06/06/26

Several weeks ago, I heard a retired 4-Star Army General use the word “obfuscate” several times. I admit that if my sweet wife had asked me what “obfuscate” meant, I would not have been able to tell her. That’s why I decided to look it up so the next time I would be ready. I found out that obfuscate means to, “deliberately make something unclear, confusing, or difficult to understand.” It is often used to describe intentionally muddying the waters, concealing facts, or using complex language to mislead. Common synonyms include confuse, obscure, and complicate. I found that in daily life, “She tried to obfuscate the truth by rambling on about unrelated topics” was given as a good example. This Point to Ponder may seem somewhat long, but if you are really scholarly and interested in learning and understanding a new word, it will be worth every minute of your time.

So, I decided to see how psychologists view obfuscation. For them, it is the deliberate act of making information unclear, confusing, or evasive—a sophisticated defense mechanism used to protect the self, avoid conflict, or manipulate others. While often associated with deception, it differs in that its primary goal is to create uncertainty. Thus, psychologists typically categorize obfuscators into several types, revealing different underlying motivations: There is the Avoidant Obfuscator: These individuals use vagueness to dodge uncomfortable truths or confrontation, often out of anxiety or a desire to keep the peace. They avoid saying “no” to prevent triggering anger or disapproval.

Then there is the Defensive Obfuscator: These individuals use complex language or jargon as a shield to hide perceived incompetence or fragility. They fear being exposed and use obfuscation to maintain an image of authority. In other cases, there is the Manipulative-Deceptive Obfuscator: These individuals consciously create confusion to maintain power, evade accountability, or manipulate the emotions and actions of others. Psychologists often associate this with self-absorbed tendencies and a desire to manage the narrative. Last, but not least, is the Over-Intellectualized Obfuscator. These individuals are not necessarily spiteful, but rather so preoccupied with complex thought that they struggle to simplify their communication, often burying their points in excessive detail. 

For psychologists, there are some key insights into obfuscation: one is that it is used as a “Defense Mechanism.” Obfuscation protects the individual from vulnerability, accountability, or the consequences of being clear. Another is often referred to as Gaslighting. In cases, obfuscation is used to make targets doubt their own reality, leading to confusion and self-blame. Then there is “Unethical Amnesia.” Research suggests that people who behave unethically often struggle to remember their actions clearly, leading to “obfuscated” memories of their own misconduct. Furthermore, there is The Deception Spiral.” Psychologists say that high levels of obfuscation in communication are often linked to reduced ethical behavior, creating a cycle in which both the messenger and the receiver engage in unethical practices. 

This may seem somewhat complex, but what does the Bible say about those who obfuscate? The Bible strongly condemns dishonesty, viewing it as a scandal to God that causes strife, ruins reputations, and separates people from Him. It describes those who are not open and honest as practicing falsehood, likened to a “lying tongue” in times of trouble. Also, in the Old Testament, the Psalmist states in 101:7, “I will never let a dishonest person live in my house. I will not let liars stay near me.” And King Solomon warned that “Honest people can always feel secure, but lying cheaters will be caught.” (Proverbs 10:9). And there are consequences:Good people are guided by their honesty, but crooks who lie and cheat will ruin themselves. (Proverbs 11:3) The Bible also tells us, “The Lord hates people who tell lies, but He is pleased with those who tell the truth.” (Proverbs 12:22). Not only that, but in Proverbs 19:9 Solomon says that “A witness who lies will be punished. That liar will be destroyed.” And we also find that “Whoever hides their sins will not be successful, but whoever confesses their sins and stops doing wrong will receive mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13).

The New Testament also includes penalties and judgment for obfuscation. Jesus warns that “The bad things people say with their mouths stem from how they think. And that’s what can make people wrong. All these bad things begin in the mind: evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual sins, stealing, lying, and insulting people. These are the things that make people wrong. Eating without washing their hands will never make people unacceptable to God.” (Matthew 15:18-20),and in Luke 12:2, Jesus told his audience, ^“Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known.” You can obfuscate now, but not on Judgment Day. There is no obfuscation about the source of obfuscation. He told his doubting follower, “If God were really your Father, you would love me. I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come by my authority. God sent me. You don’t understand what I say because you cannot accept my teaching. Your father is the devil. You belong to him. You want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He was always against the truth. There is no truth in him. He is like the lies he tells. Yes, the devil is a liar. He is the father of lies.” (John 8:42-44).

And to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul defends his ministry and message by saying, “We have turned away from secret and shameful ways. We don’t use trickery, and we don’t change God’s teaching. We teach the truth plainly.” This is how we show people who we are. (2 Corinthians 4:2), And to the Ephesians Paul said, “Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body,” (Ephesians 4:25).

And the Apostle John also explained that “If we say that we share in life with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars, who don’t follow the truth. We should live in the light, where God is. If we live in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood sacrifice of Jesus, God’s Son, washes away every sin and makes us clean.” (1 John 1:6-7. And finally, in his Revelation, John stated that “Nothing unclean will ever enter the city. No one who does shameful things or tells lies will ever enter the city. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter the city.” (Revelation 21:27). In other words, our choices about whether to use obfuscation now will dictate our eternal future.