God hates liars

by Lady Lee 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • Lady Lee
    Lady Lee

    Quotes are from The 2005 WT CD Red text is mine

    The WTS claims to be the sole source of God's truth on earth today. Truth is so important to them that they even use the term "Truth" as a name for their teachings. If truth is so important to the WTS then perhaps looking at the truth's importance in their literature we can understand why it is so important.


    WT 1992 12/15 p 23

    Our Creator, whose name is Jehovah, hates lying, as Proverbs 6:16-19 clearly states: "There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, a false witness that launches forth lies, and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers."

    But rather than seeking forgiveness after a lie, preserve a good relationship with your Creator and maintain your credibility with others by speaking the truth. Remember what Psalm 15:1, 2 says: "O Jehovah, who will be a guest in your tent? Who will reside in your holy mountain? He who is walking faultlessly and practicing righteousness and speaking the truth in his heart."

    This truthful God requires us to live by his standards in order to receive his approval. His inspired Word commands us: "Do not be lying to one another. Strip off the old personality with its practices." (Colossians 3:9) People who refuse to quit the practice of lying are not acceptable to him; they will not receive his gift of life. In fact, Psalm 5:6 says frankly that God "will destroy those speaking a lie." Revelation 21:8 further says that the portion of "all the liars" is "the second death," which is eternal destruction. So our accepting God’s view of lying gives us strong reason to speak the truth.

    But what should be done in a situation where the truth might create an embarrassing situation or bad feelings? Lying never is the solution, but saying nothing sometimes is. Why speak lies that can only ruin your credibility and make you subject to divine disapproval?


    Great Teacher book Chapter 22 p 120

    Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, who are members of the Christian congregation in Jerusalem, sell a field they own. No one tells them to sell it. They decide that for themselves. But what they do is not because they love the new disciples of Jesus. Actually, Ananias and Sapphira want to make people think that they are better than they really are. So they decide to say that they are giving all the money to help others. They are really going to give only a part of it but say that they are giving it all. What do you think of that?—

    Well, Ananias comes to see the apostles. He gives the money to them. God, of course, knows that he is not giving it all. So God lets the apostle Peter know that Ananias is not being truthful about the matter.

    Then Peter says: ‘Ananias, why have you let Satan cause you to do this? The field was yours. You didn’t have to sell it. And even after you sold the field, it was up to you to decide what you would do with the money. But why are you pretending to give all the money when you are giving only part of it? By this you are lying, not just to us, but to God.’

    It is that serious. Ananias is lying! He isn’t doing what he says he is doing. He is only pretending to do it. The Bible tells us what happens next. It says: ‘On hearing Peter’s words, Ananias falls down and dies.’ God strikes Ananias dead! Afterward, his body is carried outside and buried.

    About three hours later, Sapphira comes in. She does not know what happened to her husband. So Peter asks her: ‘Did you two sell the field for the amount of money that you gave us?’

    Sapphira answers: ‘Yes, we sold the field for just that amount.’ But that is a lie! They kept for themselves some of the money from the sale of the field. So God strikes Sapphira dead too.—Acts 5:1-11.

    What should we learn from what happened to Ananias and Sapphira?— It teaches us that God does not like liars. He always wants us to tell the truth. But many people say that it is all right to tell lies. Do you think that those people are correct?— Did you know that all the sickness, pain, and death on the earth came about because of a lie?—

    Remember, the Devil lied to the first woman, Eve. He told her that she would not die if she disobeyed God and ate the fruit that God had said she should not eat. Eve believed the Devil and ate the fruit. She got Adam to eat it too. Now they were sinners, and all their children would be born sinners. And because they were sinners, all of Adam’s children suffered and died. How did all the trouble start?— It started with a lie.

    No wonder Jesus said that the Devil "is a liar and the father of the lie"! He was the first one who told a lie. When anyone tells a lie, he is doing what the Devil did first. We should think about this if we ever feel tempted to tell a lie.—John 8:44.


    Truth Chapter 11 p 98 para 7-9

    WHO WILL BE DESTROYED?

    7 In frank terms the Scriptures reveal that, when this wicked system comes to its end, those slain by Jehovah will certainly come to be . . . from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth." (Jeremiah 25:33) But you do not have to be among the slain. In his Word the Bible God clearly states what kind of persons, systems and organizations will be destroyed. Being forewarned, persons who love life, and who sincerely want to do what is right in the eyes of God, can get out of the danger zone.

    8 So, then, who does God say will be destroyed? As we might expect, it is the wicked. "When the wicked ones sprout as the vegetation and all the practicers of what is hurtful blossom forth, it is that they may be annihilated forever." (Psalm 92:7 [91:8, Dy]) But let us not be misled by adopting the world’s viewpoint as to what is righteous and what is wicked. God plainly tells us that much of what this world views as commonplace is wicked in his eyes. Fornication, adultery and homosexuality may be tolerated by modern-day society, but those who practice such things will not be spared alive by God at the end of this system of things. Likewise, those who are liars, thieves, drunkards and murderers will be barred from the realm of God’s kingdom. (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; Revelation 21:8) Some may have become involved in such practices because of bad associations. But now, knowing what God says, it is vital for these to change their ways if they want to avoid destruction. In God’s new system there will be no place for persons who corrupt and cheat and who endanger the lives of their fellowmen.

