HOPE TRIUMPHS

LYING BREAKS TRUST

Image credit: FOTOS on Unsplash.

We may say it positively, telling the truth builds trust! But I put it this way because lying is so normal today. Trust is broken. Lying is a covering or hiding of the truth, usually for two reasons.

One reason is to protect ourselves. We hide the truth about ourselves or a situation, so we lie. We don’t want to get caught for having done a wrong, so we cover ourselves with a lie. A painful circumstance occurs, like losing a job, a bankruptcy or a marriage break-up, or a failing grade in university, and we lie.

I’m not suggesting we break personal or family confidences. Not everyone needs to know everything about us. But that doesn’t mean we should lie.

No doubt, a big fear is that people whom we trust might use the information against us, spreading gossip and slander. So we lie, to cover-up our feeling of shame and to make ourselves look good. Another reason we lie is to promote ourselves. For example, in the writing up of personal resumés, we exaggerate our accomplishments. But it often comes back to bite you because you are not really that person you said you were. It’s not loving the other person, in this case, the employer. It’s treating him with respect.

We often cover one lie with another lie until we are caught in a web of lies. Lies then become a way to cover our shame, guilt and fear. Lying and deception contribute to the breakdown of family and society.

What is the solution, then, to covering our shame and guilt? Not lies. Lying masks it, but doesn’t remove it. Shame, guilt and fear remain.

By lying we can fool others but we can’t fool God.

Yet God provides the only way in which your shame and guilt can be removed – through Jesus, His only begotten Son. He came to cover and remove our guilt and shame through His death on the cross, making full payment to God for all who trust in Him. All who trust on Him to cover their shame and guilt, He give eternal life and brings change in us. Jesus it the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

With His covering, I begin to love the truth, speak it candidly and openly acknowledge it. And that’s not all. I also begin to do what I can to defend and advance my neighbor’s honour and reputation

If you want to talk more, feel free to phone or text Reverend Tony Zekveld (“call me Pastor Tony”) at Hope Centre at 416-740-0543. His email is hopecentre@primus.ca and website: www.hopecentrebrampton.com.