|
|
Lying in Color
by
Josprel
Humor with Spiritual Purpose.
Have you ever noticed that many people color the lies
they tell? To them, lies apparently come in a verity of hues. There are
white lies, black lies and lies in several shades between these two
extremes. As may be expected, those who follow the art of color-lying
grow more proficient the longer they practice it. They often claim the
best of intentions when using color-lies.
Black-liars tend to be a nasty lot. They tend to live a life of
falsehoods; the lies they tell are self-serving ones. Among many other
things, they may make false statements on job applications, embellish
their educational credentials and work experiences, exaggerate military
service records, and misrepresent credit histories. Among other
deceitful behavior, they may lie to their spouses; falsely blame others
for the consequences of their own deceits; doctor account books to avoid
paying their fair share of taxes; and falsify expense accounts.
Color-liars of other hues tend to view black-liars with profound scorn.
White-liars, especially, look down their noses at black-liars, claining
that they deserve to be sent to the hottest section of the Lake of Fire
– right smack in the center of it. Black-liars, on the other hand,
respond to other color-liars by calling them hypocritical snobs, who
make as fine a kindling for the Lake of Fire as they do.
Although dark-gray-liars merge from the fringes of black-liars, they are
somewhat self-righteous in their attitude towards them. Some politicians
fit into this category since they practice dark-gray-lying and quite
often black-lying, during their campaigns and subsequent terms in
office. But they do so for the good of their constituents - or so they
say. It is impossible for their constituents disprove the claim. After
all, how can they possibly understand the dark-gray-lies told them by
their politicians? The “man in the street” is a fairly rational being,
while dark-gray-lying politicians often perform irrationally. The
Congressional records are well inked with the myriad dark-gray-lies
contained in the hot-air speeches of long-winded politicians practicing
the art of dark-gray-lying. If Congressional walls could speak what they
hear, dark-gray-lies would be their invariable theme.
That brings us to light-gray-liars. Light-gray-liars seem to thrive on
the fact that they are neither black-liars nor dark-gray-liars. They
lambaste both, charging that the aforesaid categories of color-liars
give all color-liars a bad reputation; nonetheless, this analysis of
their color-lying colleagues by light-gray-liars does not compute well,
since it amounts to the proverbial pot calling the renowned kettle
“black.” When light-gray-liars point the finger at other color-liars,
they often are advised to remember that at least three of their fingers
are pointing back to themselves.
Light-gray-liars may include some educators and ministers - educators
because they frequently teach false theories, such as evolution,
transcendental meditation, mind-control, Eastern philosophies, and even
witchcraft, though they claim to be compelled to do so; and ministers
because they repeatedly vacillate taking a public stand against the
evils in our society, thus making them collaborators-by-silence.
Perhaps, since educators and ministers have such a profound molding
effect on the character of our society, they should be included in the
black-liars or dark-gray-liars categories. But let’s be charitable to
them; perhaps they know not what they do.
Skipping the other shades of gray-liars, we arrive at the white-liar
category. Me-oh-my-mercy-me, those white-liars are unrivaled among
color-liars! To hear them tell it, one would conclude they are God’s
holy elite. According to their point of view, white-liars have the
sanctity of heaven on their lies. After all, they lie for the purest of
motives, or so they say. White-liars hang the white-lie tag on such lies
as claiming to be not home when one does not wish to accept a phone
call. Employers often use it when they order a secretary to say he or
she is not in the office to avoid speaking to a caller. The white-lie
label also is stamped on lies that are told when, to tell someone the
truth may hurt that person’s feelings. Women sometimes practice the
subtle art of white lying when they pretend to admire a friend’s new
acquisition, even though they know the item is totally inappropriate for
the person. A husband also may do the same when admiring his wife’s new
hat. He white-lies by saying it looks beautiful on her, when he knows it
makes her head look like a flowerpot or a feather duster. After all,
they’re only white lies, aren’t they? Why hurt a person’s feelings?
White-liars make it appears that practicing the art of the white lying
will earn them a place next to the Great White Throne. They say they’re
just being kind, since telling the truth would tend to humiliate those
to whom they white-lie. Yes, there are numerous situations in which the
white lie may be practiced and its use rationalized. It’s a holy lie,
isn’t it? They say!!
But what does God’s Word say?
“But as for . . . the unbelieving . . . murderers . . . and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.
. . (Rev. 21:8).
“Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more
than these cometh of evil” (Mat. 5:37).
It appears that God takes seriously any shade of color lying.
So what should one do when speaking the truth would unduly hurt someone?
1. Whisper a prayer for wisdom and attempt to remain silent; we need not
give an answer to every comment or question. Sometimes, just a smile
will suffice.
2. Believe that God will grant you the wisdom you seek.
3. If a smiling silence doesn’t suffice, give as tactful a response as
possible without lying.
4. If the person requires a fuller response, speak the truth in love.
The person expects that from you. Love and God’s Word require that you
speak the truth if silence does not suffice.
5. The truth may or may not offend the one to whom it is spoken. If it
does, you must remember that the person demanded it from you. Gently
remind such individuals of this. Explain that, as a Christian, you never
would lie to them. Attempt to apply the balm of love to the offended
one. If the individual was not offended by hearing the truth, you have
made a new friend, or solidified an already existing friendship. In
either case, you were obedient to the biblical injunction that believers
are not to tell lies of any color, but rather, they are to speak the
truth in love.
-30-
© Josprel (Joseph Perrello)
josprel@verizon.net
About the Author:
Josprel is an ordained minister, who resides with his
wife, Maria, in Western New York State. Though brought up by devout
parents, he abandoned both the Church and religion at an early age, not
returning to them until several years later. He served three years in
the Far East with the U.S. Air Force. He then was separated from active
duty and placed on a ten-year reserve status. He studied for the
ministry under the G.I Bill of Rights, and holds a Master of Theology
degree. He currently is authoring two novels, "Beloved Apostate" and "Kanfal."
|
|
Management