Lies, Liars, and False Deniers
Why do we seem so ready to accept false testimony and lies against people we barely know? Does hate reside in our hearts against our neighbors and toward our political leaders? Perhaps our depravity is on display as we join others in accepting false testimony as accurate and true without further evidence or thought. A false testimony seeks to bruise a good man’s reputation, spoil his good works, and, if possible, deprive him of his life and any public political service. The one who slanders and lies about a good person exhibits their own wickedness and hatred.
“Once a country is habituated (or accustomed) to liars, it takes generations to get the truth back.” ― Gore Vidal
Advice – Disagreements with Neighbors
When a disagreement arises with your neighbor, don’t rush to action in a court of law. First, go to your neighbor and try to reconcile your differences. If you are unsuccessful, then consider the following questions:
- Is this disagreement trivial? How substantial is this disagreement?
- How do you intend to manage it before taking him to court?
- How much will your out-of-pocket expenses be in court costs?
- What level of certainty do you have of success?
- How much stress are you willing to endure, and for how long?
- How will you move forward if the court rules against your charges and in favor of your neighbor?
You might consider prayer. Ask the Lord to change your neighbor’s heart and your heart to do what is best for both parties. God may be gracious to you both with the dispute resolved. Whatever agreement is made in secret, it must never be divulged or made known to others. A man that cannot keep a secret will be forever known as a blabber and gossip and cannot be trusted to do what he says he will do.
Advice from an Old Man to a Younger One
What wisdom I have comes from the Word of God as I study the Bible. This advice today comes from the book of Proverbs 24:27 as the father instructs his son on how to proceed as he is about to leave home.
First, give attention to the things most necessary for your survival in making a living in this world. Don’t shy away from hard work, but be diligent in preparing yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. You may choose a path toward more education or to develop a trade skill, but whatever path you choose, it should provide enough income to support youself and save a little. After that, you may consider marriage and building a family. But always be prudent in counting the costs before proceeding.
“The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-25
Comments by Robert Wilkin, Ph.D.
Robert N. Wilkin, Ph.D., editor of Grace in Focus magazine (Nov/Dec 2022), shared that he was listening to a book on tape (see below) about a future in which planet earth was destroyed. Humanity moved to a planet called Harmony. A computer named Oversoul controlled the thinking of all the subjects of Harmony so that they would not make weapons or even things like cars and airplanes. The computer did so using thousands of satellites. But 40 million years later, Oversoul was losing its grip on people’s minds.
This was probably the book that Dr. Wilkin was listening to that drove his comments.
Perhaps part of the book’s point is that mass media has a grip on most people’s minds. Instead of people being taught to think for themselves, they are taught groupthink. What is groupthink? It is a pattern of thought characterized by self-deception, forced manufacture of consent, and conformity to group values and group ethics (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).
This type of current humanistic mindset is widespread today. Cultural relativism reigns. It may remind you of a critical line from the book of Judges: everyone did what was right in his own eyes. The idea that God has a wonderful plan for His creatures and we do best to follow His teachings is now considered a right-wing derogatory or offensive statement.
Words of Wisdom – Proverbs 22:1 and Ecclesiastes 7:1
Proverbs 22:1: reads, “A good name is to be chosen than great riches and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” A good name is a name you earn by the kind of person you are, not what you are called by your parents. It is the name you make for yourself by well-doing. Carefully pursue a course of life and do those things by which you may obtain and retain a good name for yourself. Remember that great riches have baggage and bring great care, exposing the holder to dangers.
However, a related passage is Ecclesiastes 7:1, which reads, “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” As I enter my latter years, I realize I didn’t think about this much when I was younger. But upon reflecting over the past years, I see this truth’s importance. We need to know who we are in the eyes of God. Our name and reality are the same in the Book of Life. We should probably ask if there has been a good work of grace upon us. If we are a child of God, then the day of our departure will be better than that of our birth. A child has nothing before them but uncertainties, labors, troubles, and fears. But with death, storms were successfully battled with all anxieties and worries gone. Our refuge and hope have been secured by Christ’s sacrifice. Good friends and family await the departed. Consider your destination.
Bill Wyler
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