When "Truth" is a Lie.
Posted 12/15/2008
“Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness, and thy law [is] the
truth.” (Ps 119:142) "[Love] rejoiceth not in iniquity, but
rejoiceth in the truth;” (1Co 13:6 AV)
The Biblical idea of truth was different from the Greek idea. The Biblical
idea has a moral dimension to it.
For instance, what the slanderer says might be true as far as the facts go, but
if what is said is not according to love, it could not be considered the truth,
not in the sense of Psalm 119:142. A bitter, angry person will dig up
every nasty thing he can find about people he does not like. Because his words
are words of hatred, they are not true, no matter what the "facts."
God's law is based upon the very truth of His being, and the very truth of the
image of God in man. The person who does not love his neighbor is not only
striving against God, but is at war with himself. He has a lie in his right
hand and in his heart of hearts.
What he says might be factual, "He mistreats his wife; her children are
unruly; her house is often messy; She defrauded her creditors by filing for
bankruptcy; He sometimes speaks harshly to people; She had an affair right
after she was married; etc." The statements may pass the test as far as
the facts are concerned but be very far away from the meaning of the principle,
"Thy law is the truth." Love is the end of the law. If a
person does not love his neighbor, his telling of the "truth" might
actually be transgression of the law. In 1Cor. 13:6 the truth is contrasted
with iniquity.
What they said of Jesus was factually true, "He said he would built the
temple in three days."
A person is not speaking the "truth" and obeying the law of God if
his words are uttered for the sake of malice rather than love for his neighbor,
no matter how historically accurate the words may be. In fact, we are
commanded, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for
charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” (1Pe 4:8)
On this passage John Calvin said, " the sentence is taken from Solomon,
whose words are found in Proverbs 10:12, 'Hatred discovers reproaches, but love
covers a multitude of sins.'
"What Solomon meant is sufficiently clear, for the two clauses contain
things which are set in contrast the one with the other. As then he says in the
first clause that hatred is the cause why men traduce and defame one another,
and spread whatever is reproachful and dishonorable; so it follows that a
contrary effect is ascribed to love, that is, that men who love one another,
kindly and courteously forgive one another; hence it comes that, willingly
burying each others' vices, one seeks to preserve the honor of another.
"Thus Peter confirms his exhortation, that nothing is more necessary than
to cherish mutual love. For who is there that has not many faults? Therefore
all stand in need of forgiveness, and there is no one who does not wish to be
forgiven." -John Calvin in 1Peter 4:8
It is loving to hide offenses, for that is exactly what the coming of the
Lord Jesus was designed by God to do, to put them away. The only time sins
should be revealed is for the necessity of healing the disease and bring
repentance, or to protect others from harm. Revealing sins for the purpose of
destroying people is of the devil, for he is the "accuser of the
brethren." [Rev. 12:9,10]
