Deception: The Subtle Lie

It came as a cautionary warning and at the same time simple instruction. I had learned from my school friends that the aluminum foil on a gum wrapper could be separated from its wax paper backing and then pressed over a penny to make it look like a shiny dime.

I showed this neat trick to my mom and told her that a person could make a lot of money using the aluminum covered pennies as dimes. That's when mom's warning came, "You know, that is deceitful."

I was 11 years old and asked the meaning of this new vocabulary word.

Mom instructed, "It's a lie even though you didn't use words." She described the aluminum covered penny as a fake or counterfeit. (I knew those words.)

My disappointment was short-lived. After all, I realized that only a naïve person would be fooled. Fake, counterfeit, lie, deception; an unforgettable lesson.

People cleverly use a variety of words and phrases to mask the reality of their lie. At a very young age we all learned what it meant to tell a lie. We learned that lying is morally wrong and generally destructive. Nobody wants to be told a lie, and nobody wants to be labeled a liar. So, it is natural to try to mask a lie.

Many people think that 'white lies' are acceptable. Many people justify lying if it is for a good reason. It is not uncommon to hear people explain (rationalize) how their lie was not really a lie, it just wasn't the whole truth (deception).

Deceit might be the worst kind of lie because it is not as easy to evaluate as a 'boldfaced lie.' Deceit is most often subtle. As in my illustration above, deceit might not use words. Where words are used, cleverly crafted communication may obscure the full truth. Deceit often involves trickery. In whatever way it is described, however, deceit is always a lie.

Numerous passages in the Psalms and Proverbs describe a companion to deceit: destruction. Deceit is destructive because it violates trust. When trust is lost family relationships are broken, friendships are destroyed, work relationships are strained. Broken trust is difficult to repair.

It is no surprise, then, that Solomon issues a clear and strong warning:

Put away from you a deceitful mouth

And put devious speech far from you.

—Proverbs 4:24

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

But counselors of peace have joy.

—Proverbs 12:20

Those who use deception in life carry a ‘toolbox’ full of techniques to shade the truth and manipulate the perceptions of people. Sadly, most deceivers have manipulated their perception of themselves: self-deception.

Whenever you are tempted to deceive someone, you should remember:

• God hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:17). It has no part in His kingdom.
• One of the most common strategies of the devil is deception. After all, he is the father of lies. (John 8:44) Do you really want to be like the devil?!

Be wise. No lies.

Mark Stinnett

February 8, 2026

What Do You Know about Satan?

The title question might grab your attention, but the real question is, “How much do you need to know about Satan?”

The latter question may be easier to answer than you think, and the answer is not full of speculation. You need to know only what God has revealed about Satan. The simple reason is that only God is trustworthy. After all, Satan is a deceiver, so he might not tell the truth about himself. Are humans more reliable? Where would a person go to obtain knowledge about Satan? If our knowledge of Satan is not from God, how can it be trusted?

People have many questions about Satan. Surely, we are not to be experts in evil. So, trust that God has given us all that we need to know.

The Bible refers to Satan in several ways. One key verse is found in Revelation 12:9.

And the dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world….

The dragon figuratively represented Satan. We also learn that the serpent of old was Satan. That is none other than the serpent who deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. He is also called the devil. There are other ways Satan is identified or described:

• Jesus called him the father of lies because speaking lies is his nature. (John 8:44)
• He is referred to as the prince of the power of the air and in this capacity he is “the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2)
• Satan is undoubtedly the one Jesus referred to as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31).
• Jesus referred to Satan as “the ruler of demons” (Matthew 12:24-29), to which the Jews gave a derogatory nickname that has various spellings and meanings: Beelzebul, Beelzebub, Beelzeboul.

