My Precious: Lies or Truth? Power or Integrity?
While attending university the first time, I worked as a customer service representative for one of the country’s best-known package delivery services. My duties included not only working with the public, but with fellow employees who loaded our center’s delivery trucks for the day’s deliveries. Even before dawn, it was a lively workplace.
Several of my co-workers (all friends) were members of a well-known cult. They were unapologetic and gracious in their attempts to convert me, as was I, I hope, in my attempts to convert them. In one of our many conversations, members of this circle admitted that they saw deception as moral in appropriate instances. Among such cases were the defending of their faith or converting someone.
In other words, they believed that the ends justify the means. Cheating the truth is moral. Lying is acceptable if it advances the cause or moves someone to join our side. To be sure that I had, in fact, accurately heard them, I pointedly asked them if this was really their conviction. They agreed that lying and deception – cheating – were moral and righteous in the furthering of their cause. It was quite an astonishing admission. Though more common today, it was the first time I had heard the justification of lying as moral. Clearly, they were at the vanguard of postmoderns.
One morning as I went about my duties, I overheard two of their number talking with another employee in an attempt to convert her. They were unaware of my presence and the fact that I was listening in. Their conversation was eye-opening, to say the least.
Let’s call these two men Adam and Bob; let’s call the lady Carol. It was obvious that Adam and Bob had perfected their tag-team approach and their sly use and misuse of Scripture in the furthering of their mission. As I listened to them, I marveled at how seamlessly they wove their web of deception, deftly twisting the Scriptures in their attempt to convert Carol.
Needless to say, I was furious: telling lies in the name of truth was an audacious act of evil. But thanks to God’s restraining presence, I did not jump into the conversation. Instead, I walked away, patiently bided my time, and asked God for wisdom. God’s wisdom came to me not long after, as well as an opportunity to walk out that wisdom.
Later that morning, I went to “Dave,” the individual in that faith circle whom I thought to be the weakest member of their group. Dave was a nice guy and a sincere man, but as the newest convert to the cult, he was the one the others watched over most carefully. Taking my Bible with me, I went to Dave and pulled him aside. I showed Dave the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, words that seemed to expressly forbid an activity he and his friends practiced, one could say, religiously. I asked Dave why he and his fellow disciples would so blatantly disobey a clear command of Jesus. Dave had no answer and was obviously troubled by the words of Jesus. I went back to work and eagerly anticipated the storm that I knew would soon be heading my way.
I wasn’t disappointed. It wasn’t long until Adam, the leader of the group, came with fire in his eyes. His face and body language made it clear that he was angry and extremely agitated; he was looking for a fight. He put his finger in my face and said, “Alan, Dave told me what you said to him. You know, and I know that you lied to him! What you said isn’t true! You took the Bible out of context! You lied to him!”
Completely calm, my eyes locked on his, I listened until Adam was finished. I nodded, and responded, “You got me, Adam. I sure did. Just like you and Bob did. Just like you and Bob lied to Carol.”
The angry glare in Adam’s eyes vanished in an instant. “What are you talking about?” he demanded.
A smile on my face and my eyes locked on his, I continued. “You see, Adam, I was around the corner when you and Bob were talking earlier with Carol. I heard every word you said to her. I heard you twist the Scriptures and take them out of context. I heard you lie. As for Dave and me, Adam, I just took a lesson from you and did what you did.”
And then, my eyes looking even deeper into his, I smiled.
The blood rushed out of Dave’s face, and his jaw dropped. He had been caught, and he knew it.
While he stood in front of me, frozen and speechless, I stepped up closer to him, pointed my finger at him, and said, “Adam, I’m watching you and Bob. And if you do anything like this again, I’ll be there. Lying and deception have no part with the truth. And I won’t let you get away with it. I will protect Carol and every other person in this building from you and your lies.”
I then went to Carol and showed her the truth of God’s Word, letting the Bible speak for itself. My cause was just and true. I had no need to cheat or even hide the truth, no need to deceive or lie. My cause was right and true: it did not require me to do injustice in the name of justice.
Not if my concern was for her. Not if my concern was for the truth. Not if my cause was truly right and righteous.
A thought . . . If you have to lie and cheat to advance your cause (whatever it may be), maybe your cause isn’t worth fighting for. If your cause requires deceit to prop it up, it can only be because your cause can’t stand without lies. It’s not built on truth, and it’s not true. Maybe your cause isn’t as right and righteous as you think.
If it’s despicable when politicians lie to you and me to gain power or position, what is it when believers do it or support those who do? What is it when we effectively join liars in their lie?
If it’s abominable when media distorts the truth to push an agenda, what is it when believers do it or support those who do? What is it when we essentially choose to distort the truth with those who distort the truth?
If it’s evil when crusaders and con artists abuse the weak and innocent to gain an advantage, what is it when believers do it or support those who do? What is it when we basically become abusers with them?
Followers of Jesus Christ, let us vow before God to never accept lies, deception, and cheating as right and righteous in any cause, heavenly or earthly – church, politics, media, human relationships, etc. Jesus is the truth – let us be followers of The Truth. May THIS truth truly set us free.
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