1 Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
Every day, television and radio, newspapers and magazines, chat rooms, blogs, and other internet sources bombard us with lies. Does that assertion sound harsh to you? Well, if some statement that someone speaks or prints does not fully contain the total and absolute truth, then it becomes a lie. In fact, individuals and corporations lie to us so much, we’ve almost become used to it. Yes, we’ve become so used to the lies that it has become increasingly more difficult to discern the truth.
Some lies contain information that the liar wishes to be true. A statement explaining some action often represents a good example of this kind of lie.
“We took this action because...”
And, out comes the lie. The ones composing the statement of explanation may have come to the place in their own thinking where they actually believe the lie they now tell to others. But, it’s still a lie. That’s right. Just because they have convinced themselves that a lie they may tell is “true,” their self-deception does not relieve them from the responsibility for telling that lie.
On this blog, I’ve written a great deal about “first sources.” When you live your life in such a way that you rely only on information from first sources, you will never simply accept some important information that someone tells you without investigating. Such an investigation requires you to seek out first sources.
Here’s an example. If someone tells me that Mary Jane—I just picked some names randomly—has said that Sally Ann’s volunteer work at the eastside clinic was always substandard, I don’t accept that statement on its face. Rather, I must go to Mary Jane and inquire as to whether she actually said that about Sally Ann.
“Wait a minute!” you may say. “Do you actually believe that Mary Jane would tell you the truth about what she said?”
Well, I don’t know for sure. Maybe not. But, I have to go to the first source in order to give Mary Jane a chance to set the record straight.
Now, what if twenty people tell me that Mary Jane made a statement about Sally Ann at a particular place and at a particular time? And, what if all twenty witnesses tell me essentially the same story?
I will still need to go to Mary Jane and ask her. After all, she, and she alone, is the first source. I may allow the multiple reports to also inform my investigation. In fact, if Mary Jane denies making such a statement about Sally Ann, I will tell her that twenty people have reported to me what she said, on what occastion, and at what time. Then, I will wait to hear Mary Jane’s response. I will also weigh whether or not Mary Jane has consistently told me the truth over the course of our relationship.
In addition to individual pronouncements, be very careful of lies told by any group. Just because a bunch of people sign a document, and seemingly attest to its truthfulness, that does not necessarily mean it is true. Many organizations consist of “sheep” who do not listen with a skeptical ear to what they are told. They are far too easily led by stronger members of the group.
You would be amazed at the file I have of documents from my 46 years in business created by a few members of a group and then signed by a host of other members of that group without any trustworthy underlying substantiation for the truthfulness of the information in the document. Yet, when receiving such a document, most people read it, look at all those who signed it, and believe the information it contains, without investigating the truthfulness of that information by going to first sources.
It’s easier just to believe the lies they’re told than to take the time to seek out first sources. But, by failing to thoroughly investigate things they’re told, they do a disservice to the truth.
God expects us to be people of the Truth. Read again the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post. King David asks who can dwell in God’s sanctuary. He then answers his own question based on what God has revealed to him: “He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue...”
So, as I have urged you in past blog posts, when someone tells you something, or you read something about another person, make certain you go to first sources before you take any action. And, particularly check first sources before you pass that information on to someone else. While you’re at it, don’t automatically and non-critically trust what anyone says, no matter who they are. Some of the seemingly most trustworthy people have proven to be pathological liars.
To protect your own integrity, treat skeptically—not cynically, but skeptically— everything anyone tells you, no matter who they may be. Always seek out first sources. Read printed statements carefully. Look for nuanced words. When an author of a document uses words that seem too carefully nuanced, beware.
“Al Jones has had difficulty working with at least one previous manager.”
That statement once appeared in a personnel evaluation that crossed my desk two decades ago. When I investigated further, I discovered that indeed Al Jones—not his real name—had had some difficulty with one—exactly one—previous manager. The other five managers that had supervised Al since that first manager had found Al to be a most excellent, team-playing, highly effective employee. But, I would never had known that if I had taken the statement at face value. Instead, I went to those five managers and made very specific and detailed inquiry into Al’s previous performance under their leadership.
The highly nuanced words left the impression that Al had long been a trouble-maker. That was an outright lie. It was a subtle lie, but a lie nevertheless. Had I not insisted on going to first sources, I would have repeated that lie whenever I spoke about Al. I would have perpetuated the lie and I would have bolstered the lie. In so doing, I would have sinned against Al. Thank goodness my skeptical nature—born from all those years as a fire protection engineer consulting with industrial properties and investigating losses— served me well, once again.
Please, please, please learn from my experiences and seek out first sources. Don’t believe the lies that people originate. Don’t believe the lies that other people pass on to you. And, most importantly of all, don’t be a liar yourself.
God highly values the truth. In fact, He is a God of Truth. As His dearly loved child, He wants you to be a person of Truth, as well.
Will you pray with me?
Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Even as you have given us Truth, help us to consistently become people of Truth. Help us to reject lies by seeking information from first sources. Help us to stop propagating the lies that others tell. Make us skeptical, but not cynical, as we examine the things that other people tell us. Particularly, help us guard our minds and hearts against the evil influence of lies.
Precious Father, we declare, once again, that we desire to live our lives in obedience to Your will and Your Word. Please continue to brightly illuminate the pathway of our lives by the power of Your Holy Spirit. And, as we always do, we thank You for hearing our prayer in and through the precious Name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Copyright © 2011 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.
