Half Truth, All Lie

(Proverbs 4:24 KJV)  Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Righteousness demands more than accuracy.  Being “froward” (deceitful NASB) (6143) can be done with true facts, you just withhold key truths or present them in such a way as to deceive.  One example I have of this came to my attention as I was listening to the radio on the way to work.  It was a couple of years ago but still resounds in my mind.

The discussion was between the host and a guest with “authority”.  The guest said that the Founding Fathers had wanted to separate the church and state.  As evidence of this he referred to the Constitutional Convention.  He pointed out that Benjamin Franklin had made a motion to have a chaplain lead the convention in prayer every day.  The guru said that the motion was defeated.  So far, true.  Then the deception began by withholding more facts.  He said this demonstrated the desire for separation of church and state.  The lie begins.  I have to believe he knew better.  You see, the reason they voted down the motion was because they had no money to pay a chaplain.  Indeed, they proceeded to find a way to not only have prayer but to have sermons read each day.  So much for keeping God out of the process.

So?  We cannot follow that model.  We cannot live on half truths or distortions.  We are called to a higher standard.