G.K. Wallace
The Sin of Lying
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” is as true today as it ever was. However, for the comfort of those whose reputations have been assailed, let it be remembered that Jesus said, “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ” There are several ways in which this commandment may be violated.
1. Perjury is a violation of this command. Justice is based on truth. False testimony is a violation of truth. He who bears false testimony helps in the miscarriage of justice.
2. Slander is perhaps the most unblushing form of this sin. Many lies are invented and distributed with malicious intention. Recent letters circulated in the mails are a low type of robbery. Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd are good souls compared to the character assassin. They usually robbed of material things that could be replaced. When they took life it was by a swift and sudden stroke, often with little pain. However, the slanderer who invents a lie, forms a weapon which takes away a reputation. The chances are that it can never be completely replaced.
3. Tale bearing should be avoided. It is a sin. Why repeat an ugly report without careful investigation? Why circulate the truth to the detriment of a person? To repeat a story, if it reflects upon the honor of character of another, is not right. If a man’s conduct is not right, he should be brought before the church where he holds his membership and given the proper hearing. There are base fellows who seem to delight in this sort of lawlessness, delighting in the very havoc in the tales they tell. If you don’t believe this, just watch the mail—or are you on the preferred list?
4. It is wrong to tell a half truth. This is one form of lying. This is harder to fight than a real lie-or rather a lie unmixed with truth. If you have told the bad and only the bad as if it were all about a person, you have lied. The whole truth is never told until the good is also told. Is there any soul who is wholly bad?
5. Men some time lie by the impression they leave. A false impression deliberately left is equal to a lie. A false impression can be planted in the mind by a hint. “Have you heard about Mr.___?” “No, I have not, what about him?” “Ah, forget it. The least said the sooner mended.” The adroit asking of the question has left the wrong impression.
6. It is wrong to impute the wrong motive. To contribute to an action an ulterior, selfish, sordid motive is sinful. Sometimes when men cannot meet the arguments of their opponents, they accuse them of having base motives. If you cannot meet the argument, do not impeach the motive. This is a form of lying. Do you not agree? If not, why not?
Stealing Just Swiping
Why do seeming decent people steal and laugh it off by saying, “I just swiped it.” Americans perhaps the greatest pilferers on the face of the globe. Go into supposedly Christian homes and see the Pullman towels and hotel soap. Where did it come from? Hotel managers say about the only thing guests do not try to steal is the bed. The complete lack of respect of other people’s property is a manifestation of hoodlumism. God calls it stealing. A thief cannot be saved.
