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This month Bishop Steven writes
We’re working backwards through the Ten Commandments. Can you remember Number Nine? It’s the very simple one about telling the truth: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour” (Exodus 20.16). It’s a small commandment with huge consequences.
There is a longing in our national life for people of integrity - people who are on the inside what they claim to be on the outside. Trust is based on truth. The scandals of recent years have undermined public confidence in politicians, bankers, journalists and others in public life.
Telling the truth can be difficult. A commitment to the ninth commandment is more than not telling deliberate lies. It’s a commitment to plain speaking and to turning away from exaggeration, flattery and all kinds of deception. In the words of Jesus, it’s making sure your yes means yes and your no means no.
For many years our society has been careless with its long heritage of Christian faith. The deep tradition of teaching the Ten Commandments to children as they grow up has been neglected. Christian values have been mocked in the public square. This means, among other things, that people do not learn as they grow up some of the very simple notions of right and wrong. That includes speaking the truth (and the reasons why we should not lie). God himself, the creator of heaven and earth, commands that we be truthful.
If we grow a generation of people who have not learned to speak the truth and who bear false witness over and over again in their lives, what will happen? We will see the breakdown of family life. Truth is essential for long term relationships and especially for marriage. Confidence in public life will be eroded. We will not be able to trust one another or believe what we read in the papers. Business and the economy will be profoundly affected for the worse.
We live in a society which is neglecting God92s commandments. We have unleashed the forces of greed and abandoned the simple notion of truth. The consequences are all too plain.Our task as a church is to speak the truth, together and as individuals and to bear witness to Jesus Christ who himself claims to be the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Telling lies is wrong and against God92s law. And we should say so.
+Steven Sheffield
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