What about liars?

It is one thing to forget what happened, say so and try to remember it, and quite another thing to pretend you remember, inventing a story and even telling yourself that version is true. Some do that and eventually believe that made-up story — and few can tell that they do not know or cannot remember what is true.

One person who does this is mentally ill, telling lies without awareness. Another has a form of dementia that either cannot acknowledge forgetfulness or is not aware of it. A third person is proud, continually justifying shortcomings with small and sometimes large lies. Some lie to win or gain and become very good at it, almost undetectable.

I have a very hard time with lies. Satan is the author of lies. His lies are terribly destructive. When someone tells a whopper and knows it, that seems a little easier to take than a lie is deliberate and designed to deceive. The worst-case scenario is when the lying person is confronted and digs himself deeper with more lies. Satan is behind much of this, intending to destroy truth and goodness.

Something happened in the church at Corinth that gives a few clues on how to deal with people who are hung up on a sin (lying is one of them) that is ruining their life and relationships with others. Paul wrote to them about it:

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:1–5)

This man was trapped by his sin, not lying but it could have been part of his problem. Paul was concerned about him, but even more concerned about the way the rest of this congregation was dealing with it. They weren’t. It appears they decided to look the other way and be proud of tolerating what he was doing. Perhaps they though that ‘Christian love’ was like that.

Instead, Paul told them to put the man out of their midst and “deliver” him to the enemy. In some way this was going to totally ruin the fleshy and sinful root of the problem and bring that man back into a right relationship with God and others so he could live a godly life. While the Bible does not tell how to do this, this is mentioned elsewhere.

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he (Job) is in your hand; only spare his life.” (Job 2:6)

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:18–20)

Job was a good man whose faith was tested by God who allowed Satan to take away His blessings on Job’s life to see if he still trusted God. On the other hand, the two men Paul wrote to Timothy about had rejected a life of faith and keeping their conscience clear. Paul delivered them to Satan so they would learn not to slander God and speak against all that is important to Him. The Bible does not describe how this happens.

However, this must be one of the most extreme measures of discipline in the Bible. Is it reserved only for those who have refused all other means of restoration? Had the man in Corinth been confronted by friends, his church family? Had he rejected their godly advice and admonition? Had the two men Paul spoke of been counseled and cared about? It seems so. It also seems that Paul knew Satan would take them farther into disobedience and that the consequences would teach them to honor God.

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Lord, I asked You this morning about the people who lie, and You gave me this surprising answer. I’m to be quiet and leave this alone. Gentle reprimand does not work. Neither does stronger admonition, or anything that normally causes a positive response. I need to give this not only to You but allow the enemy to do whatever he does to bring to the end of that behavior those who trouble me with lies. It may not be pretty, but if this is what You want and use it to that end, it will be worth it. I’m trusting You. Keep me in that place of prayer and trust!