Deception
B1 Defined:
C1 the act of causing someone to
believe an untruth, or the state of being so deceived. (Source)
C2 For better or worse, here is a
Wikipedia article on Deception.
D3 Why
Do People Lie? (non-Christian but gives a nice summary).
B2 Effects of deception
C1 A classic on deception is
Propaganda
by Edward Bernays (PDF).
C2 Effects as abuse, control (no
freedom), stealing, pain, even death.
What
God teaches
B1 A solemn warning: Matthew 24:4 WEL
Jesus answering said to them, “Beware that no one deceives you.
B2 God’s comment on Jeremiah living
in a society of liars: Jeremiah 9:6 NIV You live in the midst of
deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,"
declares the LORD.
B3 Lies disguised as smooth and
flattering speech: Romans 16:18 GW People like these are not
serving Christ our Lord. They are serving their own desires. By their
smooth talk and flattering words they deceive unsuspecting people.
B4 A person’s source of deception:
Jeremiah 17:9 GNB Who can understand the human heart? There
is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed.
B5 As punishment, God will send
deception. Since they do and want deception, God gives to them. They
reject truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 EMTV And because of this, God
will send them strong delusion, in order for them to believe the lie.
B6
People can lie with
persuasive arguments: Colossians 2:1-4 EMTV For I want you
to know how great a struggle I have concerning you and those in
Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2
that their hearts may be encouraged, being joined together in love,
and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to a full
knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now
this I say lest anyone may deceive you with persuasive words.
B7
Some find joy in deception (just because they can): Proverbs 26:19
LEB so is a man who deceives his neighbor, but says "Am
I not joking?
B8
The way a person looks, dresses, acts, etc. can be deceiving:
Proverbs 31:30 LEB Charm is deceit and beauty is vain;
but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
B9
Yes, trusted religious
leaders can lie: Matthew 24:11 NASB Many false prophets
will arise and will mislead many.
B10 A
person’s countenance can be deceptive: Proverbs 26:26 NKJV Though
his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed
before the assembly.
B11
Often deception comes from ignorance: Matthew 22:29 EMTV
Jesus answered and said to them, "You err, not knowing the
Scriptures, nor the power of God.
B12
The time may come when lies
are so
rampant, we are
not to
trust our neighbor. Jeremiah 9:3-5 NLT My people bend their
tongues like bows to shoot out lies. They refuse to stand up for the
truth. They only go from bad to worse. They do not know me,"
says the LORD. 4 "Beware of your neighbor! Don't even trust your
brother! For brother takes advantage of brother, and friend slanders
friend. 5 They all fool and defraud each other; no one tells the
truth. With practiced tongues they tell lies; they wear themselves
out with all their sinning.
B13
Sin deceives then hardens the
heart. The hardening happens because the evil is believed so
strongly. Hebrews 3:13 EMTV but encourage yourselves every
day, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
B14
Contrast Jesus who never lied. He still never lies, which is why we
understand, read, and study the Bible in its plain, normal sense. 1
Peter 2:22 EMTV Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found
in His mouth.
B15 A
denial of reality—I am a good person. 1 John 1:8 EMTV If
we claim that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.
B16
It is good to be a little
skeptical: Proverbs 14:8 NLT The prudent understand where
they are going, but fools deceive themselves.
B17
Employment lying. This be
might the quality of work, the amount of work, or the amount
of time it
took to work: Proverbs 11:18
NIV A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who
sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
B18
There are many spiritual ways
of deception: Jeremiah 29:8 NIV Yes, this is what the LORD
Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and
diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you
encourage them to have.
B19 A
cheating merchant is a liar/deceiver. He lies in the amount bought or
in the price: Proverbs 20:17 NIV Food gained by fraud
tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
B20
Deception to hurt, manipulate, defraud. The defraud can be in
finance, sex, adoration, control, etc. Jeremiah 9:8 NIV Their
tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. With their mouths
they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they
set traps for them.
B21
Some people believe themselves to be spiritually safe by reading a
Bible verse and
agreeing with it but not living it. James 1:22 EMTV But
become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
B22
The people we associate with
affect us. This would include groups, organizations, memberships. 1
Corinthians 15:33 EMTV Do not be deceived: "Evil
associations corrupts good habits.
B23
Deny the deity of Jesus Christ: 2 John 1:7 EMTV Because
many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus
Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and the antichrist.
The method
B1 Teach the truth for a while, say
6-9 months.
B2 After that slowly bring in one
falsity.
B3 When that lie has been accepted,
introduce another falsity.
B4 Slowly change the definitions from
common definitions to a very specialized definition.
B5 Act very holy at all times.
B6 Be very friendly.
B7 Note those who believe your every
word and make them your “best” friends. Marginalize the others.
B8 Bring in “big name” speakers
who believe like you do. Then promote their books.
B9 Discourage people from checking out
if what you say is true. Accuse them of being divisive.
B10 Slowly change the rules,
constitute, by laws, etc. to give you more authority and power.
Avoidance
B1 Know what truth is:
B2 Be a little skeptical.
B3 Study truth.
B4 Believe truth.
B5 Practice truth.
B6
Pray for God to keep us in truth: Proverbs 30:8 ISV Keep
deception and lies far away from me, and give me neither poverty nor
wealth. Feed me with food that I need for today.
B7
Teach the truth to others: Ephesians 4:11-13 ISV And
it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets,
others to be evangelists, and still others to be pastors and
teachers, 12 to equip the saints, to do the work of ministry,
and to build up the body of the Messiah 13 until all of us are
united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God's Son, and until
we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in
the Messiah.
Sources:
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