"For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error". (2 Peter 2:18)
Exaggeration: A statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is.
If this sounds a bit like telling lies, that is because it is, and as with lies, exaggeration can be highly destructive.
The Bible consistently teaches that exaggeration is a form of dishonesty, grouping it with lying, false witness, pride and deceit, and warns that such speech brings consequences (e.g., Proverbs 14:5; Proverbs 12:22; 2 Peter 2:18).
Not only can someone who is a habitual exaggerator become so saturated by this bad habit that they will tend to exaggerate most things, but they eventually risk being unable to differentiate the truth from the exaggeration.
Their listeners, or readers, if they write books, usually expect that the stories being told by this person are factual, truthful, accurate. However, that is rarely the case with a chronic exaggerator.
The damage that can be done by the exaggerator is similar to the damage done by a liar. Both to others but also to themselves. Telling oneself lies leads to mental confusion. Being known as a liar, or an exaggerator affects one's relationships. As Jordan Petersen says, "If you want to have a good relationship embed it in the truth."
The embellished story may elevate and make attractive certain behaviours which are actually very destructive. The exaggerator rarely considers the consequences of their lies.
"For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error". (2 Peter 2:18)
The consequences of listening to and believing an exaggerator can impact a young person's life for decades. Especially if the exaggerator is a person of influence in that young person's life, say a grandparent, or great-grandparent.
Like a witness telling a judge in court a lie, or an exaggeration, and bearing false witness against someone, the judge may well believe the exaggerator and the accused may be wrongly punished, affecting their lives and their families.
"An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies." (Proverbs 14:5)
Therefore, it is important to avoid exaggeration. Tell stories accurately.
God is the God of truth. What happens next in your life is fully dependent upon God. He wants you to tell the truth.
"The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy." (Proverbs 12:22)
God saves people using the truth and He sanctifies them by the truth (John 17:17), so we see in this the eternal value of truth. We are under high obligation to God. It is to God that we owe a duty of exactness. He expects the truth from us.
So, we should have a high view of truth. What we say, generally, and about others specifically, is to be treated seriously. God requires us to speak carefully.
There is much rebellion in our society against truth. And we see the dysfunctional results everywhere. The more we want to move away from following God’s ways, the more dysfunctional our world will be, because God operates in truth.
We know that God loves truth and hates lies. He works in and through truth, so God’s people are to always tell the truth, to represent the truth, knowing that God is in control of what happens next in their lives. Our part is to be obedient and truthful. If we indulge in falsehood, we can’t expect God to bless us, for things to work out well. That’s a bit like dropping a ceramic mug from a great height and hoping it won’t break. It goes against reality.
Exaggeration: A statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is.
If this sounds a bit like telling lies, that is because it is, and as with lies, exaggeration can be highly destructive.
The Bible consistently teaches that exaggeration is a form of dishonesty, grouping it with lying, false witness, pride and deceit, and warns that such speech brings consequences (e.g., Proverbs 14:5; Proverbs 12:22; 2 Peter 2:18).
Not only can someone who is a habitual exaggerator become so saturated by this bad habit that they will tend to exaggerate most things, but they eventually risk being unable to differentiate the truth from the exaggeration.
Their listeners, or readers, if they write books, usually expect that the stories being told by this person are factual, truthful, accurate. However, that is rarely the case with a chronic exaggerator.
The damage that can be done by the exaggerator is similar to the damage done by a liar. Both to others but also to themselves. Telling oneself lies leads to mental confusion. Being known as a liar, or an exaggerator affects one's relationships. As Jordan Petersen says, "If you want to have a good relationship embed it in the truth."
The embellished story may elevate and make attractive certain behaviours which are actually very destructive. The exaggerator rarely considers the consequences of their lies.
"For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error". (2 Peter 2:18)
The consequences of listening to and believing an exaggerator can impact a young person's life for decades. Especially if the exaggerator is a person of influence in that young person's life, say a grandparent, or great-grandparent.
Like a witness telling a judge in court a lie, or an exaggeration, and bearing false witness against someone, the judge may well believe the exaggerator and the accused may be wrongly punished, affecting their lives and their families.
"An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies." (Proverbs 14:5)
Therefore, it is important to avoid exaggeration. Tell stories accurately.
God is the God of truth. What happens next in your life is fully dependent upon God. He wants you to tell the truth.
"The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy." (Proverbs 12:22)
God saves people using the truth and He sanctifies them by the truth (John 17:17), so we see in this the eternal value of truth. We are under high obligation to God. It is to God that we owe a duty of exactness. He expects the truth from us.
So, we should have a high view of truth. What we say, generally, and about others specifically, is to be treated seriously. God requires us to speak carefully.
There is much rebellion in our society against truth. And we see the dysfunctional results everywhere. The more we want to move away from following God’s ways, the more dysfunctional our world will be, because God operates in truth.
We know that God loves truth and hates lies. He works in and through truth, so God’s people are to always tell the truth, to represent the truth, knowing that God is in control of what happens next in their lives. Our part is to be obedient and truthful. If we indulge in falsehood, we can’t expect God to bless us, for things to work out well. That’s a bit like dropping a ceramic mug from a great height and hoping it won’t break. It goes against reality.
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