The devil is described by Peter as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). He may roar at times, but when a lion is prowling, “seeking someone to devour,” he is silent and cunning. (Similar behavior is seen in common feline house pets.) Peter’s defensive instruction is to “resist him, firm in your faith.” James is a little more expressive:

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

—James 4:7

The Apostle Paul wrote about spiritual forces of wickedness that exist in the heavenly places, or heavenlies. This is not ‘heaven’ but a non-material existence for spirit beings, both good and evil. That may explain how Satan was able to approach God and make accusations regarding Job. It may also explain how Satan knew who Jesus was when he came to Him to tempt Him, and how demons recognized Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. (See Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:24; Luke 4:41.)

Based on the references to Satan in the books of Job and Revelation, Satan is restrained. God has authority and power over Satan. That is how God can assure us that we will not be tempted beyond what we are able to endure. (See 1 Corinthians 10:13.) In addition, Satan and his demons will ultimately be destroyed in the lake of fire, a reference to hell.

Of the many questions that remain about Satan, they amount to nothing in light of the fact that Satan is a real influence in the world today. We must recognize that he is a liar and his deceit can be very subtle. Our defense is in training our minds and our hearts with the word of God, the truth.

Mark Stinnett

January 26, 2025

Honest Faith

On one occasion Jesus’ authority was questioned by some Jewish leaders and He replied to them with a question. If they would tell him the source of John’s baptism (whether it was from heaven or from men), He would answer their question. With man’s wisdom, “they began reasoning among themselves.” (Read about this in Matthew 21.)

This article is not about the wit and wisdom of Jesus. Nor is it about his ability to think quickly on His feet. Rather, it is about the value that God places on simple honesty and genuine faith.

Negative examples of our day teach our children how to hide truth through rationalization, how to deceive without using lying words; how to twist meanings of words, how to dodge a question by answering a related but different question. Consider how the media has participated, how politicians have made it their profession, and how many adults have played the same games.

A husband is asked, “What made you late from work?” Or, “What happened to that money in the checking account?”

And he begins to reason . . .

A teen is asked, “Where will you be going?” “Who is going with you?” “Will there be parents there?”

And she begins to reason . . .

A friend is asked, “I thought you were going to attend; what happened?”

And he begins to reason . . .

A parent is reminded, “You said you would take us kids to the park.”

And he begins to reason . . .

The Jews were trapped. If they admitted that John’s authority was from heaven, Jesus would rebuke them for not responding to John. Yet, if they said that it was from man, they feared the people. So, they rationalized. Their answer was not truthful, and yet, it was not a blatant lie. They began to reason and cleverly responded, “We do not know.”

We might be impressed or even turn a slight grin with Jesus’ response, a refusal to answer. It is almost like a punch line to a joke. But wait! The parable that follows IS the punch line and it is meant for us!

In the parable that followed, two sons were asked to work for their father. One agreed but did no work; the other refused but later regretted his answer and did the work. Jesus explained how their actions proved to be their true answers. He applied the parable to the people of his day by indicating that those who were hated by society would enter the kingdom ahead of the religious elite. But, why?

The first son represents the Jewish leaders who questioned Jesus. They claimed to do God’s will but did not do it. The second son represents the sinners whose lives were opposed to God at first, but who ultimately turned to do God’s will. But there is more….

The Jews tried to trap Jesus, yet they were trapped themselves. They believed in the power of their own intellect and reasoning. In their unbelief they refused the “way of righteousness” when John came. Then, when they were confronted with Jesus they rebelled with rationalizations in order to hide their unbelief. They began to reason....

In contrast to the Jewish leaders, the sinners, when confronted with Jesus, acted in faith and turned from their former rebellion. The faith of both made an honest response toward God. The leaders had no faith and rejected Jesus; but in honest faith the sinners turned to Jesus.

The reasoning of man tempts the lips with lies. Yet an honest heart needs no words; it responds to God and His word in faith.

We are all asked by God, “Will you trust Me?”

How will you respond? 

   Do you feel trapped by the question?

   Do you know the answer, but don't want to admit it?

      Will you begin to reason? 

          Will you speak at all?

