Let’s be honest—actually, scratch that. Let’s lie about being honest for a moment, because if we really tried to follow every scriptural and ACIM teaching about honesty, we’d all be living in a monastery somewhere, eating plain rice, wearing sackcloth, and never opening our mouths again except to say, “Yes, Master.”
The Biblical Beatdown on Lying
The Bible is obsessed with honesty. Proverbs 12:22 hammers it home:
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”
Abomination, you say? Really? Let’s pause and think about this. If you’ve ever told your mother-in-law, “Oh yes, your fruitcake is delicious,” congratulations—you’re an abomination. And if you’ve ever said, “I love that new haircut!” while mentally screaming “dear God, what happened to your head?”, then welcome to the eternal flames.
Leviticus 19:11 doesn’t let up either:
“Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.”
Which is basically Moses saying, “Listen up, folks. The Ten Commandments weren’t enough. Here’s a side note: no lying, no fibbing, no stretching the truth.” And yet, we humans have found ways to bend that commandment like a yogi in hot yoga class.
The ACIM Angle: The Ego’s Favorite Tool
Now, enter A Course in Miracles (ACIM), the spiritual text that whispers, “You’re dreaming all of this, and by the way, lying is just another form of separation.” According to ACIM:
“Lying is a form of attack.” (T-4.IV.1:2)
Attack? So, when I told my wife her cooking was “amazing,” instead of “I think the dog buried it in the backyard,” was I launching a psychic missile at her ego? Apparently, yes. ACIM also points out:
“Lies are attempts to compromise the truth, and truth is God.” (M-4.I.2:7)
So now I’m not just lying, I’m compromising God Himself. Fantastic. Add that to my growing list of eternal sins.
But wait, there’s more! ACIM continues to twist the knife:
“The ego speaks first and the loudest.” (T-5.VI.3:5)
So every time you say, “Of course I read the Terms and Conditions,” or “I’ll call you right back,” the ego is giggling like a toddler in a candy store. ACIM’s verdict? Lying is a weapon of the ego, keeping us stuck in the illusion of separation.
But Let’s Be Real: Sometimes You Have to Lie
Here’s the thing: if we took all these holy admonitions seriously—really seriously—we’d have to walk around giving unfiltered honesty 24/7:
“Your breath smells like a dumpster fire.”
“No, I don’t care about your cat videos.”
“Yes, I do think your new boyfriend looks like a potato with legs.”
That’s not peace; that’s warfare.
The Wapnick Wisdom: The Ultimate Lie Loophole
And so, after all this, we reach the mountaintop—the wise words of Ken Wapnick, ACIM scholar and all-around spiritual straight-shooter, who famously said the only acceptable lie in the universe boils down to just two words:
“Of course.”
That’s it. That’s the loophole, the cosmic Get Out of Jail Free card.
“Honey, do these pants make me look fat?”
“Of course not.”
“Do you love my new haircut?”
“Of course.”
“Is it okay if I spend $500 on a new garden gnome?”
“Of course.”
Ken, you sly dog. You knew that sometimes, the truth isn’t what’s needed. Sometimes, what’s needed is kindness. Sometimes, the “of course” is the loving lie that brings peace instead of pain.
So here’s to lying—may we do it less often, but with more grace. And when we do lie, let’s make sure it’s the kind of lie that says, “Of course”—with a wink and a smile.
After all, as the Course says:
“I am here only to be truly helpful.” (T-2.V.A.18:2)
And if telling my wife she doesn’t look fat in those pants helps her feel loved and confident, then of course I’ll do it.
