“不可作假见证陷害人。” 申 5:20

起初,这条命令可能是为法庭设立的。但它适用于我们所说或所写的一切。我们所有的交流必须是真实的,而不是虚假的。

心理学家已经观察到,我们会以各种方式撒谎。我们的一些谎言看起来相对无害,甚至很有礼貌:“是的,我正在做那个项目;很快就会完成。”或者“你穿的那件衣服看起来不错。”又或者“这是低脂的”(但含糖量高)。

今天,我们在互联网上发布的任何信息都可以传播到全世界。这在历史上是史无前例的。因此,基督徒在网上要以讲真话而闻名,这一点非常重要。

不幸的是,基督徒和非基督徒的言论之间往往没有什么区别。非基督徒和基督徒都提出了毫无根据的阴谋论。他们都对公众人物说仇恨的话。他们钻取大桶的道德污水。事情不应该是这样的。

基督徒不应该在任何地方宣扬假话。如果你认为你在支持一件好事,而对这里和那里的一些谎言视而不见,你就错了。假的就是假的,恶的就是恶的,错的就是错的;好事比不上真理更重要。目的并不能证明手段的正确性。

我们的邻舍是按照神的形像被造的,就像你我一样。如果我们冒犯邻舍并对他们撒谎,我们怎么能声称自己遵守神的诫命,爱我们的邻舍呢?

祷告

主啊,你是道路、真理和生命。求赦免我说谎的行为,帮助我寻求真理,单单传讲真理。阿们。

申命记 19:15-21

15“人无论犯什么罪,作什么恶,不可凭一个人的口做见证,总要凭两三个人的口做见证才可定案。
16若有凶恶的见证人起来,见证某人作恶,
17这两个争讼的人就要站在耶和华面前,和当时的祭司并审判官面前,
18审判官要细细地查究。若见证人果然是作假见证的,以假见证陷害弟兄,
19你们就要待他如同他想要待的弟兄。这样,就把那恶从你们中间除掉。
20别人听见都要害怕,就不敢在你们中间再行这样的恶了。
21你眼不可顾惜,要以命偿命,以眼还眼,以牙还牙,以手还手,以脚还脚。

Nothing But The Truth

"You shall not bear false testimony against your neighbor." - Deuteronomy 5:20

At first this command was likely meant for courtrooms. But it applies to everything we say or write down. All of our communication must be true, not false.

Psychologists have observed that we lie in various ways. Some of our lies seem relatively harmless, or even polite: “Yes, I’m working on that project; it’ll be done soon,” or “That outfit looks nice on you.” Or how about “It’s low-fat” (but high in sugar).

Today anything we post on the internet can be spread worldwide. This is a first in history. So it is profoundly important that Christians be known for truth-telling online.

Unfortunately, there is often little difference between the speech of Christians and non-Christians. Non-Christians and Christians alike have raised groundless conspiracy theories. They say hateful things about public figures. They delve into vats of moral swill. This should not be.

There is no place where a Christian should promote falsehood. If you think you are supporting a good cause while turning a blind eye to a few lies here and there, you are wrong. False is false, evil is evil, and wrong is wrong; the cause is not more important than truth. The end does not justify the means.

Our neighbors are made in the image of God, just like you and me. How can we claim to love our neighbors, as God commands, if we cut them down and lie about them?

Prayer

Lord, you are the way, the truth, and the life. Forgive me for lying, and help me to seek and speak only truth. Amen.