By Rev. Dr. Melinda Contreras Byrd, Contributing Writer

Liars. We are all familiar with them. So, I am sure that some of you are surprised or curious about the title of this article.  At some point, we have all told a lie.  But we are not all liars.  

Someone likely thinks it is preposterous to write about “how to be a liar” when we know what a liar is.  But perhaps we don’t!     

Yes, all of us have had the misfortune of interacting with liars—and even more unfortunate is the fact that some of us are, in fact, liars ourselves!

So.  I am writing this article to educate us on the characteristics of a liar. I am doing this primarily so those living under niggling guilt that we are liars may be freed by learning that we are not. Next, I write so that those unaware of adopting behaviors toward becoming liars may3 become aware and move in another direction. And lastly, I write so that those who are, in fact, liars can no longer live pretending like they are unaware that they are liars and embrace the truth, repent, and seek God in changing this behavior. 

Lies bring about issues of degree, awareness, Intent, and determination. A liar always tries to base their lie on a concept of truth.  There is truth, and there is a lie.  While not everyone agrees upon what is “true,” most can agree enough to detect twinges of untruth.  Sometimes we “split hairs” regarding what is true.  Some do this to be certain and accurate in their assessments and judgments, while some “split hairs” to assuage their guilt.  Think, Pilate asking, “What is truth?” or the lawyer asking, “Who is my neighbor?” 

Scripture demonstrates that real liars model their father—satan, by behaving in a manner that minimizes the importance of what is true.  John 8:44 describes liars as children of the household of Satan rather than God: “You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires…When he lies, he speaks according to his nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” This declaration should be a sobering truth to anyone realizing that he or she is a liar.   

But if you want to be a liar, here how:

First, if you want to be a liar, you must continually choose the way of lies. You must incorporate lying into your personality and become an enemy of God’s kingdom way. Make no mistake—if others know you to be a liar, and you are comfortable with that moniker, whether you tithe, attend church or even pastor a church—in addition to anything else you may be–you are living as an enemy of God’s kingdom.   

Second, if you want to be a liar, you must be consistent and aware. A few unrepentant lies do not a liar make.  Liars must make lie-telling an ongoing approach to life.  Misquotes or misinformation do not even you the title “liar.”  Even consistently misquoting and misinforming others does not earn you the title. (It will, however, earn you the title of “uneducated, misguided gossip”), but not “liar.”

Third, if you want to be a liar, you must demonstrate malicious intent.  I am sorry, but you cannot be a liar if your untruth was unintentional. To earn the title “liar,” you must have invested energy and thought in developing and planning your untruthfulness to cause intentional hurt and harm, as true liars are aware of the wrong and harm they cause. They feel justified and satisfied in their lying. Being a liar requires a pattern of deliberately choosing to share what you know to be untrue.  If you believe that you are speaking the truth and find that you are not, you are not a liar—you are misinformed.

Fourth, if you want to be a liar, you must embrace half-truths.” The swearing-in process as a court witness requires that the witness “swears, to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”  This clarification is warranted because liars will obfuscate the truth.   

There you have it: how to become a liar. But is that how you want to be known.

Trust is the basis for building the real community God wants for us. It is also the bedrock of Christ’s church.  One way to destroy or disempower the church—is to remain silent as the church is filled with those whose reputations have rightfully earned them the title “liar.”  

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices.