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Catechism #30


Q. What is the ninth of the Ten Commandments?
A. The ninth of the Ten Commandments is, “You shall not lie.”

We all know deep down that lying is wrong. Even Friedrich Nietzsche, who famously noted “God is dead,” once quipped, “I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.”

No one wants to be around a liar because no one trusts a liar. God does not want His followers to be those dishonest, untrustworthy types that people do not want to associate with. Think about it: lying hurts our ability to share the good news with the unsaved world.

The Bible speaks in no uncertain terms when it comes to our honesty: “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 12:22).” Many believers are quick to point out that homosexuality is an abomination to God, but that same indictment is leveled upon those who bear false witness.

Furthermore, when we practice deceit we are acting more like Satan than God, for Satan, “is a liar, and is the father of lies (John 8:44).” That same verse says that when Satan lies he is speaking his native language.


When you speak, do you sound like God or like Satan?
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