84. Ложь

We see that there are various lies in the world. A merchant lies when he says that his goods are priced at such and such a price, but in reality it is different. A witness in court lies when he says what he has not seen or heard, or does not say what he has seen and heard, and calls black white, and bitter sweet. A slave lies when he tells his master something that did not happen. The judge is lying, who promised and swore an oath to act, preserve and seek the truth according to his conscience at the trial, but does not do this. A worker is lying who, having taken a decent price, promised the person who hired him to work hard, but works lazily, or does not work at all. The debtor is lying when he accepts money from the lender and promises to give it to him, but does not give it. Anyone who hires others to work for themselves and promises to give them a worthy price for their labor, but does not give it, is lying. A warrior who swore an oath to serve the Sovereign and society, but does not do so, is lying. The shepherd lies, who promises and swears to shepherd the flock of Christ's sheep, but does not shepherd, or carelessly shepherds, and others. So a Christian lies, who in Holy Baptism promises to serve Christ the Lord, but does not serve. Such is everyone who, after holy Baptism, commits lawlessness and cleaves to the vanity of this world. The fornicator, the adulterer, and every defiler lies to Christ the Lord. A predator, a thief and a robber lies. A blasphemer lies, he uses foul language and bullies. A slanderer, a slanderer and a scolder lies. In a word, every criminal lies. For a lawless and unchristian life is contrary to the vows that Christians make to God in Baptism. Every Christian in Baptism is promised to live holy, blameless and godly in Christ Jesus and serve Him. Without a holy and godly life it is impossible to serve Christ. But when he lives not piously, but lawlessly, he does not serve Christ, does not keep his vows, and thus lies to Him. And until then he will remain in lies as long as he lives an unrepentant life. Christian! It’s hard for a person to lie, a simple person, harder for an official, and much harder for a king. How incomparably harder and more terrible it is to lie to God! Remember, to whom did you give your vows in Baptism and, without keeping them, to whom did you lie? You lied to God, not to man. Repent before time runs out, and fulfill your vows - and may the Lord accept you into His mercy. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your compassions, cleanse my iniquity. Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin, for I know my iniquity, and I will take away my sin before me. I have sinned against You alone, and I have done evil before You” (Ps. 50:3-6). You might be interested in: