How big of a deal is lying?
Yesterday, the blog covered things to avoid at work. One of the first things Erica and I have taught our kids is not to lie. Moral decisions are around us all day, everyday.
The biggest news last night in the sporting arena was that Barry Bonds was indicted by a Grand Jury. Barry Bonds is a professional baseball player that has hit more homeruns than anyone in history. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison. The punishment would not be for taking performance enhancing drugs (steroids), but for LYING to a grand jury about taking steroids.
Up to 30 years in prison for saying 3 or 4 sentences.
How powerful are your words?
=pastor
Posted on November 16, 2007, in Daily Word. Bookmark the permalink. 20 Comments.
Robin Steele 
Prosecutors will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bonds used steroids (knowingly).
The words we speak, and the actions we take to back up our words, are the scale upon which we are judged by the world around us. God hates lying so much that He says in Rev. 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”.
It does not matter who you are lying to, it is WRONG!! It doesn’t matter who hears or knows it is a lie. God knows, even if no one else does. AMEN, Bro. Rob!
Our words are VERY important and powerful.
Come on, folks. Surely the Steeles are not the only ones who have an opinion on this topic.
Well, this topic isn’t really a discussable topic…it’s black and white. How about this. I agree with what everyone said. 😀
Maybe the bigger question is should sports players be considers “heros” and “icons” to be admired? We are in Texas and football is really important but honestly, most of these guys have no integrity or godly character. Yet, many of our kids grow up wanting to be like these guys.
Well, Sister Casey, our shallow society seeks to numb the soul and entertain the mind hence drug dealers are idolized and entertainers (sports figures included) are rewarded with salaries hundreds of times greater than our teachers. Can you blame a youngster for wanting to be like the big football star when the males in his life talk about little else this time of the year?
I remember a time (I feel old saying this) that kids idolized their dads and wanted to be like them. When I was little my dad was a firefighter. I thought that was the coolest thing in the world (he’s still pretty cool but for other reasons). When dad was working, mom would take us by the firestation and he would put us up in the cab of the truck and turn the sirens on. I have pictures of Jenny and I with fireman hats and my red tricycle (everything had to be red with me since the firetrucks were red).
So many absent fathers today…. I know we have been so blessed to have a real dad who was committed to God and family (in that order).
interesting ideas but the original topic…
the point: he could go to jail for 30 years for saying 1 sentence.
the power of your mouth. loose, bind, free, or prison. in the power of the tongue.
Man, I was really trying to stay silent this time. However I just am not succeeding at it what-so-ever. I once had a manager who was speaking of someone other than me. He stated “a leopard has spots, you can paint him, but the spots are still there.” I have spots, a-lot! I used to be the liar, amongst other things. My spots, are still there, however it is only through the power of Christ blood that they have been covered up. Your flesh will ruin you, and it will also ruin many with it in doing so. I am not a sports fan at, all, I could really care less. However I do know that blaming these guys for the “failed” in our society is not the answer. There may be a partial truth in that statement, however we are to blame as well, as a people, in my ever so feeble opinion. Pastor is right, (as always), how powerful our words are, we need to mandate what we say, speaking life, not condemnation. As we are told “take every thought, and make it obedient to Christ.” This is not always easy to do. For our words, are nothing more than a description of thought. Lest we not forget our spots. No matter what we say, there is only one thing that will cover them. We are the bood bought sons and Daughters, Praise God.
Hey, lying in court is a BIG deal…why do you think they make your swear on the Bible… I think I would be more afraid of what God would do to me than the what the grand jury would do.
Lying in court is a big deal, your compactly right. It is however no different than lying anywhere else. It is what it is. My point, everyday, I have to make a conscious effort to not tell un-truth’s, not to do an array of things, a very conscious effort. I did not have the strength to do this on my own prior, I still do not. I would get frustrated at my faults to the point of rage. It is only by God’s grace that I am able to pull through today. I have found that grace, because someone told me about it, someone demonstrated it for me. Someone took the time, to put it into WORDS and show in action that I could understand. How to be of flesh, yet not walk in it. Now that was a superhero to me. Someone to emulate…..
Guys, I wasn’t minimizing the lying thing…just making lite of it a little. Joshua, sounds like you have an awesome testimony. Maybe you should blog it for us (maybe you have but I didn’t see it).
Never assumed you where Mrs. Casey. No worries. I just read, Pastors comment, above; I need to “hush it” as my son would say. ; )
I read this this morning and there were no responses and I thought well it is black and white … lying is wrong. I left and came back home and just wanted to see what had happened … wow! Here’s what I think … has been guilty of lying at one point or another. It can be easy to slide it under the rug. (of course we all know Who really knows the truth!) However, when it is publicized like in Barry Bonds’ case the whole world can see. It’s much harder for him to slide it under the rug now. My prayer in all of this is that people would reflect on lies and non-truths they tell, present, past and future and think of what they would do if they were before a grand jury. 30 years … that’s a long time … Ps 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord keep watch over the door of my lips.
Our Lord and Creator spoke the world into existence. For whatever reason, God chose speaking in tongues as evidence of receiving His Holy Ghost inside of us. Speaking in tongues is not anything we can do on our own or teach to others, it is purely Him. Words are such a big deal to the King of Kings that He uses our tongue to rein us in to His reign over us. How do you like that play on words? I strongly recommend I Corinthians 14 for any who are curious as to how God uses words to refine His bride.
“Words are important” was the point I was trying to make.
This blog is an example. I titled it incorrectly. I intended for the discussion to have nothing to do with lying in particular, but ‘the power of words’ in general.
however, when I titled it as I did, you all were directed to answer about the impact of lying specifically.
The title should have been: “How powerful are your words”
interesting how a lesson is learned
my feelings have been this……….WORDS ARE VERY POWERFUL, once a word is spoken, mean – hateful and even lyes…………… once out of the mouth forever in the heart!!!!!
one can really make a difference with kinda and Godly words, people LISTEN!
Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
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