Lying Before God

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days.  But I did not see any other of the Apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. (As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.)

This passage from Galatians makes me glum because in contrast to Paul who swears before God that he is not lying, today’s politicians seem not to hesitate to swear before God to tell the truth – then they lie.

Such is today’s political climate with continual jousting for power and control – right versus left, conservative versus liberal, Republican versus Democrat.  It’s a never-ending refusal to be truthful since the truth will not set them free.  It will be a just cause to vote them out of office for revealing their lack of integrity and dishonor.  But lies can be hard to spot, and politicians know how to bamboozle the public and protect themselves.

Preacher and social activist Jim Wallis recently said, “Self-concern is the personal and political ethic that dominates our world today, but the kingdom of God says that our neighbor’s concerns, rights, interests, freedoms, and well-being are as important as our own.”

If only that were true for those who represent us and who sit in judgement. 

Deacon David Pierce