The Men of Iron Minute

by Chad Zueck | Director of Content Creation

Lies Always Cause More Trouble Than the Truth

Intrigue and treachery meet at the weight of our words. Words spoken to us and about us sink deep into our psyche. The wonder and weight of words are rarely superficial. Words have an incredible power, both to hurt and to heal. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18:21 that “The tongue has the power of life and death …” What a devastatingly powerful truth. Hence, we are accountable to God for our words and how we say them. As the adage goes, “People may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.” Still, deception and lying pervade our sacred lands and secular airways. We are a world full of Jacob’s desperate to become Israel. J. Budziszewski, author of What We Can’t Not Know, mentions an all-familiar paradigm called “The Seven Levels of Lying.” As men, let’s use this scaffolded approach to seek accountability in our words.

1. The lie. A single lie can become a match that lights a bonfire. Unless we confess the truth about our lie, we are probably on our way to Level #2.
2. Self-protection. That is, you lie about having lied. If you lie about one thing, you will likely lie about another. Budziszewski says, “Lies are weaklings; they need bodyguards.”
3. Lying becomes a habit. A liar at this level might, just out of habit, lie about something trivial for no benefit.
4. Self-deception. You now believe the lies that you are telling others. We can lie so effectively that we even lie to ourselves. We self-deceive. Take note: Just because we are deceived—honestly and truly—by the wiles of our own crookedness does not mean we are innocent or exempt from the need to repent. On the cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus’ prayer suggests that sins committed unknowingly are still sins in need of forgiveness. Lying is sinful even when we do so subconsciously. It’s important to understand that self-deception is self-imposed. To be deceived by someone else or shielded from the full truth is not the same as self-deception. Self-deception is a vice. Pontius Pilate self-deceived by telling himself that truth is inaccessible. When face to face with Jesus, Pilate guardedly asked, “What is truth?” Pilate had a motive for not wanting to know the truth. Pilate wasn’t willing to be seen in the light of the truth of his cowardice. Pilate’s very question was pitted against the truth of his own poor character in contrast to the innocence of Jesus. At Level #4, a person enters into denial. He stops looking at his internal moral compass and, therefore, ceases to feel guilty anymore.
5. Rationalization (justify). Now, it’s not just about accepting lies as truth; it’s about convincing yourself that they serve a greater purpose. You’ve reached a point where dishonesty isn’t just a norm; it’s considered a virtue because, in your mind, it benefits the organization, preserves jobs, and more.
6. Develop a technique. The main technique is to compartmentalize. You start isolating statements, ignoring what was said in other contexts. Level #6 liars are often found in the upper echelons of bureaucracy. A Level #5 liar might smoothly move from one constituent to another, saying each of these things, swearing in each instance that he is telling the truth: “This institution is going to stay true to our stated core values.” “Please don’t pay attention to our stated core values; those were written by a committee who no longer works here.” “Core values reside in people. It really doesn’t matter what is stated on paper.” “Don’t let those stated values stop you from giving; it’s long been public knowledge that I myself disagree with three or four of them.” “I can assure you that our stated core values serve as our guiding compass.” Level #6 deception isn’t limited to the professional realm; it extends to personal matters, too. Consider the words of the blindly unfaithful spouse: “You don’t understand,” she says, “My husband and I never truly had a marriage. We’ve spent 30 years coexisting and raising children, but what I have with my new partner is entirely different. We’re discovering love for the first time. This isn’t adultery; it’s love.”

7. You see it as a duty to lie. In the realm of honesty, there’s a level that takes things to an extreme. It’s called Level #7, and it turns the concept of duty completely around by making lying compulsory. For instance, picture a family where dysfunction reigns. At Level #7, siblings might find themselves bowing to a parent’s wishes to protect deep-seated family secrets.

In the corporate world, Level #7 executives embrace dishonesty as a norm, echoing company falsehoods and cautioning their subordinates against individuals who expose wrongdoing, dismissing them as overly critical and self-righteous. These Level #7 deceivers even go to the extent of attacking those who speak the truth (John 16:2).

Because we’re inherently designed to reflect honesty to some degree, even at Level #5, where people are less truthful, they still try to justify their actions. Meanwhile, Level #7 liars adopt a facade of dutifulness, attempting to appear upright despite their habitual dishonesty.

Lies always cause more problems than the truth does.

Fortunately for us humans, God loves liars.

Be a mentor.

Find a mentor.

Be a better man.

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