Calling Someone a Liar

LiarEastertide May 14, 2015

Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:9-13 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. –1 John 5:9-13

These are strong words calling someone a liar. Who knows what to believe any more? Although always having had a few bad apples, the media is no longer a trusted source of information. There now exists fact checkers that check the fact checkers. The church, too, is tarnished using words that attempt to protect its source of funding, power, and privacy more than to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. The advice to follow the money has never been wiser.

I wonder when I read the words from scripture today what caused this response. Calling people liars is actually a theme throughout the whole book. It appears in 1:10, 2:22, and 4:10. The discourse is about believing in Jesus as God’s son in relation to how we live out our faith, how we love and whether we love. Calling people liars plants the seed of doubt about those accused in the minds of all who hear it.

I have also wondered at times, if my stance of not responding strongly enough when I know in every fiber of my being that what I am hearing or observing is not related to the truth of God, is the correct stance. When lies are hurting others; damaging their hearts, minds, souls, or bodies, we must at least profess the truth we know as we know it, and in ways that demonstrate the love of God and the love of our neighbors.

Prayer:  Lord, make me an instrument of your peace always but also an instrument of your justice. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.