It’s a Lying Shame

Ancient Faith Ministries ^ | October 20, 2022 | Fr. Stephen Freeman

[Carpe Cerevisi]

The story of the first sin begins not with a choice, but with a lie. As much as we tend to emphasize “free-will” as the origin and dominant factor of human sin, we do well to remember the true nature of our lives. Things are much more complicated than freedom can account for. Rather, we act in the context of lies and deception, some from outside and some from within. It is only the “truth” that can set us free – that is – only reality as it is constituted by God can set us in the position of making a truly free choice. Understanding lies and the nature of deception is essential in the spiritual life.

Jesus says of Satan, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44, NIV)

There is ever so much in this short statement. First, Christ connects “murder” to “not holding to the truth.” The act of murder is an attempt to disrupt reality itself – to destroy the existence of another. In that manner, a lie belongs to the same category of action. A lie is an attempt to reject reality as it is and to put something else in its place. A lie seeks to murder the truth.

It has been a recent subject of thought for me that toxic shame is a breeding ground for lies. Indeed, toxic shame is itself something of an “abiding lie.” The very nature of toxic shame is that it enthrones shame itself as the dominant or prominent form of the personality.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

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[Carriage Hill]

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