into all the reasons why people behave this way, it can simply be stated as an undeniable truth that there is indeed a strong force in a multitude which can have tremendous impact on how an individual acts and believes.

God commanded in Exodus 23:2, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil;" and He inspired the apostle Paul to write, "Be not conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2). We should not be learning the way of the heathen (Jer. 10:2), but rather learning Jesus' ways and conforming to His image (Romans 8:29). We are not to "walk as other Gentiles walk" (Eph. 4:17); we ought rather to "walk as He walked" (1 John 2:6). We are not implying, of course, that we are to be radical loners, doing things only for the sake of being contrary to and different from everyone else. The point is that we should follow God's word regardless of the number of others we see obeying it. And we are assured in the Scriptures that this number will be small. Most have chosen to take the broad path to destruction, as it is written.

Take, for example, the act of lying. A recent survey stated that 91% of Americans lie (though this seems to be an unrealistically low figure). Time and U.S. News both asked in articles several years ago if America is not a nation of liars, and it is evident the answer is a resounding "Yes, it is." A government subcommittee estimated in 1986 that 1 out of 3 working Americans is hired with educational or career credentials that have been altered in some way. As for the other two thirds, the fact that the credentials are truthful doesn't guarantee that the workers always are. A department store put its employees through a lie detector test and found that all of them were stealing from the company except one (a women who professed Jesus). The author of an article last year wrote, "Lying has become an integral and nearly indispensable part of an individual's everyday experience;" while another stated dryly, "Lying is something everyone does." It's true that many millions are lying on a daily basis, while many more are dishonest only on certain occasions when they feel cornered or endangered. Governments lie at times when it is deemed necessary for reasons of national security. Many people teach their children to be dishonest either directly or indirectly; and some even think God lies, so given are they to untruthfulness. Nevertheless, we know that it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). He is not the author of that sort of thing.

Surrounded by all this deceitfulness, what should our reaction be? The light of the Scriptures reveals that we should, and must, flee from dishonesty: "Lying lips are abomination to God: but they that deal truly are His delight." (Proverbs 12:22) "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another." (Eph. 4:25) In the list of seven things that God hates, two of them have to do with lying. (Prov. 6:16-19) We see as well in Psalm 15:1-2 that the ones who will dwell with God will be those who speak the truth in their heart. This relates specifically to the words we speak verbally, since it is out of the abundance of our heart that our mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).

Lying is a very destructive course of action, having caused misery and affliction to many, as the Scriptures say (Prov. 26:28). If we had been around in the days when Jesus was here, we would certainly have heard many lies about Him. The Jewish leaders were guilty of speaking lies about Jesus, which turned many hearts away from Him unto perdition. They said He has a devil and was mad (John 10:20, Mark 3:22); they accused Him or perverting the nation (Luke 23:2), and they evidently spoke many other lies against Him which are not specified in the gospels (Matt. 27:12-14).

Yielding to dishonesty also distorts people's judgment. A liar gives ear to a naughty tongue (Prov. 17:4), since speaking lies brings people to a place of believing them. Liars even begin to accuse others of things they themselves are guilty of, being so overrun with deception and confusion. King Ahab accused the prophet Elijah of troubling Israel when in fact it was his own corruption that was their source of trouble (1 Kings 18:17-18). The ultimate destruction for liars still waits ahead, however. The lake of fire is promised for "all liars." (Rev. 21:8)

Many have heard the saying, "Honesty is the best policy;" but few really adhere to it. Indeed, to those who count success solely in terms of dollars and cents, the evidence to support that phrase is rather unconvincing. On the contrary, the concrete examples are much easier to find which compel one toward the notion that large scale material success in such a corrupt society requires not infrequent dishonesty. Thus, those who desire material wealth give in to that, conforming and trusting in lies.

A passage in Daniel 11:27 shows the source and the end result of dishonesty: "And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper..." When someone speaks lies, it is the manifestation of a corrupt heart. The end of the matter is failure and not prosperity. We know that getting by is not getting away. The bottom line is that all who believe, make, and love lies will find themselves outside of God's kingdom (Rev. 21:27, 22:15). We should bear in mind that no matter how many people believe a lie, it doesn't change the fact that it is still a lie. Therefore love the truth to avoid deception and to attain salvation (2 Thes. 2:10-12).

Dishonesty is, of course, only one worldly characteristic among many to which people conform. God's people are those seeking to follow His standards, regardless of popular fashion (Luke 8:21, Titus 2:14). False Christianity, on the other hand, is largely made up of conformists. In their manner of dress, speech, lifestyle, entertainment, etc., they have no desire to follow the saints, but rather what is "in." Some of them have even gone to the extent of running to the same excess of riot (1 Peter 4:3-5). The typical attitude is that we ought to try to "get with it." But that's precisely the point: we don't wish to get with it, since the Scriptures exhort us to get out of it ("Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you." 2 Corinthians 6:17)