How to deal with a liar (even if he is you)?
Omitting a truth, resulting in an incomplete and misunderstood understanding, is the same thing as lying? Well, it´s easily answered when we the serpent in the book of Genesis...
And what about exaggerating in a compliment? In fact, that question is deeper, and unfolds like this: Is there any good reason to justify a "healthy lie"? The world preaches that presenting truth in small doses makes life easier. They even went so far as to create a new term, the white lie: It is the famous "You can say that I am not here" ... It is easier, avoids embarrassments and preserves feelings and friendships. But is it BIBLICALLY correct?
Let's leave out what the "good sense" of A or B has to say about it and let´s stay with what the Bible says: The Devil is the Source of ALL Lie – That´s final! "... Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not inthe truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar,and the father of it. "(John 8:44). Jesus said, " But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. "(Matthew 5:37). Clearer than that, it’ is impossible!
LIE IS THE DIABOLICAL METHOD OF LOOKING FOR APPROVAL AND PROMOTION.
He used his method with Eve and you can realize that he used the same method with Cain shortly after. According to the Bible, God rejected Cain and his offering. How to deal with rejection? How to deal with the correction? After it, however, God did not fail to teach His method him: If thou do well, shalt thou not be accepted?” Here is the biblical behavior that we should have when we face correction and rejection: repentance and changing of attitude!
God also warned Cain about the subtlety of the diabolical method: sin only needs a door, a gap. "Behold, sin lieth at the door”. Just open a door and you will be be progressively dominated, it's like a drug, just use it once ... The divine advice is: "avoid the first swallow!" ... "Do not give way to the devil." Only one breach is enough for the throwing of wrong feelings, like fiery darts, and so give opportunity to the springing up of a root of bitterness.
I am very struck by the observation of God concerning Cain after being rejected: "Why has your countenance fallen?" Cain's face had changed. He could choose to close the door to anger, change his attitude, and be accepted again. But he allowed himself to be dominated by the diabolical method: lying to try to be accepted.
Cain decided to "change his face" again, pretending that everything was fine. A "mask" was placed, and from there then the hypocrisy came. The hypocrites in ancient Greece were the actors who put on masks to play the role of other characters. Before Abel, everything seemed to be settled. But Cain had chosen to climb the path of lies.
"Cain said to his brother, 'Let us go to the field' ... It was a Half-truth, as the serpent did, to resolve divine rejection with his own strength. I do not think he said that the day after Abel's offer. Sin gradually gained ground. That's how he let "the sun go down on his wrath," pretended, lied, and killed his brother. But the problem of lying, like any sin, is that it is an addiction, and a larger dose would be needed the next time ...
Just as a drug addict is blinded by the drug, Cain has gone so far as to lose his common sense. "The Lord said, 'Where is Abel? Cain answered, I do not know! " To lie to God this way? So blind he was, that it was not obvious to him that God knew all things? Like a drunk, still with his denouncing breath, he says blatantly that he did not drink ... So was Cain, completely addicted to the lie. It began with a half-truth to his brother, and now he lied openly to him who knows all things.
In Acts 5 we also see Ananias and Sapphira. "How did YOU ALLOW Satan to fill your heart, to the point that you lie ..." (NIV), Peter said to him. It did not happen soon after Barnabas's offering. A breach was given. It was progressive and premeditated. They had time to negotiate, sell, articulate everything. I wonder: Would not it be a praiseworthy act to offer PART of a property to the church, and make that clear? Yes, but Barnabas had given it all, and those who were ruled by lies used it to do not "stand underneath" ...
Barnabas was well seen among the brethren. He would grow in the ministry. Ananias was so foolish that he wanted divine promotion through the devilish method! At this point, I ask myself: what if this lying offer had gone unpunished? I believe he would not stop. Then worst lies would soon come. The dependence on this drug called lie never comes to the top, it does not have a final aim. It will require larger doses until its overdose! Cain lied to his brother, sinned, and "went well." It inflated his heart and He dared to lie to God directly!
Do not deceive yourself: a lie has only one source, the devil. And, it has only one destination, it do not matter how long it takes: robbery, death and destruction always will come. This is and always will be the result of the works of him who has nothing to do with the true Christian. The truth never harms, it frees!
We can see in the Bible that we "gird up our loins with the truth," "we dwell therein," and "follow in love, that we may grow in all things in Him who is the head, Christ."
If you feel yourself trapped in this drug called lie, NOW you have to DECIDE to take these three steps:
1 - ADMIT your weakness to a mature Christian leader (and decide to follow his advice);
2 - CLOSE THE DOOR of the wrong feelings and decide to dominate them;
3 - Accept the treatment offered by the Word. Proceed properly and be at peace: God will approve you and promote you!
And what about that white lie? ... It is written in Ephesians 4:15, "speak the truth IN LOVE." It gives more work, but it gives more result too!
For every "good reason" to lie, there is a better reason to tell the truth!