I have noticed that some public figures dare to use the word “lies” to warn the public of sayings and worldviews that do not serve their best interests. A friend of mine was recently deceived by a scam. Quickly realising his mistake he blocked his bank account and so lost no money. We render a great service to people when we warn them of deceit, mistaken thinking, “fake news”, erroneous opinions and false, futile philosophies.

So, for example, the catholic professor Peter Kreeft in a commencement address to students in America, gave a list of ten lies not to believe. Among these lies were, for example, “To think that the most important person in the world is you”; or again, “You need not search for positive truth but for your own truth”, or to see “The exaltation of freedom as an end, not a means to an end”. The young listeners seemed to appreciate such frank talk.

Another erudite thinker is Sharon James whose powerful book is entitled, “The Lies we are told and the Truth we must hold”. Among the lies she warns against are, “That there is no God and no Absolute Morality”, and that “There is no universal truth”. She quotes an astute word of Roger Scruton: “A writer who says that there are no truths, or that all truth is ‘merely relative’, is asking you not to believe him. So don’t”.

Another important book has come from the pen of Rosaria Butterfield. If you don’t know of her already, you ought to. Radically converted from a life-style she would characterise as immoral, this Professor of English has become a very able spokesperson bringing God’s wisdom to bear on the issues of today. Her book is entitled, “Five Lies of our Anti-Christian Age”, and she boldly – and with real experience from where she is coming from – challenges the idea that homosexuality is normal and such sexual orientation represents a person’s core truth. She wisely and winningly contests the idea that feminism is good for the church and for the world, and grasps the nettle of transgender issues. 

So there are big lies out there these days! In John’s Gospel 8.44, Jesus taught that lying is a trait of the Evil One: the devil twists and hides the truth because he realises that God’s truth is that which sets people free – free not only from error and misunderstanding, but free from the devil’s clutches, free from the grip of bad habits, from wicked tendencies, and foul addictions.

The Bible says that “God does not lie” (Titus 1.2) – indeed, “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6.18). If we are to get authentic answers to the big questions of our existence, we need TRUTH! And only God knows and can communicate absolute truth. Only he can give us the much needed moral truth too. 

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14.6). He said he brought us “the truth that I heard from God” his Father (John 8.40). Here and here alone is the source of reliable truth and authentic answers. If you haven’t read the Gospels, get a hold of them and read them for yourself. If you come with an open mind, you will be enlightened!

And as you read, pray the prayer of the psalmist: “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour and my hope is in you” (Psalm 25.5).

Clive Every-Clayton