30 June 2020

A Few Thoughts About Deception

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.

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