False Witnesses by Maree Sobolewski
On the harms of deception.
The 1997 American movie Liar Liar starring Jim Carey suggests that a person with the relentless character flaw of lying can ultimately change. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, with an escalating web of harm being the result.
The essence of lying is deception. Persistent antisocial deception causes damage to people, relationships, and social structures. Consider Hitler and his out-of-control propaganda of lies that resulted in World War II, the destruction of his own country, and the exterminations of millions. Shakespeare warned about the tragedy of unchecked fatal flaws. The playwright’s tyrants who are prone to manipulation and lies—Richard III, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, and King Lear—do not fare well.
Consider the current situation in America involving President Donald Trump’s lies and manipulation that permit and justify abominable policies and behavior against individuals, groups, and other sovereign nations, causing immense harm. The most egregious recent examples involve the out-of-hand ICE killings of the innocent, law-abiding American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. These murders were preceded by Trump’s false statement to members of the Department of Defense in September: “America is under invasion from within. We’re under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy.” Given the current state of civil unrest in America, Simon Tisdal wrote in the Guardian, Trump’s “violent anti-migrant paramilitary assaults on US cities are producing scenes reminiscent of the 2024 movie Civil War.”
Apart from immigration policy, propaganda has been continually and widely used to facilitate the administration’s goals, from the shutting down of social programs that once supported the less wealthy and vulnerable to the propaganda used to justify the invasion of sovereign nations. A further potential deception is Trump’s “Board of Peace” proposal, which Tisdale suggests has been established to fulfill Trump’s “overweening ambition to boss the world” with “a $1bn club for dictators, with himself as chair-for-life, that is plainly intended to supplant the UN”.
In the words of Cardinal Robert McElroy: “When national interest narrowly conceived excludes the moral imperative of solidarity among nations and the dignity of the human person, it brings immense suffering to the world and a catastrophic assault on the just peace that benefits every nation and is the will of God.”
A false witness will not go unpunished
The Scriptures warn humanity against the dangers of a life of lies, with the ninth commandment forbidding it: “You shall not bear false witness.” Proverbs 6:16-19 outlines the deep motives and evil intentions of the heart that lay behind lies, from pride (eyes) to spreading trouble (discord). Lying “flocks together” with at least six other abominations detrimental to us all: “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Proverbs 26:28 warns that liars want to crush those who would accuse them.
John 8:44 suggests a life of lies is in fact taking on the character of the devil himself, whom Jesus calls the “father of lies” and is intent upon destruction: “You belong to your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Other Scriptures make clear God’s teachings and warnings regarding lies. To God, the habit of lying is not only an abomination but leads to self-destruction. This message is embedded in Proverbs 19:9: “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.”
A summary of the source and peril of lies is most clearly represented in the scriptural story of Adam and Eve succumbing to Satan’s lies in Genesis 3:4-5. Self-autonomy has not served humanity well. The Bible presents other instances, such as the story of Jacob, Esau, and Isaac, as evidence that lies cause “tangled web[s] of deception” that damage reputations, ruin relationships, cause grief, and, according to Revelation 21:8, bring ultimate spiritual destruction.
It is not only the Scriptures that warn us against lies, but scientific research supports their dangers as well. Studies have shown the harm of chronic lies to both the individual and society. Lies cause disconnection that creates a barrier between people and prevents genuine connection, empathy, and understanding. This may explain in part the president’s lack of empathy and the toll it is taking on others.
Lies can also cause both mental and physical harm. It is believed that constant, chronic lying reduces brain function by wearing down neurons due to elevated levels of cortisol and high stress levels. It has also been suggested that chronic lying can lead to a “snowball effect,” where lies become larger over time, with a spreading web of consequences. Further, chronic lying can lead to self-deception, warping the liar’s reality and preventing them from addressing real problems.
Cultures of deception
According to the Washington Post, Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims in his first four years as president. His frequent use of falsehoods is believed to be a deliberate strategy, as a sizeable portion of his base does not do any factchecking but simply accepts his version of reality.
Further, he employs the emotive “big lie” strategy favored by autocrats. As Geoff Beattie wrote in The Conversation, for big lies to work they “are not aimed at our rational selves, but our unconscious and emotional selves.” Beattie used the example of Trump’s colorful language of migrants in Springfield, Ohio, eating people’s cats and dogs: such speech “is not appealing to our rational system. It’s providing us with a vivid image, and trying to affect our emotional and unconscious system,” Beattie explained.
Trump deceptively builds bonds with others by falsely suggesting that he is one with them. This reinforces a shared worldview and sense of loyalty among his followers. He has embroiled all kinds of people, gathering and breeding a culture of deception in his government.
Supporting or not challenging pathological lying is as equally harmful as the lies themselves. Recall that Hitler’s associates, including many Catholics, turned a blind eye to his propaganda. Some even made deals with him. The Vatican, lacking foresight, negotiated a treaty (the Reichskonkordat) that said it would not interfere in the German government in exchange for funding and protection of church interests. There were priests supportive of Hitler who even placed Nazi flags on church altars.
Mutual accountability
Trump is failing America, he is failing wisdom, and he is failing the values of the kingdom of God at work in this world. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Lies to manipulate situations, lies to maintain power in relationships or hide wrongdoing, lies as a personal defense mechanism to avoid vulnerability, rejection, or shame, will all ultimately end badly.
It is time to say “no” to Trump’s dishonesty and the harm his policies are producing. His egotism knows no bounds. As Christians, we are each accountable and responsible for our own as well as our government’s integrity. Jesus resisted the lies and temptations in the desert and named them for what they were. We are called to do the same, just as we are called to pray for our leaders. ♦
Maree Sobolewski is a committed Catholic from Australia. She holds a master of arts in theology and spirituality and is a team member of Catholic Church Reform International. She has worked as an educator, a retreat leader and seminar facilitator, and a school chaplain, and has served as a missionary in Tasmania and the Northwest Territories of Canada. Maree has been actively involved in her parish for most of her adult life. She has served as a board member, prayer group leader, and international event coordinator, among other roles.
Lying to self though, that's the worst of all and nearly everyone does it. "Those who do not recover are ... men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault. They seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average." Most chilling words in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, especially when you know, "Hey, that could have been me."