True Lies

"True Lies" is a paradox. How can a lie be true? If you look up the meaning you'll find something like this: "A true lie is a lie that becomes true when announced." Funny how this secular logic goes hand in hand with spiritual truths.

We know that Isaiah 57:19 reads, "I (God) create the fruit of the lips." God, we know, created man in His own image. We also know that God created the world and all that is in it with His words. Ergo, if we are like God, and He creates with His words, it stands to reason that we, too, have creative power in our words. Think of the repercussions if we speak lies!

Even secular marriage counselors advise that the word "divorce" should not be spoken aloud even in jest. Once it is spoken, the word takes on a life of its own and can snowball into reality. Lies are like that. Once you speak them, you give them credence and the door opens for the lie to become reality.

Please note that teasing falls into another category altogether. Many a time I have been reprimanded for teasing someone because--gasp!--my words might make that person do some awful such-and-such. After all, God creates the fruit of the lips! While this Scripture is true, it is also true that if I call my grand baby a "silly goose" before tickling him or playing with him, that does not mean I am causing him to become a foolish child.

The fact that God created dolphins to frolic and play in the water gives us a big clue that God Himself also enjoys light hardheartedness. We, His children, have the capability to laugh because He laughs. To tease my grandchild is not mean spirited and is not calling foolishness in the child into existence. That being said, however, we do need to be aware of our enemy's modus operandi, how he continues his snarky use of lies to have us doubt God and turn from His ways.

Way back in the Garden of Eden, our enemy revealed his penchant for causing us to doubt God's word by asking Eve the leading question, "Hath God said????" This, combined with a push to look at things in a carnal way, effectively beguiled Eve into looking at the tree with "new" eyes. And we all know what happened then! "The woman saw that the tree was good for food, and ... pleasant to the eyes." Enter mankind's downfall. Thanks a lot, Adam and Eve!

The stakes in our lives might not have repercussions that will affect all mankind as theirs did, but listening to lies will cause negative fallout in our lives and in those around us. As John Donne wrote, "No man is an island." If we fall for the enemy's lies, we won't be the only ones affected. Let me share a story borrowed from my amazing mother-in-law, Orvetta Muse, and show you how she faced off against the enemy's lies and came out on top.

Many years ago, when three of her four boys had already moved out of the house, Mom Muse was washing dishes in the kitchen. Through the window above the sink she had a good view of her husband, Dad Muse, as he mowed their big lawn. He'd mow one row, turn, mow down the next. Back and forth, back and forth. And as he mowed, Mom Muse sensed something in her spirit. She sensed that her husband was getting angry. She didn't know what about, but she knew in her heart of hearts that a storm was brewing.

Sure enough, when the lawn was done, Dad Muse opened the kitchen door with a loud bang and stood in the doorway, face red, anger emanating from every pore in his body. Glaring at his wife, he bit out, "I'm going to divorce you."

Mom Muse blanched. After the initial bumps in their marriage that had led them to the Lord, their marriage had become stronger with every passing year. It had weathered the vicissitudes of life, every crisis binding them more and more together. Now, after decades of a marriage that only strengthened with time, where had this divorce business come from? Mom managed to ask a shaky, "But why?"

Throwing darts of anger at her (if looks could kill, Mom Muse would have died right then), he growled, "All through the years you've been turning the boys against me. That is going to stop. I'm going to leave you." Moving past her, he went to clean up.

It was a quiet night. Nothing was said during the evening meal. Mom Muse didn't know how these accusations had come about, what they were based on, or what to say. She just knew they were false. So she quietly prayed, asking for divine direction.

At bedtime, Dad Muse got a blanket and sheet and went to the living room couch. He meant to emphasize his decision to leave his wife by no longer sharing her bed.

Hmm, thought Mom Muse. And she felt the Lord speak to her. She could go along with Dad's shenanigans--and allow the rift between them to get bigger and bigger. Or ... she could not let that happen. Wordlessly, she got her own sheet and blanket and made a pallet for herself beside the couch on the floor.

"What do think you're doing?" growled Dad.

"I am going to sleep with my husband," answered Mom. "The Bible says we are one and one we will be. If you sleep here, I sleep here."

I don't remember if they continued sleeping in the living room or if they dragged themselves back to the bedroom right then and there. What I do remember is that Mom Muse's not giving in to the lies marked the end of the rift.

Mom Muse had been right. A storm had indeed been brewing as the devil whispered lies to Dad Muse. Despite his being a mature Christian and an anointed teacher of God's Word, ignorance of this tactic of our enemy's allowed him to give ear to the lies. Thank God Mom did not. She knew the enemy's goal was to divide and conquer, and she would have none of it. Her firm insistence on staying by Dad's side effectively nipped the breach in the bud. Right then and there, with Mom's immovable stance, the enemy's lies and plans completely fizzled out. The bad thoughts were discussed, exposed as the lies they were, never to surface again.

Now, what would have happened if Mom Muse had given way to those lies? It would have given those lies the power to divide her from her husband. It could easily have spelled the end of their marriage. Giving credence to lies brings death. Maybe not drop down dead death, but the death of a relationship, the death of a marriage, the death of dreams.

More than once I have had lies whispered by the enemy in my ear--about my husband, my colleagues, my church family. And sometimes they have been birthed by a truth--someone said or did something to hurt me. Thankfully, Mom Muse's experience helped me be aware of this tactic of the enemy's and has helped me avert great grief at different times of my life. I'm not saying it was easy to stand against the evil thoughts, but by rejecting them, God's way won. Unity was maintained.

We think, "Oh, that won't happen to me!" But that's the thing. The enemy doesn't come blaring his horn, "Listen up! I am going to trick you in order to bring division between you and your brother!" If he did that, he knows we're not dumb. We'd turn tail and run from him to our Shepherd. So he doesn't announce his plans, he begins with insidious thoughts that, if we let them, wiggle their way from our brain to our heart and root themselves there with bitterness and anger. "Look at Sister So and So. See how she's talking to that new lady in church? How come she doesn't talk to you like that?"

"Look at your husband. He's just looking at his phone. He doesn't really love you ..."

"Look at how your supervisor lauded that person in the meeting. You do a much better job. You are not appreciated ..."

Hmm... look, look, look ... lies, lies, lies ... I can give you Scripture after Scripture that goes against each of the assertions given. While at times there might be a grain of truth in the lie, our enemy is an expert at twisting truth into an evil thing for his ends. That means that throughout your life the enemy will do his best to bring division between you, your loved ones, and those around you. You need to be aware of his tactics in order to counteract them and not fall prey to them (if only Eve had read this blog!!!!!).

There is a study called communication science. It defines the barriers to effective communication (being able to discern lies!) as stemming from linguistic, psychological , and emotional barriers. But I have good news for you. You don't have to be a communication science expert to identify and overcome the enemy's lies! All you have to do is read the Bible, and apply it.

When you start getting all in a dither about something, take it to the Lord in prayer. He will show you how to handle it, like He did Mom Muse. He doesn't love her more than He loves you. He helped her, He'll help you.

I have a loved one who was taught to be extremely skeptic of others. That is no way to live. Yes, we have to be on guard against the enemy's tactics and not fall prey to his attempts to get us angry at others, but we can't let that color every aspect of our life. We'll end up seeing everything through ugly, negative lenses. Trust God! Lean on Him when you face a barrage of lies that makes you feel awful and like you're drowning in pain! He will help you!

So ... onward, Christian soldiers! Fight the good fight, giving no quarter to snarky lies from the enemy! You will come out on top!

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).