BEARING FALSE WITNESS

Exodus 20:16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

On this past week there has been much news about the states of New Mexico and Pennsylvania using federal money to fund abortions. President Obama said that anyone who makes the claims there would be money from federal dollars going for abortions was “bearing false witness.” (I wonder why all of a sudden he uses biblical terminology? Could it be that he’s speaking directly to us Christians who oppose his pro-abortionist administration?)

When the CNA (Catholic News Agency) heard of the accusation, they contacted the “Pennsylvania Insurance Department to verify the charges, with the department ultimately evading the allegations.”

The CNA reports that “The federal fund is being accused of covering abortions if they are deemed necessary by a physician.” And even though there are some other guidelines, do you want to trust a doctor to make the determination. (Don’t forget Michael Jackson’s physician and his judgment.)

The CNA goes on to say “Although the language of the Pennsylvania insurance plan states that the funding does not cover ‘elective abortions,’ NRLC (National Right to Life Committee) argued that nowhere in the document is the term ‘elective’ defined.”

I guess they want us to allow the abortionist (some would probably want me to use the word “murderers”) to define those words as they see fit.

I’m not going into more about this issue because you can “google” it yourself. The issue I want to deal with here is the words used by President Obama, “bearing false witness.”

So, what is “bearing false witness?” Adam Clark’s Commentary: “. . . whatever is deposed as a truth, which is false in fact.” John Wesley says that it is “. . . speaking falsely in any matter, lying, equivocating, and any way devising and designing to deceive.” In other words it is what politicians do many, many times. This happens on both sides of the aisle – Democrats and Republican.

When I say both sides of the aisle, I’m not trying to take the heat off of our President, because I believe he’s one of the best liars yet. He can look you straight in the eye, or tv cameras and “bear false witness” and seem to have no remorse whatsoever. He even has his lies programmed into his teleprompter. In his own words, “Let me make this clear,” I have come to the place where I don’t believe any politician. This really makes it hard to know how to vote.

This does not just happen in the political realm. It happens in all of our society. How do you know who to believe? I was even told by an employee of a Christian organization that he was told by his boss that if someone asked about the progress of a certain issue to say that you’re working on it even if you’re not. He said that would satisfy them and give you some more time. (I told him I couldn’t work for that kind of person one more day.)

Where have we stooped in our morals and character here in our country? Where is our integrity? Whose word can we trust?

The Word of God has so much to say about truthfulness and lying. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 13:6 “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;” He also wrote in Epesians 4:25 “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”

What we need today is honesty, truthfulness and integrity. We need more individuals like Job of the Old Testament. God’s description of Job is found in Job 2:3 “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, . . .”

There are many people with talent and abilities, but we need people of integrity and character. Talent can be inherited but character is developed. Paul challenged in Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” We need Christians who stand out in our world because of their character and integrity.

The wise man Solomon wrote in Proverbs 19:1 “Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.” Again, we read in Proverbs 20:7 “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”

We know the story of Daniel and his friends who were taken captive and trained to be leaders even in a foreign land. It was not the training of the godless nation that stood out in these men’s lives, but the character of these young men. We read of Daniel’s character in 6:4 “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault forasmuch as he was faithful neither was there any error or fault found in him.”

This is the character and integrity we need today in our lives, homes, government and churches. We need leaders who stand on the principles of the Word of God. Notice the testimony of the Apostle Paul in II Corinthians 7:1-2 “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.”

Can our word be trusted? Are we truthful? We need this in our President, Pastor and in ourselves.

That’s my view; how about you?