Ultimately your actions will tell the truth and will reveal your faith!

Mark Stinnett

April 30, 2023

Is God Unreasonable?

First, there was Eve. Then there was Isaac, then Joshua, and then an obscure prophet.

We might call it a scam. We try to guard against the clever hoax. Politicians spin the truth. Many marketers masterfully manipulate the eyes, and ears, and minds of potential buyers. They do so with digital photo deception, fine print, psychological trickery, crafty word play, and the absence of information. It is all called DECEPTION!

Deception may be the cruelest of lies. It is often compelling because the message seems believable; falsehood mixed with truth. Or, the lie is hidden because the messenger is believed to be trustworthy. Ultimately, however, deception is just a lie.

When God confronted Eve with her sin, she blamed the serpent, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Read about in Genesis 3.)

When Isaac was old and nearly blind, his son Jacob disguised himself as the firstborn son so that he could receive the coveted blessing from his father. Isaac was horrified when he realized the deception, yet he had already spoken. (Read about it in Genesis 27.)

People from the nearby city of Gibeon disguised themselves as foreigners from a faraway place when they visited Israel. Joshua and the leaders of Israel were deceived into making a covenant with the Gibeonites, and going against the Lord’s instruction. (Read about it in Joshua 9.)

A nameless prophet of God was instructed not to eat or drink in the place where he prophesied and not to return home by the same route. An old prophet intercepted him on his return trip and said that he had received new instruction from an angel. The old prophet was believed to be trustworthy. (Read about it in 1 Kings 13.)

Eve was deceived; Isaac was deceived; Joshua and the leaders of Israel were deceived; the nameless prophet was deceived. AND YET, each one was held accountable. These incidents stand as a bold reminder:

• Truth exists!
• Even if we are deceived, God still holds us accountable for our beliefs, our choices, and our actions.
• Being deceived is never an excuse for unbelief, for poor decisions, or for sin.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

—Ephesians 5:6 (ESV)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality…will inherit the kingdom of God.

—1 Corinthians 6:9 (ESV)

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 

—1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 

—1 John 3:7 (ESV)

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh….

—2 John 7 (ESV)

Buy truth, and do not sell it!

—Proverbs 23:23 (ESV)

All of this overwhelmingly emphasizes that truth does exist. For that reason, God is not unreasonable when it comes to deception. He expects us to find the truth He revealed.

Pursue truth!

Mark Stinnett

April 23, 2023

Think. Think! THINK!

It is a well-known proverb that has prompted many motivational speeches, articles, and even books.

   “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

Just wait until you read the whole verse along with the preceding verse and the one immediately following. You are likely to get a very different picture. Ready?

   Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, 
      Or desire his delicacies;
   For as he thinks within himself, 
      so he is. 
   He says to you, "Eat and drink!" 
      But his heart is not with you.
   You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, 
      And waste your compliments.
   --Proverbs 23:6-8

It is not a passage about the ‘power of positive thinking’ or the 'law of attraction.' It doesn’t really send you into a higher plane of thought to help you overcome the obstacles of pessimism. Nor does it sound like the beloved golden nugget of divine motivation as many have suggested. In reality, it is a simple saying that might actually turn your stomach. So, is there even a dry crumb of wisdom for us?

The proverb is about eating at the table of a selfish wealthy man. (Begin in verse 1 for the full context.) When it comes to riches and those who are rich, humans tend to be like a bug in the night that flies into the light. Most people are drawn toward wealth and they honor those who are wealthy in various ways. It is easy to be mesmerized by wealth and overlook the character of a wealthy person.

In this proverb, the simple warning is to be cautious when being entertained by a selfish wealthy person. He may speak with a generous tongue yet without a generous heart. So, do not be taken in and deceived by what your eyes see and by what your ears hear.

The point is that we must use discernment when the distraction of wealth is around us. Do not be deceived by another man’s wealth. Do not be lured in by the promises of a selfish man.

Think. Think! THINK!