Our Witness

Most Christians will tell you they believe in putting sin out of their lives…but most couldn’t tell you the biblical definition of sin. The Bible, the revealed Word of God, says that sin is the transgression of Gods law. The cornerstone of Gods law is the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are the only part of scripture actually written by the very hand of God. He spoke them directly to the people of Israel assembled at the foot of mount Sinai. They heard His voice and were terrified. They asked Moses to intercede for them and the law of God became known to many as the law of Moses. They remain the law of God however, and yes, they were written in stone…

The ninth of the Ten Commandments says: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” (KJV) Other scriptures tell us plainly that God hates lies and that no liar will enter His Kingdom. The spirit of the ninth commandment goes beyond lying however. Christ expounded on the commandments and taught that the spirit of the commandments also binds us.

Any attempt at deceiving others in thought, word or deed is a part of bearing false witness. While there are many honest Christians that would not overtly lie, there are those that would turn back the odometer on their car or not disclose a fault in a home they want to sell. There are those who would attempt to deceive by not speaking up when they should. There are those who rationalize cheating on their taxes or taking advantage of others in other ways. These are also attempts to deceive others and they are contrary to the spirit of the ninth commandment. That makes all of them sin.

Perhaps the most common practice of bearing false witness against ones neighbor is gossip. It can seem innocent enough simply to pass on a story one heard about a third party. In a court of law that would be referred to as ‘hearsay’ and would be inadmissible as evidence against a defendant. To speak ‘against’ any other person without first hand knowledge of their actions is gossip. Gossip is, however harmlessly intended, a violation of God’s ninth commandment. By gossip we can harm the reputation of another person in ways that they can’t even defend against.

As Christians, we should control what comes out of our mouths. What comes out of us should always be truthful. It should never intend to deceive. It should never be hurtful and it should never be used to tear down another person. (That doesn’t mean we should never correct someone for doing wrong. In correction, however, the goal should be to uplift someone…not tear them down.)

Search your heart and ask yourself if what you are saying or doing is an attempt to deceive someone else. Does what comes out of your mouth harm or uplift others? What comes out of you is a reflection of what is inside of you. Is it the province of light…or darkness?

Scripture teaches us that Satan is the father of deception. As Christians we should put all forms of deception out of ours lives as an act of worship to The Most High. Our individual walk with God should be one wherein we seek to become more like Him on a daily basis. His Holy Spirit will lead us into becoming more like our Father IF we listen to it… We have the freedom of choice.