“And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?” Acts 3:12 ESV
Reflection: what is the difference between a “misrepresentation” and a lie?
We all know what a lie is, right? Saying something that isn’t true, would perhaps be the simplest form of a lie. The dictionary defines a lie as “a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth.” And also “an inaccurate or untrue statement; a falsehood.” But, that is not the whole definition of what a lie is. You might have run into people, at work or among friends, who conveniently leave out certain details, to change the perception of a story. To make you believe in a certain way, to perhaps make the story more favorable for them. The idea is to change the narrative in the minds of the listeners while still not saying anything that is factually incorrect. Instead, cleverly only sharing or accentuating certain facts. But is that a lie, since technically only facts still are shared? Let me ask you, would you have a full and accurate understanding of the situation if you are missing certain facts?
Our understanding is based on the facts we are presented. And if we don’t get a full and balanced picture of all the facts, our understanding becomes false. The dictionary’s second definition of a lie is therefore “something intended or serving to convey a false impression”. A person who has intentionally misled others by misrepresenting the situation, by not sharing all the facts, is therefore clearly lying, is clearly a liar. It is the very reason why in a court case multiple witnesses are called, so that the jury and judge can obtain a full, accurate and fair representation of the situation.
Peter and John ran into a man who was lame from birth, a beggar, sitting at the temple gate asking for money. “But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” Acts 3:6-8 ESV. Clearly a miracle had happened in the temple, before the same people that not long ago had crucified Jesus. So what was Peter to do? How would he explain what happened? Can you image how tempting it might have been for Peter to misrepresent the facts, in order to possibly save his life? You might recall that Peter had done that once before, denying that he even knew Jesus.
But instead, we see something very different in Peter this time. A boldness for speaking the truth, “And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”Acts 3:12-16 ESV. There was nothing self focused in his address, only the truth pointing to Jesus, and giving God the glory, even knowing this could cost him his life. Peter didn’t even stop there, but called his countrymen to repentance, ““And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,” Acts 3:17-19 ESV.
And this call for speaking only truth, even when it might hurt us, is just as important to all followers of Christ today. Perhaps even more important than ever as we see new terms like “misinformation” and “fake news” have suddenly appear. As a Christian, we cannot be associated with anything that resembles our enemy who is the father of all forms of lies, whether it is misinformation, fake news, misleading facts, misrepresentation of truth, deceptions and lies. If this is you in any way, dabbling in telling misleading stories, in misrepresenting the truth for your own benefit, in other words lying, it is time to come clean and repent. Jesus is calling, to “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,” Acts 3:19 ESV. We have been called to freedom, and His promise to us is “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31b-32 ESV.
