Deceipt
We live in a world where deceit is rife. Perhaps this is most apparent in the political sphere, where many seem to have the view that if something is stated often enough, then this will make it ‘true’, that is to say, it will become generally accepted as valid, even though it has little, if any, basis in fact. This is a cynical game that we see played out via the media – something dishonourable in the extreme.
Depressing
Then there is the realm of misinformation, which we encounter in advertising generally (albeit by implication rather than overtly stated), and the chaotic sphere of social media, where anyone can state anything they want without any regard to the truth. We have, today, to be aware of the ever more sophisticated scams that are launched in an attempt to trap us into giving away personal information or our money directly. We hear of cyber attacks of various types, perpetrated by state actors or those attempting to blackmail companies or institutions into paying them off. I could go on, but this summary is depressing enough!
Resistance
We live in a complex and confusing world that seeks to suck us into its corruption, either by becoming complicit in its machinations or victims of its deceptions. Of course, we don’t deliberately comply, but we are vulnerable nonetheless. If we are deceived into believing a lie, are we still guilty? Perhaps any one of us can be tricked; I certainly have been in the past. Maybe I didn’t take sufficient care to verify what I was being presented with, or perhaps it was just that I wanted what I was being told to be true and valid. The question is: how can we stand up against the onslaught of deception? The answer must be to employ the wisdom that God has granted us, but also our integrity. Proverbs 11:3 speaks very clearly on this: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity”. The thing about integrity is that it will not tolerate deception; it is firmly rooted in truth. We need to recognise that some people are lacking in this God-aligned characteristic, but, as Christians, we have no excuse to be; after all, we are betrothed to someone who is known as The Truth – Jesus (John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 11:2).
Misguided
Deception doesn’t only come from the direction of the world; it can also arise from people who are genuine Christians. As a new Christian, I already had a desire to help others understand matters of faith. I recall writing down my explanation of the Trinity, thinking that this could somehow be duplicated and published. Thankfully, this went no further than the piece of paper that it was written on, and I don’t recall that it was ever seen by anyone else. It was heresy, but I didn’t realise that at the time. We must each hold onto what we believe to be correct, but that is different to promoting our views without taking due care to validate them. The apostle James points out the responsibility of those who teach: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” James 3:1. This doesn’t just apply to those who stand up to preach on Sunday mornings (or write a Christian BLOG); it relates to anyone who seeks to propagate their understanding of what is true. We all appreciate that falsehoods online are dispersed by other people re-posting or even just liking someone else’s post; we can have a similar effect with what we say at a Bible study or small group setting, or what we share in conversation with other Christians. We dare not propagate anything that we have not first taken through the due process of validation, including seeking Holy Spirit confirmation.
Living truthfully
Integrity is very precious indeed. In a court of law, witnesses are required to state that they will speak truthfully with the complete truth and nothing other than the truth. Surely, when we are dealing with matters of faith, we should have no lesser standard than a civil court. And, as people who seek to serve the Living God, this requirement cannot be limited to things spiritual – we must neither assert nor repeat anything that we have not verified as truthful. We may express our feelings, but that isn’t the same as declaring things as facts. I may be frustrated, annoyed or concerned about something I come across, but I need to take care that my reaction, and how I express this, is in accordance with the truth. I might be challenged about what I believe, but I need to respond with due humility rather than digging my heels in. If my conviction is true, then surely I must respond in a way that will help others to appreciate this, rather than being assertive and defensive.
Conclusion
For us as Christians, integrity is not optional – it must be deeply embedded in who we are. After all, it is fundamental to who God is. There is no duplicity in him; no half-truths, no deception. When we speak, write, or engage with social media, God hears and sees our every interaction – he knows if we are cavalier with the truth, if we lazily comply with the deceptions of others, or if our priority is our own self-interest rather than honouring him. He also knows when we choose truth over convenience, when our responses are governed by integrity and our desire to honour him in all things. I am convinced that he delights in those who delight in him and follow his ways, as we find declared in the book of Proverbs: “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” (Proverbs 12:22)