Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
If only they really caught fire, we’d have a whole lot less lying.
We live in a world drenched in deception. From the news cycle to political hit jobs, social media posts to gossip whispered in church pews. Lies run rampant everywhere. Want to know the worst part? People believe them.
The Power of the Tongue
Proverbs 18:21 tells us:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Your words aren’t just air. They carry weight. They create. They destroy. The Bible teaches that God spoke the world into existence. And as image-bearers of God, we frame our own lives and the lives of others with what we say.
You are either speaking life or you are speaking death. Truth or lies. Healing or harm.
And what you sow, you will reap.
You will eat the fruit of your words.
Lies Shape Reality Even When They’re Not True
There’s a reason slander and defamation laws exist: because words can ruin people.
• A lie told once is damaging.
• A lie told repeatedly becomes a narrative.
• A lie left unchecked becomes a legacy of destruction.
In Exodus 20:16, God commands:
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
It’s not just about lying. It’s about falsely accusing. Half-truths are lies. Damaging someone’s reputation. Painting a picture that isn’t true. Whether on purpose or out of ignorance, it’s still sin. It has consequences.
Jesus warned that we will give an account for every idle word we speak (Matthew 12:36). That includes the gossip. The embellished story. The post that makes you “look better” while throwing someone else under the bus.
People Believe the First Thing They Hear
Here’s the kicker with research to back it up.
A 2012 study in Cognitive Psychology confirmed that people are significantly more likely to believe the first version of a story they hear. Even if later presented with facts or corrections, their minds stay anchored to the original account. It’s called “belief perseverance” and “the primacy effect.”
It’s why the devil spoke first in the Garden of Eden.
He twisted God’s words. He fed Eve half-truths. And humanity has been suffering the consequences of that one conversation ever since.
Lucifer said:
“You shall not surely die…” (Genesis 3:4)
And just like that, death entered the world…not just physical death, but spiritual death.
That’s the power of a lie.
Take Every Thought Captive
As believers, we are commanded in 2 Corinthians 10:5:
“Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
We are not to be passive consumers of information. We are called to discern, test spirits, and hold the line of truth.
• Don’t repeat gossip.
• Don’t share posts just because they’re juicy.
• Don’t believe the first story you hear…especially if it tears someone down.
Ask God for discernment. Test everything against His Word. And don’t let your tongue become a weapon in the hand of the enemy.
In a world full of lies, be a truth-teller.
Not because it’s easy, but because it’s righteous.
Let your yes be yes. Let your no be no.
And if you don’t know the whole story, keep your mouth shut!