To Tell The Truth
September 18, 2020
By Rosella Shishido, Communications Ministry Coordinator
One of the shows I’m liking on TV these days is a game show called To Tell The Truth. Have you seen it? It’s a show where four guest panelists are tasked to guess who among three contestants are telling the truth. What makes the show interesting is how the contestants have unusual occupations or experiences that all three claim to have, like being one of the original Back Street Boys, or being a professional mourner, or being the inventor of The Floss (dance move), or being attacked by a severed snake head (imagine that).
The show is actually a remake of the original To Tell The Truth, which first aired in 1956. I like watching that too (original black-and-white episodes on YouTube).
Another fascinating thing about the show is the remarkable finesse the impostors exhibit at lying. They all manage to keep a straight face. They all exude confidence. They all give sensible and convincing answers. And they all sound so sincere and credible. There’s almost no distinction between the fibbers and the one who is actually telling the truth. It’s impressive but sad at the same time because it clearly proves that the art of lying can be mastered.
I get it; it’s not always easy to tell the truth. We go into self-preservation mode when we’re in a tight spot. We don’t want to be found out or be embarrassed, so we resort to lying. However, the Lord calls us to tell the truth. Always.
When I was in grade school eons ago I was called into the principal’s office and was surprised to see my Mama there with the principal waiting for me. What have I done to get myself in trouble? But I was also confused because my Mama didn’t look angry or concerned. In fact, she was smiling. Then she whispered to me that they had called her in to tell her in person that they’ve discovered I was a genius!
What? Me? A genius? It turned out that I got a PERFECT score on the IQ test they gave us the day before!
Oh, that test. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I said, “It’s the same test that we have at home, Mama, so I already knew the answers!” And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, was when I was a genius for a day.
Doing what we say is another way to be truthful.
I regret the many times I have said “I will pray for you” but didn’t. I would say it because it seemed like the appropriate response to a situation, until the Lord started showing me that I wasn’t being honest. Since then I have decided not to say those words unless I meant them. I’ve also learned to pause and pray for the person right away instead of delaying it for when it’s more convenient.
Telling the truth may not always be easy, but it is something followers of Christ are called to do.
I like The Message version of Ephesians 4:25: “What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.”
Prayer: Father in Heaven, forgive us for the many times we have not told the truth. Wash us clean, and create in us a clean heart that will always choose to speak the truth with love. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
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