When "Truth" is a Lie.

“Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness, and thy law [is] the truth.” (Ps 119:142) "[Love] rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;” (1Co 13:6 AV)

The Biblical idea of truth was different from the Greek idea. The Biblical idea has a moral dimension to it.

For instance, what the slanderer says might be true as far as the facts go, but if what is said is not according to love, it could not be considered the truth, not in the sense of Psalm 119:142. A bitter, angry person will dig up every nasty thing he can find about people he does not like. Because his words are words of hatred, they are not true, no matter what the "facts."

God's law is based upon the very truth of His being, and the very truth of the image of God in man. The person who does not love his neighbor is not only striving against God, but is at war with himself. He has a lie in his right hand and in his heart of hearts.

What he says might be factual, "He mistreats his wife; her children are unruly; her house is often messy; She defrauded her creditors by filing for bankruptcy; He sometimes speaks harshly to people; She had an affair right after she was married; etc." The statements may pass the test as far as the facts are concerned but be very far away from the meaning of the principle, "Thy law is the truth." Love is the end of the law. If a person does not love his neighbor, his telling of the "truth" might actually be transgression of the law. In 1Cor. 13:6 the truth is contrasted with iniquity.

What they said of Jesus was factually true, "He said he would built the temple in three days."

A person is not speaking the "truth" and obeying the law of God if his words are uttered for the sake of malice rather than love for his neighbor, no matter how historically accurate the words may be. In fact, we are commanded, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” (1Pe 4:8)

On this passage John Calvin said, " the sentence is taken from Solomon, whose words are found in Proverbs 10:12, 'Hatred discovers reproaches, but love covers a multitude of sins.'

"What Solomon meant is sufficiently clear, for the two clauses contain things which are set in contrast the one with the other. As then he says in the first clause that hatred is the cause why men traduce and defame one another, and spread whatever is reproachful and dishonorable; so it follows that a contrary effect is ascribed to love, that is, that men who love one another, kindly and courteously forgive one another; hence it comes that, willingly burying each others' vices, one seeks to preserve the honor of another.

"Thus Peter confirms his exhortation, that nothing is more necessary than to cherish mutual love. For who is there that has not many faults? Therefore all stand in need of forgiveness, and there is no one who does not wish to be forgiven." -John Calvin in 1Peter 4:8

It is loving to hide offenses, for that is exactly what the coming of the Lord Jesus was designed by God to do, to put them away. The only time sins should be revealed is for the necessity of healing the disease and bring repentance, or to protect others from harm. Revealing sins for the purpose of destroying people is of the devil, for he is the "accuser of the brethren." [Rev. 12:9,10]

Are ALL Men Liars? All the Time?

It is true that everyone lies. It also not true that everyone lies. But "everyone lies" in the first sentence does not mean the same thing as "everyone lies" in the second sentence.

Psalm 116:
10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.
12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

Pr 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

Man's natural tendency is to deny, hide, misinterpret the truth. But it is emphatically NOT true that every man lies about everything all the time. If that were true, nothing could be accomplished in the world. Courts couldn't function, and everyday discourse between people would cease. Business would screech to a halt because no one could depend on contracts or assurances of performance.

There are many good and honest men who do not trade in lies and deceit. They would not lie in court, they do not lie to their wives and children, and they do not lie to Consistories or Spiritual Councils, and they certainly would not lie under oath.

This writer has had children in school who lied all the time. He has also had children in school who did not lie even when it might have been an advantage to lie.

To lie in court, Consistories, or Spiritual Council committees is not only a sin, it is a crime against the institution that is represented. In Court it is called perjury.

A person who would lie to a committee of the church, to a Spiritual Council, or to a Consistory has committed a crime against the church. Such a person suddenly doesn't become a liar in that situation; they are so hardened against the truth that they are lying all the time, so one more lie or two doesn't make any difference to them, no matter the seriousness of the proceedings. By their lie they show contempt for the institution, whether church or state.

I suspect this is one of the reasons that the Constitution of the Reformed Church in the United States lists "lying" as one of the offenses that especially merits discipline.

It is equally true that only the morally challenged would denigrate such an offense. Even Al Capone and Richard Nixon refused to allow their subordinates to lie to them. No organization can survive if everyone lies to everyone all the time. It may survive if all agree to lie as one; but eventually reality will break in, as it did to the old Soviet Union.

Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

We are not to be partakers of other men's sins. This means we are not to listen to liars, promote them, or defend them. It certainly means that we must not be tale-bearers, carrying their water for them.

There are many good people who bear faithful witness and hate the lying tongue. The Psalmist said in his haste, "All men are liars," but this was because of the terrible trial that he was going through. When men doubt God, they will think there is nothing and nobody true anywhere.

Such is not the truth. This poor preacher has found in the midst of terrible trials that there have always been those who saw and understood the truth. There are faithful witnesses who will tell the truth and not listen to lies and deceit. They are not swayed by emotion or prior prejudice. When the eye is single, the whole body is filled with light. Thank God for such people.