The Truth and Nothing but the Truth

by Charles E. Murray

Truth is a very rare commodity in the world in which we live. It is not unusual for people to lie if it is in their best interests to do so. Our president of the United States set an example of lying when necessary to escape the consequences of one's actions. It seems that those who tell the truth are few and far between. When one testifies in a court of law, they affirm to "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." But this affirmation means nothing to many people because people even lie under oath. The evidence cannot be disputed that Bill Clinton lied under oath.

Lying is even practiced among the "clergy" class. Preachers have been known to lie to protect themselves. Several years ago, a prominent television preacher lied and tried to cover up sexual meetings with prostitutes. More recently, Henry Lyons lied about his finances and his involvement with other women. This week Eugene Jerome Dupuis, a former motorcycle gang member who became a preacher lied on his "death bed" about his house being booby trapped with bombs. Think about leaving this world to meet God with a lie on your lips! These are only a few of the many examples of preachers who have told lies.

While it is terrible for a preacher to lie about sexual relations or money matters it is even more tragic when they lie about spiritual things. Yet, everyday, preachers go on national television and tell lies to the gullible public.

Famous, well known, well loved and well respected evangelists tell lies that will cause millions of people to lose their eternal souls. It is bad to be told a lie that results in the loss of physical life, or wealth or possessions, but to tell someone a deliberate lie, knowing that it will cost those who believe the lie their souls, is unconscionable.

You might be asking at this point, "What lies do preachers tell that cost people their souls?" Consider Billy Graham. If I made the statement that Billy Graham did not tell the truth, people would think I am crazy. Billy Graham is one of the most respected evangelists in the world. He is one of the few who has not been accused of immorality or impropriety of any kind, nor has he been accused of mishandling money. But when it comes to his preaching, he is not honest. Mr. Graham has preached some of the best sermons I have ever heard until he gets to the conclusion. After his lessons, he tells people to "accept Jesus Christ" as their personal savior and they will be saved. Mr. Graham is not alone in this lie because many others teach the same thing. Some preachers go so far to say that "there is absolutely nothing" a person can do to be saved. These are lies! It is plain and simple! No where in the Bible was any person ever told to "Accept Christ as a personal savior" to be saved. Study your Bible and see if you can find this statement recorded anywhere in the Holy scriptures. Friends, it is not there. And yet, this is what Mr. Graham and others tell people to do to be saved. Is this the truth or is it a lie? Truth is absolute, therefore something is either the truth or it is a lie. When people believe this lie, their possessions or wealth is not at stake, their souls are in jeopardy. The truth, which is revealed in God's word teaches that to be saved we must "believe and be baptized" (Matthew 16:16; Acts 2:38). Honestly, have you ever heard Mr. Graham or any denominational preacher quote Jesus' words in Matthew 16: 16, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved"? You have not, and you will not. Why do men tell lies about what a person must do to be saved? This is hard to understand.

Some preachers tell lies about the end of time. Some lie about knowing when the end will come and are even so bold in their lies to set a date. Mr. Russell, one of the founders of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization, told a lie when he predicted that Christ would return in the year 1914. That year came and went and Christ did not return. Mr. Russell attempted to cover up the lie with another one. He said Christ came, but he came secretly and silently. This is a lie because the Bible, which is always true, says that when Christ comes again, "every eye will see Him" (Revelation 1:7).

Other preachers lie about Christ reigning on earth for a literal 1,000 years. This is not taught anywhere in the scripture! The truth is that Christ is returning and we are going to be raised to meet Christ in the air, "And thus we will always be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4: 16,17). We will be with Christ in the air, not on the earth. The premillinial theory of dwelling with Christ for a 1,000 years on the earth is a lie, and many people are believing this lie.

Some preachers lie when they tell a person that they can never be lost if they are truly saved. I recently heard Charles Stanley who preaches for one of the largest Baptist Churches in the nation, make the statement that a child of God can never lost. Mr. Stanley lied when he taught that. The Bible says that "if after they escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ' a dog returns to his own vomit,' and ' a sow having washed, to her wallowing in the mire'" ( 2 Peter 2: 20-22).

The truth is that a child of God, "one who has escaped the pollutions of the world" can be lost. Mr. Stanley and others lie and say, "No, you cannot be lost." People will lose their souls because they believe religious lies.

Some preachers and religious teachers lie when they tell people that they can worship God anyway they want to. The truth is that "God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). We must worship God in truth, that is, we must have "Book, Chapter and Verse" for every act of worship we offer unto God. It does make a difference. Any man who says that it doesn't; that man can worship God any way he chooses as long as he is sincere is lying.

There are many more examples of the lies that preachers tell. But why would a preacher tell someone a lie? I will answer this question with a question. Why did Satan lie to Eve in the Garden of Eden? God said that the day Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they would die. Satan came along and said, "No, you will not die." Why did Satan tell this lie? The answer to this question also answers the question why preacher tell lies today. But an even more important question is "Why do people believe the lies that preachers tell?"

The Bible answers this question in very plain words. "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all powers, signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" ( 2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12).

The Bible says that God will send a strong delusion on people who do not love the truth so that they will believe a lie.

How can you prevent this from happening to you? The very first thing you need to do is ask yourself this question? "Do I believe religious lies? Have preachers lied to me about what I must do to be saved? And stay saved? Have they lied to me about spiritual matters?" If what I believe or some preacher teaches cannot be found in the word of God, it is a lie! If you have no scriptural authority, i.e., a command, an example or a necessary inference for everything you do in worship unto God, you are not practicing the truth. If you do not have a love for the truth that is revealed in the Bible, you are in danger of receiving from God a strong delusion so that you will be lost.

Friends, you do not have to believe lies. You can believe the truth. In fact, if you are to be free from sin, you must believe the truth. "You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32), said Jesus.

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (I John 4:1).

You must put to the test, every doctrine, teaching and practice in religion. These things must be tested by the word of God. You must demand that your preacher give you Book, Chapter and Verse for everything he wants you to believe. Friend, you must insist on "THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!" Your eternal salvation depends upon truth.

Do you have truth? Or have you been deceived by the lying tongues of men?