    9 Nor will there be any organizations that mislead the people. We have already learned from the Bible that not all religion is approved by God. So it should not surprise us that religion built on falsehood will become a thing of the past. A religious organization may have beautiful buildings and colorful rituals, but if it does not teach the truth about God it really serves the purpose of the enemy of God, Satan the Devil. (1 Corinthians 10:20; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15) It may make some use of God’s Word, but if it seeks to be a part of the world by having a say in worldly affairs, then, as the Bible declares, it becomes "an enemy of God." (James 4:4; John 15:19) Do we want to be numbered among God’s enemies? If not, it is up to us to prove to God now that we are not in sympathy with them, that we find pleasure only in the truth and that we ourselves practice worship that is "clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father."—James 1:27.


    Awake! 1997 2/22 p 17, 19

    The Truth About Lying

    "YOU liar!" Have those stinging words ever been hurled at you? If so, you no doubt realize the emotional wallop they carry.

    Just as a cherished vase may shatter if knocked to the floor, so a precious relationship can be ruined by lying. True, over a period of time, you may be able to repair the damage, but the relationship may never again be quite the same.

    "Those who learn that they have been lied to," says the book Lying—Moral Choice in Public and Private Life, "are wary of new overtures. And they look back on their past beliefs and actions in the new light of the discovered lies." After deception has been exposed, a relationship that once flourished with open communication and trust may be stifled by suspicion and doubt.

    Taking a Stand for Truth

    Our desire to glorify our Creator provides us with the very best motivation to cultivate truthful speech. Significantly, the Bible calls him "the God of truth." (Psalm 31:5) So, if it is our desire to please our Creator, who hates "a false tongue," we will be moved to imitate him. (Proverbs 6:17) How can we do this?

    An earnest study of God’s Word can give us what it takes to ‘speak truth each one with his neighbor.’ (Ephesians 4:25) However, simply knowing what God requires of us is not enough. If, like many in the world today, we have not always been inclined to tell the truth, we will need to make a real effort to do so. We may need to follow the apostle Paul’s example and get tough with ourselves. "I pummel my body and lead it as a slave," Paul wrote.—1 Corinthians 9:27.

    An additional help in the battle to tell the truth at all times is prayer. By begging Jehovah for assistance, we can have "power beyond what is normal." (2 Corinthians 4:7) Indeed, maintaining a "lip of truth" and putting away "the tongue of falsehood" may be a real struggle. (Proverbs 12:19) But with Jehovah’s help it can be accomplished.—Philippians 4:13.

    ..........

    There may be times when lying seemingly provides an easy way out. But Christians today do well to imitate Jesus’ course and follow their Bible-trained conscience when facing particularly difficult situations.—Hebrews 5:14.

    The Bible encourages us to be truthful and honest. Lying is wrong, and we should follow the Bible counsel: "Speak truth each one of you with his neighbor." (Ephesians 4:25) By doing so, we will keep a clean conscience, promote peace and love in the congregation, and continue to honor "the God of truth."—Psalm 31:5; Hebrews 13:18.


    But do they really practice what they preach? The practice of spiritual warfare as defined by the WTS allows lying to anyone they believe is unworthy of the truth - even to fellow JWs. After reading all the above references (a quick search found 330 citations for the word "lying") how they justify their behavior of lying and misrepresentation cannot be acceptable to a God of truth
  • serendipity
    serendipity

    Another teaching that's not scriptural.

  • AuldSoul
    AuldSoul

    Apparently they even believe it is okay to lie to people who are studying "The Truth™" saki2fifty couldn't find any Scriptures to demonstrate that the pre-baptismal requirements are actually required. Neither could Shadow. thirdwitness didn't even try. And that is a lie they teach as truth to STUDENTS.

    Respectfully,
    AuldSoul

  • Lady Lee
    Lady Lee

    What got me when I was putting that together is that they use the Teacher book to teach JW children not to lie.

    AND THEY ARE LYING TO THEM WHILE THEY DO IT!!!

  • fokyc
    fokyc

    Lady Lee,

    I wish you would have a chat to the elders in my wife's congregation, they just can't keep going without telling a big heap of 'porkies' (lies).

    Many thanks for all the information you have put up on the site, it has helped no end in my present situation.

    Fokyc

  • fokyc
    fokyc

    I think this needs another airing, my wife's elders are still telling 'porkies' (lies),

    Why do Elders lie so much?

    fokyc

  • Nellie
    Nellie

    They get paid to!

  • fokyc
    fokyc

    WHO pays them?

    fokyc

  • TTWSYF
    TTWSYF

    Blast from the past.

    I always hated the term that my uber elder brother told me many years ago.......

    I still cringe when I remember him saying

    "We call it 'lying for the truth'".

    The whole concept of contradiction was lost in translation as they say.

    Now a days it's called "Theocratic Warfare" but isn't that still lying for the Truth?

  • TTWSYF
    TTWSYF

    Lady Lee was a thoughtful contributor

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