Honesty is more than the best policy. It is an essential principle of the Christian's standard of life. Lying is not some little misdemeanor. It is a grievous sin that can prepare one for the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Let this little effort be dedicated to the task of awakening all of us to an acute awareness to the soul-destroying danger in dishonesty. All liars shall have their part in the lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. This is the seriousness of this matter (Revelation 21:8).

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another" (Ephesians 4:22-25). We would all be pleased if others would put away lying and speak truth. They, in turn, would like for all of us to always speak only the truth. Absolute honesty would make a better world.

While honesty is an excellent trait, which we appreciate everywhere we find it, dishonesty often becomes something of a habit. Note the sad message of Titus 1:12, 13: "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith." Imagine the difficulty of trying to establish a faithful congregation among such people, and yet that is the very task at which Titus was to work so diligently. Souls were and are in danger. The sharp rebuke and all other efforts that the Lord recommends should be made to save people from the soul-destroying evil.

Some speak things, which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake (Titus 1:11). The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. There are, and always have been religious racketeers. The most dangerous deceivers are the religious receivers. These false teachers subvert whole houses. They should be convicted by sound doctrine so that their mouths are stopped.

Liars must sear their conscience to have any rest. This can be done. Men may destroy this precious part of their make up if they are determined to walk the false way. Those who depart from the faith, and sear their conscience as with a hot iron, may speak lies in hypocrisy. (Please read I Timothy 4: 1, 2). Liars are among those who cast their fiery darts at the faithful soldiers of the Lord's army (Ephesians 6:10- 17).

The love of money or covetousness is often the motive of those who speak evil of the way of truth. They make merchandise of men. They speak things, which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake. They speak feigned words, or lies in hypocrisy. Such men are false prophets. This is the form of dishonesty with which the New Testament deals most often.

Some seem to think that a man who claims to preach could not be dishonest. He is a gospel preacher, they say. Could he be a false teacher? Have there been such in the past? Notice 2 Peter 1:21-2:3: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: But holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."

I am much impressed with the church at Ephesus and its accomplishment in regard to false apostles. Note the Lord's commendation in Revelation 2:2. "I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars." It is wonderful that they discovered that they were liars. Their words would have been damnable heresies. Their words would "eat as cloth a canker" (2 Timothy 2:17).

It is easy to see that such men should be marked, avoided, and rejected (Titus 3:10, 11; Romans 16:17, 18).

False teachers or deceitful workers serve not our Lord Jesus Christ. They deceive and destroy. They are enemies of the cross of Christ. It is as appropriate now as it was in the day of the great apostle to the Gentiles for men to weep as they behold their soul destroying efforts. Think seriously of these words from this apostle. "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly' and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things)" (Philippians 3:17-19). Such enemies of the cross of Christ should not be supported as gospel preachers. They deserve no honor. Let us use again the strong words of the scripture in saying they are to be marked, avoided, and rejected. They are as wolves among sheep. The sheep should be warned.

Is there any difference in speaking perverse things and in speaking lies in hypocrisy? Paul was speaking of such deceitful workers when he warned the elders at Ephesus of the grievous wolves who would enter in among them, destroying the flock. He wept as he warned day and night. He commended them to the word as their great protection. By it they could test the teachers and recognize the perverted ones.

The church at Ephesus later had liars to appear among them who said they were apostles, or men sent of God. The church learned the truth on these liars and was commended for it. If you had lived then and had heard Paul's warning, would you have been among the first to detect the cunning craftiness of these liars, or would you have been among those who were deceived and blown about by their perverseness? Are you sure? Could you be trusted to discover, mark, avoid, and reject a dishonest preacher today, or would you be among the number fighting those who speak the truth in love? I am not asking a trivial question. It does make a difference. We do not want to be found fighting against

In this lesson I keep trying to warn of the danger in our day of deceitful workers. Be not deceived. Awaken to the fact that all is not gold that glitters. Awaken to the fact that all are not Christians who preach. To stamp this on our minds better let us consider 1 John 4:1. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." The false prophets are not on Mars. They are in the world! It is very urgent that we all try the spirits whether they are of God. One who may once have been a true teacher may now be false. Read the story of the prophet Balaam. Many false prophets are gone out into the world, the apostles said. Evidently he was right, and that sad situation still prevails.

Men are not always what they seem. They transform themselves into another image if they speak lies in hypocrisy (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). "But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion, that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

Were there those who would seek or desire occasion to hinder work done by Paul? Of course, there were. That was a common problem that he faced. Would some today seek occasion to hinder a good work? If not, why not? Men are still prone to covetousness, ignorance, pride, envy, and jealousy. Men still find pleasure in unrighteousness. Would you recognize a satanic influence even if it should appear as an angel of light? Would you soon recognize one who speaks lies in hypocrisy even if he claimed to be a minister of righteousness? Are you sure? Please be watchful or vigilant as the Lord so often requested us to be. It is no wonder the apostle Paul wept as he warned of the false prophets in his day. Many did not recognize the wolf-like nature. They saw only the sheep like clothing of hypocrisy.

In this article I am not so much discussing the true doctrine or showing what it is. I am seeking to show that men can be removed from it by a perverted gospel, and that the man who does preach another gospel stands accursed before God. He would not have us honor such or bid him godspeed. Whole houses can be subverted by these who speak things, which they ought not. From the first chapter of Galatians we can learn that teachers of a perverted gospel can remove many churches from Christ. Tremble at the danger. This is an ever-present danger. Beware!

TRUTH MAGAZINE XI: 3, pp. 7-9
December 1966