The midland journal., 1946-09-06

MEMORY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Puss
ting away lying, speak every man trutn
with his neighbor. -Ephesians AIS.
God is truth, and therefore any
kind of lie is evidence of goddess
ness. Satan is the father OF lies
(John 8:44) and the father OF all
liars.
/. The Prohibition of Lying (Exod.
20;16).
This "thou shalt not" of God has
to do primarily with perjury; that
is, the telling of an untruth in court.
This is one of the worst forms OF
lying, because it may result in the
one against whom it is practiced los
ing his liberty, his life or his prop
erty, or the destruction of his good
reputation.
It is obvious, however, that the
commandment covers all forms OF
lying, whether in business, in social
contacts, in the home, or in the
church. We might do well to con-
slider what the Bible has to say
about whisperers, talebearers, back
biters and others (see Lev. 1915;
II Cor. 1920.
III. The Purpose Of Lying prov.
26:23-26).
Sometimes as one hears the con-
tinuous stream of lies which flow
| from the lips of some men, one is
apt to feel that it is just bad habit
of careless talking which has be-
come part of the life.
There is, however, real purpose
behind the lies of men, and that is
to deceive in order to get gain or
advantage, or to cover up hatred.
How much of all this there is in
the world today-yes, and in the
church. Those who profess to be
the followers of Christ use the de-
vices of the devil in their relations
with fellow members of the church.
| Christian workers who wish to ap-
pear greater than they are, or to
look greater than others, use de-
ceit and lying. With what results?
iii. The Punishment of Lying
prov. 26:26-28; Matt. 26:75).
One lie leads to, in fact calls for,
another, and soon the liar has
digged pit SO big that he stumbles
and falls into it. He is like one who
starts a great stone rolling, and 10,
it rolls back on him and crushes
him. Yes, in due time he is shown
up before the entire congregation
". 26).
Then, too, the lie does harm to
others. No matter what its nature
"a half truth, or a truth used to
deceive, or an outright falsehood-
it bears awful fruit in the life of
the one toward whom it is direct
ed, or whose name is involved
| ". 28). Once started, it is often i'm
possible to stop. One cannot ever
catch up with lie.
But there is also horrible and
bitter fruitage of lies in the life and
the heart of the liar. Lies do
"come home to roost," and they
make the heart and life of anyone
who has vestige of decency and
honor left, miserably unhappy. Con-
slider Peter (Matt. 26:75).
It is of the utmost importance that
we stress before children and young
people the awful results of lying, as
well as its sinfulness. Lying and
deceit are so commonly accepted
in our day that many regard it as
all right-if you don't get caught.
But the fact is, you always do get
caught by God-yes, and by your
own lie.
Nv. The Practice of Lying (Matt.
26:69-74).
Sadly enough, the constant lying
of the world seems to have infected
the minds and hearts of Christians.
Instead of being cleansed from this
worldly defilement they carry it's
awful tendencies into the church.
The great lie within the church,
and one of Satan's prize exhibits,
is the falsehood of modern relig-
ious liberalism (so-cailed), which is
essentially a denial of real New
Testament Christianity. Jesus said
". 42) that if God is our Father we
will accept him as the Christ. The
one who speaks sweet words about
the example, the manhood, the
leadership of the Master, and who
denies him his place as God, is
clearly in mind here as the follower
of the father of lies.
Someone has suggested that the
great spiritual problem of our day
is not the conflict between the
church and the world; nor is it to
determine how the, church can best
serve in the world, but rather what
to do about the world which has
gotten into the church. How did
worldliness get into the church?
The members brought it there after
J they had gone out and warmed
, themselves at the worlds fire, and
fellowshiped with the world in un-
godly living.
The ienials made by Peter seem
almost unbelievable in the life of
one who had been in immediate fell
lowship with the Lord and who had
Snon his 010rv We have here q row