No False Witness (Testimony)

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16, KJV).

The ninth commandment could be called the law against false witness (misrepresenting what one has seen or been an eye-witness to), false testimony (as in a court of law or other legal procedure), or lying (failure to tell the truth in normal speech of everyday life). The underlying principle of this commandment is that truth is expected. Anything less is too little. Dr. Page H. Kelley observed that nothing threatens the fabric of a nation more than disregard for the truth in the law courts of the land. Jeremiah the prophet spoke out very firmly about false testimony and other sins covered by the commandments relating to horizontal relationships (man-to-man) and vertical relationships (man-to-God): “Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, ‘We are safe’—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! Declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 7:9-11, NIV).

We need to remember that words spoken cannot be called back or cancelled. Dishonest reports (like income tax, for example), slander (speaking untruths about another), exaggerating the truth (boasting) and other sins of the tongue distort the character both of the teller and of those about whom he bears false witness.

To establish and insure justice, society must be able to believe the words of its constituents. Dr. B. Davie Napier in commenting on this commandment noted: “The sense of the ninth commandment as summation is clear: in no way whatsoever may one falsify his witness, his report, even his causal conversation, about another. To do so is to violate that which a man is, and it is therefore a violation not only of the two-member, man-man relationship, but of the three-member, God-man-man community.” Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:32). Paul added his sound advice on the subject of speaking truth: “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ; From him the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:14-16 NIV).

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, August 13, 2010

No Stealing

“Thou shalt not steal.” (Exodus 20:15, KJV).

We don’t have to be reminded that stealing is illegally taking that which belongs to another. In a day when one’s property was limited and sustenance often depended on flocks or tools with which to work, a law on taking the property of another was included in the Decalogue. Stability in a society was (and is) dependent upon security of life, home and property. To take property from someone is a violation of their personhood and a sin against God who is ultimately the Owner of all that we have and are. Commandment eight needs to be heeded in this modern day.

Dr. B. Davie Napier, in his book Exodus (John Knox Press, 1963, p. 88) notes: “In the biblical faith, which in multiple ways affirms that ‘the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof’ (Psalm 24:1) and which understands community finally in terms of the God-man-man relationship, to take what is another’s—be it life, person, or property—is, of course to take what is Another’s: it is to violate God.”

There are other subtle ways of stealing than just taking property that belongs to another. We can “steal” the reputation of a good person by casting innuendoes on their character, or bearing false gossip about them. We can steal by not offering a “day’s work for a day’s wage.” Too many breaks at work can infringe on time allotted to and necessary for good job performance. Or otherwise loitering or using work time for personal pursuits is certainly a form of stealing. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:28 the antidote for stealing and also gave sound advice about helping others: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Thursday, August 12, 2010

Practical Advice for Christian Living

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians4:22-24, NIV) [Read Ephesians 4:17-32].

In the fourth chapter of Ephesians Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus as if he were an earthly father pleading with his children to “do right” and “to live right.” In this chapter is same very practical advice for how to live the Christian life. It can be applied within the church family or in a home situation. Succinctly, these verses tell us how we ought to live so that we can emulate the Spirit of Christ and have blessings for ourselves and be a blessing to others.

I remember hearing Dr. Julian Pipkin, who for years served as the able head of the Sunday School Department of the Georgia Baptist Convention, teach this passage at a conference. He demonstrated the bad characteristics we should “put off” as though we were shedding a coat. Just take off these things, “put off the old self” of deceitful desires, falsehood, anger, temptation, stealing, unwholesome talk, bitterness, rage, brawling, slander, malice. These are some of the “old self,” the old coat the Christian should shed and leave behind. To be dressed in these characteristics of the old life are not the way to be stalwart for Christ and a witness for Him.

On the other hand, deliberately “put on” (that is, don, wear, continue to be dressed in) the new coat Christ offers. In this attire are some basics: prayer (for this is how we attain to the new garment, anyway), right attitude, truth, diligent and honest work, good and edifying language, kindness, compassion, forgiveness. These are earmarks of the Christian’s proper dress and the way he/she conducts the new life in Christ.

Easy? No. It takes some working on, every day, every day, until we establish the new Christ-characteristics in our life. But we can walk “as children of light” and in the Light of Christ’s love if we are sincere about seeking His will and His way.

God grant that we may follow and practice diligently this practical advice for Christian living.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, June 20, 2010

Unity in the Spirit and in the Bond of Love

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all Who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:2-6, NIV) [Read Ephesians 4:1-16]

One glance at the subject of this devotional for today and one might think: Two large subjects—unity and love—both to be treated in a very short writing? And my answer would be yes—too large a subject for the space available. But how the two go together, Unity and Love, and how necessary to the Christian fellowship we call the church. Paul recognized that a local congregation could not be effective in witness unless they were united in the Lord Jesus Christ, had their beliefs firmly planted in His teachings, and operated in love for one another and love for the Lord. Unity and love are necessary for the Christian as he/she relates to others.

The keys to unity in the Spirit and in the bond of love are given in verse two. “Be completely humble and gentle be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Now that is quite an order; humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, love—these are characteristics that have to be worked on. We are not necessarily endowed with them at birth—nor even at the time of the new birth when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. We practice each of these virtues, and pray that we may attain them. If we aim to please Christ and be a representative for Him in the world, we ask Him to endow us with these spiritual qualities. And we practice them diligently.

Even our baptism does not endow us with unity and the bond of love. However, baptism represents our unity in the Lord. If we do not keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace we confessed with our baptism, we are contradicting what we confessed. In our local congregations, we sometimes disagree and split over inconsequential matters, things that do not build up the church and honor Christ. As we come to worship on Sunday, may we examine where we stand in Christian unity and love. Paul gives the result of unity and love in verses 15-16: “…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together in every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Prayer: God, grant that we may live according to these verses, in unity and love. Amen.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Saturday, June 19, 2010