10/03/26

I was listening to a panel that was discussing all the polling going on in the political arena about the upcoming and future elections. One of the panelists said something that I had been thinking for a long time but never heard expressed the way he did. He said that these pollsters are not interested in telling us what the people in the poll were saying, but what they wish they were saying. . Then it struck me: are there preachers today who are not telling their congregations what the Bible says, but what they want it to say?? After some research, I found that a person who deliberately twists the truth to fit their own narrative is commonly called a prevaricator. In other words, someone who fabricates a new truth. Depending on their specific goal or behavior, a few exact terms fit this habit. Such people lie out of habit, often make up big stories, and may eventually believe their own lies. They may also do this on purpose to gain money, power, or trust. They also twist the truth to make you doubt your own memory or sanity. In other words, this is someone who avoids the truth or speaks misleadingly without technically telling a direct lie.

I wanted to know what psychologists said about prevaricators. They also say that skilled prevaricators do not look like stereotypical liars. They are experts at social regulation. They deliberately master vocal tones, maintain strong eye contact, adopt erect and relaxed postures, and act with a direct, hearty manner to circumvent a listener’s suspicion. Psychologists also say that frequent prevarication rapidly transitions from a conscious choice into a sturdy, reflexive habit. Because it becomes a primary coping mechanism, chronic liars rarely stop “cold turkey.” Often, they can tolerate only a partial amount of reality at a time. Psychologists observe that it usually takes a severe, tangible threat to their emotional, physical, or financial well-being to force a habitual prevaricator to take off the mask and learn how to deal with the truth.

That turned my attention to what God’s word had to say about prevaricators. I found that the Bible warns that people who twist the truth or distort God’s word do so to their own spiritual destruction and to mislead others. For instance, in 2 Peter 3:16-17, Peter explains that ignorant and unstable people twist Paul’s letters—and the rest of the Scriptures—to their own destruction. Then, in Acts 20:30, the Bible warns that teachers will rise from within the church itself, speaking distorted things to draw followers after themselves rather than the Christ. Also, John 8:44 describes deception and twisting the truth as originating with the devil, calling him a liar and the father of lies. Furthermore, in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, God’s Word predicts a time when people will not endure sound teaching, instead turning away from truth to follow myths and their own desires. The Bible instructs believers to combat distorted truth with careful study and honesty and urges them to present themselves as approved workers who correctly handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Even in the Old Testament, we read that Proverbs 30:5-6 warns against adding to God’s words, lest He reprove you and prove you a liar