Lies have many characteristics. They can be attractive. Threatening. Tempting. Subtle. Alluring. Almost true. Specious. I compiled a short list of common lies I have heard growing up in the United States. This list is by no means comprehensive. I am interested in what those from other countries would say their cultural lies are. What lies have you believed? What lies are you believing? Why?
Lie: You can have everything. Truth: Just like the song says, “You can’t always get what you want” in life. Sometimes you’ll get things that you definitely do not want.
Lie: You are worthless. Truth: Rubbish! You are priceless.
Lie: You are perfect just the way you are. Truth: Almost. You are beautiful and broken and need to be made new.
Lie: Love must be earned. Truth: God loves you so much that he did everything to save you.
Lie: You can be anything you want to be. Truth: You can be some things you want to be. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
Lie: Forgiving means forgetting. Truth: Forgiving is not enabling.
Lie: You are weak if you cry. Truth: God wept (John 11:35). So there must be more to it; something about crying is good.
Lie: No one will find out. Truth: Uhmmm. One of the starkest verses in the Bible to me is: “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). See also Matthew 12:36 and 1 Corinthians 3:13.
Lie: God won’t give you more than you can handle. Truth: False. God wants you to recognize that you can’t handle it. God won’t give you more than God can handle.
Lie: I will be happy once I am married. Truth: Being single or married does not make you more or less of a valuable person. Even if you desire something else, enjoy what you have now.
Lie: Hide your shame and guilt. Truth: Nope, wrong again. Bring your dark secrets into the Light to be pierced and healed by Love. You can be forgiven (1 John 1:9).
Lie: God wants me to be happy. Truth: Ultimately, I guess, but not by what that word means when most people use it nowadays. God wants us to be good.
Lie: I am alone. Truth: You are never, not once, alone on this earth (Psalm 139:8; Proverbs 18:24).