When Truth is Not Enough

As I’ve journeyed through life, I’ve viewed telling the truth as pretty simple. It’s like a straight line leading from point A to point B: state the event and state the facts. There’s a quietness, an inner peace that comes when you know that what you’ve spoken is the truth. Besides, if you’ve stated the truth, you never need to worry about what you’ve said. Mark Twain said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”

However, as to it being a straight line leading from point A to point B, John Piper states in Sweet and Bitter Providence that “life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road! Obstacles, curves, dangerous cliffs and the unknown, along with multiple joys and pleasures greet us through life.” From this quote it would appear that we can’t get away from troubles and hardships. But having lived life thus far, I can safely say that sometimes these obstacles, curves, and dangerous cliffs are the result of a personal attack on one’s integrity and character. Innuendos, half-truths, and misunderstandings can leave one at the mercy of the he-said /she-said syndrome when telling the truth just doesn’t seem to be enough. Sadly, it gets twisted and beat up and lost along the way. And it’s no longer a straight line, but a winding and troubled proverbial road.

In Canadian law a sworn testimony is an affirmation that reads as follows: I solemnly affirm that the evidence to be given by me shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. (It appears that “so help me God” has been deleted.) The whole truth and nothing but the truth… that sounds pretty serious to me, especially when the consequences of not telling the truth in that setting is very grievous.

But that’s in a court of law. How do we handle this in our daily day? Do we always speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth? On the flip side of that, can one maintain one’s integrity and still lie?

Lying is probably one of the most common wrong acts that we carry out. Who is not guilty of the innocent white lie? Step forward and be the first to cast a stone (John 8:7)! One researcher has stated that lying is an unavoidable part of human nature. We are born with a sin-nature and lying comes easily at any age. Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Whether one believes in Almighty God or not, one cannot deny the fact that humankind is far from perfect and when pressed, one will resort to lying if it is to one’s advantage. It comes easily, way too easily!

I know there is a whole side to this topic that I am not addressing, nor would I in such a short space. Suffice it to say, I find it very disturbing when someone falls victim to another person’s lies. Emotional and physical pain engulf a person who is wrongfully accused, and telling the truth just doesn’t seem to be enough because no one seems to be listening.

One last thought on this very deep subject. I asked my husband what would a person be like if they never lied? His reply: “Jesus!” A rather sobering thought!

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes; a lying tongue; hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that devises wicked schemes; feet that are quick to rush into evil; a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

Proverbs 6:16-19, NIV