Lies and Liars

“I detest the stench of lies” – Col Walt Kurtz, Apocalypse Now

From opening testimonies at Liars Anonymous:

“Hi, I’m Bat and I’m a liar.” “Hiiiiii, Bat.” “Welcome, Bat.” “You tell us, Bat …. the truth that is.”

Have you lied yet today? I just did actually. My name’s not really Bat, but you knew that. I’ve explained why that is before, but what is my real name isn’t important, but rather what I’m saying hopefully. Through that you should know who I am. Anyway, back to topic:

Have you lied yet today? A rather ballsy question I’ll grant, but an important one. I’ve already admitted to you that I lie, and not just about my name. My source for this topic was our bible study this morning. We’re undertaking Inductive Study of the Bible, which means you study the Bible in context as well as its historical context with the other events and issues of the time it was written, a who, what, where, when, why, and how type approach to understanding the Word. Reading in context is hugely important. Many Christian critics take issue with the “cruelness” of the Old Testament, the Book of Leviticus in particular. The cruelness is, of course, in the Word of God’s treatment of homosexuals. A contextual reading of Leviticus reveals the early Israelites were not very nice people and engaged in all sorts of debaucheries right down to the lowest of lows - bestiality. Homosexuality was just one of the issues on the Lord’s mind – not THE issue -when He started handing down the rules of engagement through Moses. More than once Moses talked the Lord out of wiping the slate clean and just starting over with Moses and his clan. That speaks to the Lord’s love of His people even when He became frustrated with the ugliness they desired more than Him.

Beginning the Inductive Study, today’s Scripture was:

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in
his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does
not have life. – 1 John 5:11-12

Taken in overall Biblical context, God delivered the hugest promise of all in Christ regardless of prior as well as current frustrations He had/has. As one reads through the Old Testament, you feel lower and lower. Many people in the Old Testament, I would not have given the time of day, let alone a glass of water or a helping hand. Frankly, I would have gladly hung most of them with my own hands so wonder abounds at why Someone perfect in His very nature would tolerate something so imperfect. A true mystery, but love can be the only answer. Especially when so much of the sin in the Old Testament is so doggone familiar – hence the low feelings. “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” That’s fer shure. John ends that thought by explaining we will either choose that life, or not choose it depending on what sort of decision we’ve made about Christ.

However, John doesn’t let you off the hook with just making a simple decision. Reading verses before and after the quoted one (that contextual thing that causes the silly misinterpretations of Leviticus when ignored). We will choose to believe or not believe God’s testimony to us through Christ. If we don’t believe Jesus is the Christ, then we in effect are calling God a liar (verse 10 in the before). Whooooaaa! Somebody check for thunderheads outside!! Me?? Call God a liar???? God forbid!!! But what is a lie? A little white lie versus a bald-face lie? Some people are “exceptionally good liar”-s (name that quote and you get a cookie!) while others are just casual liars. Does that mean some lies don’t stink as bad as others? Not at all! The “Father of Lies” knows the answer to that question, but sure wants to confuse you about it. God is absolute when it comes to lies. He hates all of them. Since we know God to be the Truth and His testimony about Himself through Jesus is truth, then to deny Him is to lie, period. Lies then, any lies are especially detestable because they are models of the Big Lie. One who denies (e.g. lies) about Christ is “an” antichrist (1 John 2:18-27) not just "THE" antichrist, so to dabble in lies is to dabble in being an antichrist. John explains there were many antichrists during his time as there are many today. Maybe even you or me. Bottom line is, from one lie comes others. All eventually end at the Big Lie if unchecked. In the recent issue of Christian Research Journal, Hank Handegraff boils it down to “Lies are the Anti-Christ.” Ow. Now that hurts.

Col. Walt Kurtz started out detesting lies as Williard dug into his life on that bizarro boat trip up the Nung River. Eventually Kurtz, “a good and humanitarian man,” bought into the Big Lie - about himself no less. “Kurtz got off the boat. He split from the whole mm-mmm program” (expletive deleted – this is a fambly website you know!). Howsa bout you? Are you still on the boat? As for me, I regret to admit I sit on the gunwale and dangle my feet in the waters of the antichrist every once in awhile. Lies are the antichrist. Ow.