7 Types of Lies
/A single lie is the most destructive force in the the universe. If that sounds like hyperbole, look at the shambles around you and consider that all of this mess began with the snake’s lie to Eve in Genesis 3:4.
For some reason, today my mind is turning to a blog post that I wrote nearly 4 years ago about the nuances between various types of thoughts. In a way I want to reprise that post today, but instead of dissecting thinking, let’s consider the different ways people cloud, distort and lie against The Truth.
In short, below is a list of 7 types of lies, along with some direct Biblical passages about each type of deception.
1. Lies
This grevious sin is primarily related to untrue words. Isn’t it fascinating that to define lies you must almost certainly mention Truth? What is a lie? A lie is not The Truth! Lying can also be connected with actions as well, for example we see in Leviticus 19:11 a command to ‘not deal falsely with one another.’
Scriptures about lies and liars: John 8:44, Acts 5:3, Colossians 3:9, 1 John 1:6, 2:21, Revelation 3:9 and 22:15
2. Deceit
This flavor of lying is more about the result that is achieved through lies, meaning lies cause deceit or lies are used for the purpose of deception. But more than that deception also begins to get at the intent of lies. Why would one lie? Why to deceive someone else of course. Because deception is connected with tricking another person it is evident that this is a sin that is done to another person. Multiple times in The Word Paul, James and even Jesus instruct us “do not be deceived.” Of course you should not deceive others but at the threat of your life, you must not allow yourself to be deceived by others either!
Scriptures about deceit and deception: Proverbs 24:28, Jeremiah 9:5, Mark 13:22, Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 2:4
3. Hypocrisy
One of God’s most hated sins is this particular type of lying. Practically speaking this is acting mixed with lying, like an actor playing a part underneath a mask. The mask communicates one message while the actor lives another. So, hypocrisy is a disconnect, or the active misalignment of words and actions — it’s saying one thing while doing another. Another word that conveys this same idea is pretense or pretending. This explains why God hates hypocrisy so much, it’s a sin that is usually committed by those who want to look like or be included with the righteous for their own, self-serving purposes. God doesn’t want pretend children or pretend Christians, He wants genuine believers and followers whose actions and words are in harmony.
Scriptures about hypocrisy: Luke 12:1-2, Galatians 2:13, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 1 Peter 2:1
Synonyms: Dissimulation
4. Circumlocution
We see this type of intentionally evasive speech during God’s conversation with Cain after Abel’s murder. When Cain was asked ‘Where is Abel?’ a direct and honest answer would say ‘I killed him.’ Instead Cain first lied then tried to confuse the line of questioning by asking an unrelated question “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Truth is often direct, succinct and candid which is the opposite of this type of circular and verbose lie.
Synonym: Equivocation
Scripture about circumlocution: Judges 16 (Samson spoke to Delilah with circumlocution until she vexed him to death with her words and he told her the complete Truth)
5. Denial
Peter’s triple denial of Jesus while He was being interrogated prior to His crucifixion is firmly connected with this form of lying. What did Peter do (or not do) with his denial? Peter did not claim or profess Christ, rather he refused to claim and would not confess The Truth. The opposite of Peter’s denial would sound like ‘Yes! I know Jesus and am well acquainted with Him’ I’m not sure it’s natural for us to relate denial with lies, but to deny is absolutely a form of deception!
Scriptures about denial: Proverbs 30:9, Luke 20:27, John 1:20, Titus 1:16, 2 Peter 2:1
Antonyms: Acknowledge, claim (3a), or to state with conviction
6. Treachery
I personally love loyalty and faithfulness, so I find this type of deception especially despicable. Treachery is the act of departing from trust in a relationship, it’s akin to treason or betrayal. In Joshua 22:15-19 Israel relates this sin to turning away from another, so we see there is a change of course to this flavor of deception.
Scriptures about treachery: Psalm 119:158, Jeremiah 3:6-11, Zephaniah 3:4
Synonyms: Infidelity and treason
7. Self Deception
All lies are deadly, but this last item on our list may be most insidious. It is most natural for a person to believe himself, plus if one is convinced by self deception, who will be able to convince him otherwise?
Scriptures about self deception: Deuteronomy 11:16, Jeremiah 37:9-10, 1 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 6:3, James 1:22-26
Scripture about speaking The Truth within one’s self: Psalm 15:1-2
Let’s get to the point.
Lies kill. I beseech you to hate lies!
Rather, speak The Truth in your heart, with your mouth and through your actions.