Thought for the week

‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ – 1 John Ch1 v 9

LYING is, however, part of the human condition. According to psychologists, there is a continuum of lying which ranges from the mild but untrue statement, to downright untruthfulness. Human beings lie to others and even lie to themselves.

I was both amused and intrigued by the TV debates preceding the 2016 EU referendum. With political leaders accusing each other of ‘telling whoppers’, many bemused voters concluded that both sides of the referendum debate were more than a little ‘economical with the truth’.

Sadly for those serious serial liars, the truth nearly always comes to the fore and the consequences can be devastating career wise and personally. Why do people tell lies? Some lie to maintain relationships or hide their true feelings to avoid hurt or discord. People use commonplace phrases with a double meaning – ‘I value your opinion’... ‘I forgot’...‘Your kids are sooo cute’...‘I love your hair’...‘I’ll definitely get back to you’.

According to psychologist Robert Feldman: ‘We find that as soon as people feel that their self-esteem is threatened, they immediately begin to lie at higher levels.’

Higher levels of lying include: lying to save face, lying to shift blame and lying for personal gain. Feldman argues that ‘lying is a complex phenomenon’.

The Bible is clear about lying – it is sin. However, God, who is merciful and loving, provides a way of escape for from the consequences of sin. The apostle John explained this great truth in his epistle: ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.’

These truths are just some of the good news of the Gospel.