Sometimes it’s easier just to lie

Sometimes it’s easier just to lie: Podcast notes

A USA Today poll found that only 56% of Americans teach honesty to their children.  Everyone lies.

By the age of four, 90% of children have learned the concept of lying. Based on studies performed in the past, it is estimated that 60% of adults can not have a ten minute conversation without lying at least once. Within those ten minutes, an average of three lies were told.

Who Gets Lied to the Most

1. Parents – 86%
2. Friends – 75%
3. Siblings – 73%
4. Spouses – 69%

Everyday Lying

– 12% of adults admit to telling a lie often or sometimes.
– 80% of women admit to telling harmless half truths occasionally.
– 31% of people admit to lying on their resumes.
– 13% of patients lie to their doctor.
– 32% of patients stretched the truth to their doctor.
– 30% lie about their diet and exercise regiments.
– 6 lies are told daily by men to their partner, boss, or colleagues.
– 3 lies are told daily by women to their partner, boss, or colleagues.
– Lying is considered more common among phone calls than face to face chats.
– 1 lie in every 7 is discovered as far as liars can tell.
– A 10th of lies are just exaggerations and 60% were outright deceptions.
– 70% of liars claim they would tell their lies again.
– Americans tell an average of 11 lies a week.

I’ll start my diet tomorrow.

The check is in the mail.

How are you?  I’m fine

That’s a beautiful baby- I know this is a lie because each of my daughter looked like Ed Asner when she was born and you still told me she was cute

Give me your number and I’ll call you right back.

I can’t come into work today, I’m sick

I had no idea I was going that fast officer

That dress looks great on you

I really like your new hairstyle

I’ve been meaning to call

I didn’t even notice that woman who walked by

I floss on a regular basis

I’ll pray for you

That date never got on my calendar

I was just about to call you

I just need five minutes of your time.

Gee, you haven’t changed a bit

I never got the message

It’s not the money; it’s the principle of the thing.

If anyone calls, tell them I’m not in

I’m am not angry

The dog ate my homework

Why does God hate lying so much?  Truth is his character

For five years of my life, I was a house painter.  So now every time I walk into a house, I notice the paint job.

Why does God hate lying.  God hates lying because truth is his business.  It goes against his very nature. 

Hebrews 6:18 says “It is impossible for God to lie”

When Jesus came down to earth he said “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

Psalm 15:1-3

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctua;ry? Who may live on your holy hill? 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, who does his neighbour no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow-man

Lying separates us from our relationships

Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

“She’s a great girl.  It’s hard to believe she’s 21 years old.”

1. I’m tempted to lie to escape consequences

Common Reasons for Lying

1. Lying to save face.
2. Shift blame.
3. Avoid Confrontation.
4. Get One’s Way.
5. To be Nice.
6. Lying to Make yourself Feel Better.

2. I’m tempted to lie to impress people

Where the Most Lies are Seen

1. Resumes – 40%
2. Dating Site – 90%

A survey of 7,000 resumes reveals that most people lie on their resumes to impress people.

71 percent claim a false number of years in a job

64 percent exaggerate accomplishments

60 percent exaggerate the size of the organization they managed

That’s why I appreciate these people. These are comments taken from actual resumes:

“Responsibility makes me nervous.”

“They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45 every morning. Couldn’t work under those conditions.”

“I procrastinate – especially when the task is unpleasant.”

The company made me a scapegoat–just like my three previous employers.

Please don’t misconstrue my 14 jobs as “job-hopping”. I have never quit a job.

3. I’m tempted to lie for convienience

I read this week about a company in England called the Alibi Agency.  Their purpose is to provide people with plausible lies to cover for their actions, primarily affairs.   They will furnish ticket stubs for the theater performance you were supposed to have been attending.

We don’t need an organization to lie for us.  We lie for convience all the time.

“Tell her I’m not in.”

“Someone’s at the door, I’ve got to go.” 

“I can’t make it because I’m sick”.

Balancing Truth and Love

Eph 4:15“Speaking the truth in love”

For Christmas a few years back my wife gave me a copy of Charles Barkely’s book called I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It.  The book is interesteing, but it reads like a firing squad.  Every chapter Charles takes shots at a new set of victims.  He blasts reporters and players and Christian athletes.  You name it, he takes a shot at them.  If you asked Charles if he is being truthful, what would he say.  He’d say, “I may be alot of things, but at least I’m honest.”

Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own. Proverbs 26:17

The whole truth about dogs (Sterling prayed for a dog.  Jesus said yes.  I brought home the first dog from the first kennel We had only remembered half of the truth about a dog.  Only the good times and the fun and the companionship and none of the stains and smells)

Ask yourself

2. Is my truth necessary?

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbour, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. Proverbs 11:12

3. Is my motivation right?

Ephesians 4:15  from the Living Bible.

“We will lovingly follow the truth at all times- speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly- and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the head of the body, the Church.”

We need to speak the truth, but our bottom line needs to be love.

I’m tempted to lie to myself about who I am

There are two ways we lie to ourselves.  Sometimes we tend to lie to ourselves to make ourselves out to be better than we really are.   There are some people here who’s problem is not that they don’t see their sin, but that’s all they see.  You think  “How could God ever love me after what I’ve done.” “I’m worthless.”  “I’m no good.”  “God could never love me.” 

We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.  You were created by God to do great things.Ephesians 2:10