June 14, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE NINTH COMMANDMENT
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Exo.20: 16; Deut.5:20.
“The ninth commandment requires of us an inviolable regard for exact truth in every declaration by which the character of our fellowmen may be affected. The TONGUE [see James 3:1-18], which is kept so little under the control of the human agent, is to be bridled by strong, conscientious principles, by the law of love toward God and men.” E.G. White, Letter 15, 1895.
“Everything that Christians do should be as transparent as sunlight. Truth is of God; deception, in every one of its myriad forms, is of Satan [‘the father of lies’]. We cannot speak the truth unless our MINDS are continually guided by Him Who is Truth.” Ibid, Mount of Blessing, p. 105.106.
“False-speaking in any manner, every attempt it purpose to DECEIVE our neighbor, is here included. An INTENTION to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a FALSEHOOD may be told as effectually as BY WORDS.
“All intentional OVERSTATEMENT, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or EXAGGERATED impression, even the statement of FACTS in such a manner as to mislead, is FALSEHOOD. This precept forbids every effort to INJURE our neighbor’s reputation by misrepresentation or evil-surmising, by slander or tale-bearing [gossip].
“Even the intentional SUPPRESSION of truth, by which INJURY may result to others, is a violation of the ninth commandment.” Ibid, Patriarchs & Prophets. p. 309.
The Word says: “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4,KJV.
“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without (outside the gates) are dogs (male prostitutes), and sorcerers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a LIE.” Rev. 22:14,15.
May we think, speak and live the truth only remembering that “as a man thinketh so is he.” Think truth, that is, “the truth as it is in Jesus.” God bless all. NMF