Mayor of a Major City Lied

Faces 60 Years in Prison

What’s the big deal? Everyone lies. Or so many people believe. An extensive series of surveys published in the book The Day America Told the Truth a few years ago revealed that most people admit to lying on a regular basis. The University of Massachusetts reported that most people lie in every day conversation. What’s the big deal?

Just before the fall of Israel, Isaiah said the Jews’ attitude had become “We have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place” (Isaiah 28:15b). But what’s the big deal?

Two weeks ago, Detroit Prosecuting Attorney, Kym Worthy, gave an impassioned speech before announcing criminal charges against the mayor on what she called “an extremely sad day for Detroit.”

“Witnesses are the backbone, heart, sole, core and center of the justice system….Without witnesses we have nothing, justice means nothing, and we can do nothing for anyone. Crime would be rampant as no one would ever be responsible for anything…

“The oath does not say I do solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony I am about to give in this matter will be some of the truth some of the time when it suits me, and anything but the whole truth.

“Oaths mean something. They're critically important. They matter. They matter when jurors take their oath. They matter when lawyers, judges and other public officials take their oath. They matter when new citizens take the oath of citizenship. They matter when doctors take the Hippocratic Oath. They matter when anyone swears before a notary public. They must matter and that's why witnesses take them….And it's so important, that it is perjury if there is lying, and perjury is a crime….

“The fundamental principals…are fairly simple. We learned them as children. They aren't hard: Tell the truth, take responsibility for your actions, admit when you're wrong, play fair and be fair, don't take things that aren't yours, and there are consequences for bad behavior. Even children understand that lying is wrong….

“We ask witnesses to come in and risk their lives in drive-by shootings and then return to the neighborhoods they came from. We ask witnesses to testify against multi-national corporations….How can we look another witness in the eye and ask them to come in and do these things if we don't follow the law for witnesses who lie under oath….

“Just when did honesty and integrity, truth and honor become traits to be mocked, downplayed, ignored, laughed at, or excuses made for them?

“….Lady Justice is the personification of the moral force….The blindfold that she wears does not mean that we turn a blind eye or give a wink and a nod no matter how inconsequential that some may think….

“President Theodore Roosevelt once said: "No man is above the law. And no man is below it. Nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience to the law is demanded as a right, not asked as a favor."

In the same light, obedience to God’s laws, the laws He put forth for citizens of His kingdom, is a right of God our King, and not asked of us as a favor to Him.

When God said in the Ten Commandments, “You shall not lie,” (Exodus 20:16) He gave no exceptions. And who is a liar? Obviously, anyone who has lied.

This is serious business. Jesus said Satan is the father of all liars (John 8:44). God warned in Revelation 21:8, “But the unbelieving …murderers…and all liars ~ their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

The mayor of Detroit lied (perjury) in two different trials: A 15-year felony for each. He lied on oath to a notary public on two different written statements: A 15-year felony for each. Do we take lying as seriously as does the city of Detroit?

The Bible says, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free….A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish….Better to be poor than a liar. The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble” (Proverbs 19:5, 9, 22b)

God can forgive all our sins. He wants to. All Christians have to do is acknowledge our sins of lying, try to not do them again, and stay close to Jesus who reassured “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).