Fact or Fiction? You Choose!

"I’m just too far out of your league.” “Yes, that dress makes you look fat.” These are just a few of the sayings on the cover of the newly released movie The Invention of Lying. I grabbed the movie, wanting to check it out and see what a world full of honesty would look like. After reading the description on the back of the cover, I figured it would be a pretty harmless movie because the guy who “invents” lying is described as “creating a world where he could get anything he wants….well, almost anything.”

So I figured, it would have a great ending showing how lying is wrong. I don’t know what happened at the end because I cut it off half-way through. The movie seemed pretty decent until his mother is dying and to stop her from being fearful of death he “lies” and says that she will not go to a place of nothingness for eternity. Instead she will go to a place where all her loved ones before her have gone and she will live in a mansion. This revelation sparks media frenzy and he is forced to “lie” further and tell the whole world what happens to us after we die…thus creating “heaven and hell.” This movie really burned my buttons and I had to cut it off.

But it did spark a few thoughts in my mind about lying and how dangerous it can really be. Lying can corrupt the true being of who we are. We are given free-will to make decisions concerning our life and how our choices affect the lives of others. Every time we tell a lie, it goes against the morals that are instilled within us. Little white lies can turn in to larger and more harmful lies. At times, our lies can put us in a situation where we are found out and that will make people deem us as less than trustworthy.

But what about those harmless lies to make another person feel better? Is that okay? Well, what are our true motives? If we really think about it, lying to make someone feel better about who they are also makes us feel good, as well. It takes the pressure of being put on the spot off of us. We want to be seen as a good person and not someone who is hurtful or rude.

One thing that occurred in this movie was the constant and unending telling of the truth. Some of the things that were said were absolutely unnecessary. Truth was offered even if a question was never asked. It seems every little thought that came to mind was spit out without regard to the company being kept. Telling the truth to be hateful is just as bad as lying.

We all dislike deception. I love to write and cook. I know that at times neither is perfect or anywhere close to good. I would rather someone speak honestly to me about what I am doing wrong than to ignore it all together. So if I ask, “how was it?” Instead of a simple “Fine!” I want to hear what was wrong so I can improve upon it. Telling the truth can be done harmlessly and with tact. Constantly speaking the truth when not asked for it can make us appear mean or insensitive. But if asked for our honest opinion, we should give it out of love and respect while still regarding ones feelings. Speaking out of love, respecting someone enough to look them in the eyes, giving an example of what we may have done wrong in the past and what we learned from it, and allowing the person time to digest what we have said is better than lying.
Just because we may not like something someone has done it doesn’t mean we dislike the person all together. We can tell the truth in a reverent manner without making someone feel like a failure.

Proverbs 24:28 tells us “Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips.” Plainly put; don’t lie about something you aren’t sure about and don’t lie when asked for the truth.