Everybody knows lying is a sin so why do we do it? For some people lying is second nature. We call these people “pathological liars.” Here’s what the website, webmd.com, says about pathological liars,
But pathological lying is often done without any reason and regardless of consequences. These lies are extensive and elaborate, and the urge to tell them is compulsive. Pathological liars often make up stories, even if that causes them harm. They may lose jobs and ruin relationships because of their lying.
It isn’t clear whether pathological liars understand that what they say isn’t true. Some people believe the things they say, even when those things are clearly false. Other pathological liars will admit that they've been lying only when their lies are proved false.
Pathological lying usually starts when a person is in their teens. They often continue the pattern for years.
Why do we lie? Here are some basic reasons for lying:
1. Fear. Perhaps the number one reason people lie is fear. People fear the consequences of something said or done. People lie out of the fear of loss of income, respect, position. People lie out of fear of harm either physical or emotional.
2. Gain. Many lie to gain something. They lie on their resume to gain a job. The lie to a prospective date to gain status. They lie to improve their standing in a company.
3. “Little white lies.” These are still lies. Maybe it's lying to avoid hurting someone’s feelings or to escape uncomfortable situations. Little white lies are intended to avoid harm and they're about trivial matters. Many white lies are only partially false or exaggerate the truth but remember “a half truth is a whole lie!”
By the way, the lie of a child is not the same as the lie of a teen or adult. Why? Children lie to avoid consequences. Teen and adult lies are serious violations of the relationship. When they lie they are betraying the relationship.
How can you tell if someone is lying to you? Good question. Here are some “tells” suggested by webmd.com:
Many people have “tells” when they lie that signal when they aren’t telling the truth. But there's no one-size-fits-all way to tell when someone is lying. Instead, pay attention to that person specifically. If someone you know lies to you a lot, look for these signs:
Contradictory stories. When someone isn't telling the truth, they may have a hard time keeping details of their story straight. Someone who lies frequently will eventually lose track of previous lies and start to contradict them. If you notice this, they may be lying.
Unverifiable details. They may add details to make their lies seem more realistic. Studies show that pathological liars tend to include details that can't be verified.
Overly dramatic or long stories. Lies are more likely to be dramatic and long. If someone often has anecdotes about overly dramatic or intense situations, they may be lying.
Finally, Jesus tells us that the devil is a liar and the “father of lies.” He has been a liar from the beginning and in him there is no truth (John 8:44). When we lie, we bear out his nature.
So, I ask you, are we a nation of liars? So it would seem. Revelation 21:8 tells us the destiny of liars who don’t repent . . . the Lake of Fire. If you are characterized by lying take this as a wake-up call to repent and call upon God to make you a radical truth-teller.
Jesus said “I am the Way, the TRUTH, the Life,”
Irv