On January 26, 1998, the American people heard these now famous and historic words: “I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I’m going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time, never. These allegations are false, and I need to go back to work for the American people.” Seven months later on August 27, 1998, President Bill Clinton made the following confession, “I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate, in fact, it was wrong.” This action by President Clinton helped to solidify lying as a major character trait of this nation.
According to an article entitled, “The Destructive Effect of Deception:”
“The average American lies 11 times per week. To most of us, lying may seem easier than telling the truth.” (Ben Gustafson, January 26, 2017, Zephyrus, the official student-run news publication of Edina High School.)
According to a recent poll, “By the age of four, 90% of children have learned the concept of lying. Based on studies performed in the past, it is estimated that 60% of adults cannot have a ten-minute conversation without lying at least once. Within those ten minutes, an average of three lies were told. … Most people lie an average of 4 times a day which equates to 1,460 lies every year.” (Brandon Gaille, 25 Nose Growing Statistics on Lying, May 20, 2017)
“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16–19
As we continue our study of the seven deadly sins that God hates, let’s look at the second deadly sin, the lying tongue.
| 12% | of adults admit to telling a lie often or sometimes |
| 80% | of women admit to telling harmless half-truths occasionally |
| 31% | of people admit to lying on their resumes |
| 13% | of patients lie to their doctor |
| 32% | of patients stretched the truth to their doctor |
| 30% | lie about their diet and exercise regiments |
| 6 lies/day | men tell lies to their partner, boss, or colleagues |
| 3 lies/day | women tell to their partner, boss, or colleagues |
| more common | to lie during phone calls than face-to-face chats |
| 1 lie in 7 | is discovered as far as liars can tell |
| 10% | of lies are just exaggerations and 60% were outright deceptions |
| 70% | of liars claim they would tell their lies again |
Speaking false statements in our contemporary society is not only habitual, it is also an acceptable behavior. Nevertheless, God hates lying.
It is interesting that even though the Lord hates lying, there are those who see lying as something beneficial to mankind. In Psychology Today, May 1, 1997, Allison Kornet wrote an article titled “The Truth About Lying,” in which she quoted a psychologist who admits, “a certain amount of self-delusion—basically, lying to yourself—is essential to good mental health.” Also, that “… lies are life sustaining.”
Leonard Saxe, Ph.D., a polygraph expert and professor of psychology at Brandeis University, says, “Lying has long been a part of everyday life. We couldn’t get through the day without being deceptive.” Ibid.
Allison Kornet also remarked, “Incidentally, when researchers refer to lying, they don’t include the mindless pleasantries or polite equivocations we offer each other in passing, such as ‘I’m fine, thanks’ or ‘No trouble at all.’ An ‘official’ lie actually misleads, deliberately conveying a false impression. So complimenting a friend’s awful haircut or telling a creditor that the check is in the mail both qualify.” Ibid.
In our modern era, we have learnt to accept what we call “white lies” and “kind lies.” Dr. Bella DePaulo says, “Though some lies produce interpersonal friction, others may actually serve as a kind of harmless social lubricant. ‘They make it easier for people to get along.’ ” Ibid.
Many people will admit that they have come to the point in their lives where they cannot live without lying. The common cliché is “Everybody lies.” Heads of state, politicians, CEOs, security officials, doctors, religious leaders, professors, attorneys, husbands and wives, adults, children—everyone, it seems, lies.
The ninth commandment forbids us to lie, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16
“False speaking in any matter, every attempt or purpose to deceive our neighbor, is here included. An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood. This precept forbids every effort to injure our neighbor’s reputation by misrepresentation or evil surmising, by slander or tale bearing. Even the intentional suppression of truth, by which injury may result to others, is a violation of the ninth commandment.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 309
Regardless of how human beings feel about lying, God’s attitude regarding lying will never change. As far as He is concerned, the act of lying demands the death penalty. This is evidenced when He literally killed a husband and a wife for simply lying. “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
“While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in thine heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’
“Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
“Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?’ She said, ‘Yes, for so much.’ Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ Then immediately she fell down at his feet, and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.” Acts 5:1–10. (See also The Acts of the Apostles, 71–73.)
Jesus tells us the definition of a lie and who is the originator of it in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
The phrase “does not stand in the truth” defines a lie; it is antithetical (opposite) to truth. In Greek, the word lie that Jesus used to describe the devil means “a falsehood, to utter an untruth or attempt to deceive by falsehood.” Therefore, lying has much to do with deception. It is not only the opposite of truth but also anti-truth; it stands against the truth and seeks to take the place of it.
The dictionary defines a lie as “a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth.” John agrees with Jesus that deception is Satan’s nature, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9. God hates lying because it originated with Satan, who specifically crafted lies to lead God’s creatures completely out of the way of truth, completely away from the Lord who is the truth.
Inspiration tells us, “The rebellion which took place in heaven under the power of a lie, and the deception which led Adam and Eve to disobey the law of God, opened the floodgates of woe upon our world.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 190. “It was by a lie that he first gained control over men, and thus he still works to overthrow God’s kingdom in the earth and to bring men under his power.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 37, 38
According to Jesus, lying is the chief weapon Satan uses to overthrow human beings and to destroy God’s kingdom on earth. Consequently, all those who practice lying are children of the devil.
How does lying affect our health?
“According to a 2015 review article, constant lying is associated with an array of negative health outcomes including high blood pressure, increased heart rate, vasoconstriction, and elevated stress hormones in the blood.” (Bill Sullivan, Psychology Today, January 5, 2020)
According to U.S. News and World Report, “Lying is thought to trigger the release of stress hormones, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Stress reduces your body’s number of infection-fighting white blood cells, and over the years, could contribute to lower-back pain, tension headaches, a rapid heartbeat, menstrual problems, and even infertility.” (Angela Haupt, How Lying Affects Your Health, August 20, 2012)
What are the spiritual implications for lying?
- “Every lying tongue will be silenced. Angels’ hands will overthrow the deceptive schemes that are being formed.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1647
- “Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.” Proverbs 21:6
- “The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Proverbs 12:19
- “Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18
- “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” Proverbs 12:22
- “A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.” Proverbs 13:5
A person who loves and practices lying will suffer the penalty for lying. This was the case of Gehazi, Elisha’s servant. “But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, ‘Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.’ ” 2 Kings 5:20 (Also read verses 21–27.) Gehazi suffered the consequence of lying.
Common Reasons for Lying |
| To save face |
| Shift blame |
| Avoid confrontation |
| To get one’s way |
| To be nice |
| To make oneself feel better |
Study participants admitted to lying the most to:
86% parents
75% friends
73% siblings
69% spouses
Source: thetreetop.com/statistics/lying
“Let not one soul think that he can hide from God’s wrath behind a lie, for God will strip from the soul the refuge of lies.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 182
Heaven has no place for liars.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” Revelation 22:14, 15
“Satan offers to men the kingdoms of the world if they will yield to him the supremacy. Many do this and sacrifice heaven. It is better to die than to sin; better to want than to defraud; better to hunger than to lie. Let all who are tempted meet Satan with these words: ‘Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.’ Here is a condition and a promise which will be unmistakably realized. Happiness and prosperity will be the result of serving the Lord.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 495
Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at 718-882-3900.