by: Allen Domelle
“With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest, or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they’d go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at a hearing on the September 11, 2012. This hearing was in response to the four Americans who were killed in the attack on the American embassy in Benghazi, Libya.
The answer to his question is, YES, IT MATTERS! It matters because U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Tyrone Woods, Sean Smith and Glen Doherty were killed in this attack. These are four lives whose families will live without them because someone didn’t properly do their job. It matters because American integrity is at stake. It matters because truth is at stake.
We then discover on May 10, 2013, that the Benghazi talking points were changed 12 different times to take out any reference of terrorism. ABC News obtained 12 different versions of the talking points that showed they were extensively changed to protect the president and his re-election campaign. Instead of telling the truth, they blamed the whole attack on a video made in the United States. President Obama’s staff knowingly went out and lied to the American people about what truly happened the night of the attack.
One may ask, “Does it really matter if they lied?” Let me make this clear, it always matters if someone lies. If the truth is not known, then the only thing that people have to believe are lies. To lie to the American people puts a question on the integrity of every one who told those lies from President Obama on down.
Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.” God detests lying because it is the opposite of Who He is. We find out that the father of lies is the Devil in John 8:44 when it says, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Anytime you tell a lie, you are doing the work of the Devil.
On the other hand, we find that truth comes from God. John 14:6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus emphasizes the importance of being truthful by showing us that He is the Truth. God further emphasizes this in John 17:17 when He says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” So, when you tell the truth, you are doing the work of God.
It is important that we learn to tell the truth all the time. They often say that the cover up, which is nothing more than telling a lie, is worse than the act, and God’s Word would agree. God calls lying an abomination. Even if telling the truth means it is going to hurt you, you should always tell the truth.
Let me take this one step further. There is no difference between President Obama lying, and Christians who lie to cover the truth. It doesn’t matter what your reasoning is for covering the truth is; lying is always wrong. Christians should never lie and this includes preachers. When a pastor knows something has gone wrong, he should not lie to cover the sin. Sin must always be dealt with, and covering it is dishonesty. You may think you are doing someone justice, but you are doing them an injustice because you are teaching them to be deceitful which is the same as lying.
Always remember that when you lie, you are doing the work of the Devil. On the other hand, when you tell the truth, you are doing the work of God. Lying always matters because it is always wrong and the truth is not being told. It doesn’t matter what the reasoning for lying may be, it is always wrong. Anyone, especially those who are in leadership positions, should be truthful at all costs and held accountable when they lie. Don’t let the Devil trick you into believing that the lies of President Obama and his staff don’t matter. They do matter because truth was covered up, and truth is one thing that is supposed to be upheld.
Allen Domelle is the editor of the Old Paths Journal which is more than just a Christian’s publication. It is an excellent place to learn how today’s headlines will forge tomorrow’s laws and statutes. Keep yourself in tune with what is happening around the world, as well as in your own backyard with our daily updates and devotionals.