Another ride home discussion with Jax

 Another ride home discussion with Jax

 

            Today, Jax told me about his children's church lesson on our ride home. In his usual way, he gave me the story's high points in Acts 5; 1-11 how Ananias and his wife Saphira held back part of an offering for the early church. A plot of land was sold. The proceeds were to be used as start-up capital for the early church. He lied and said that those funds were all he received from the sale. When Peter called him out on it, he fell dead. Now the problem was not what he did, but what he said that he did. The gains from the sale were his to use as he saw fit. But he chose to be untruthful in what he said to Peter, and more importantly, The Holy Ghost. So, my questions for Jax were why he lied about it; was it necessary to tell a lie? Finally, what was the result of that lie? The answers were that it was unnecessary to lie as the land was his, and the proceeds were his to do what he pleased. The point was to look good with the people committed to giving all. The result was the death of Ananias and the subsequent death of his wife as she was a participant in the ruse that they attempted.  

            With that finished, "Jackson, why is it important not to lie?" His answer was, "so I don't get punished, yea, but NO! The reason (in most cases) the reason not to lie is because you want your word to be relied upon so people can depend on and trust you when you tell them something. The ability to be relied upon is very important because, in a family, we will defend you to the end if we believe you are being truthful. Remember when I told you I would get you some more of those mints you like? When I said that, I was bound to my words to do my best to accomplish it. However, after looking, we found that those mints were sold out, so I got something else; by the way, do you like them?

      There are (rare situations) when it could be tricky, to tell the truth, as when faced with an absolute evil asking you a question, and the ability not to answer is not allowed. I was in one of those no-win situations when a superior officer ordered me to give a yes or no answer. The answer was more detailed than that, but I was not given the option. So, I answered a truthful YES SIR and took a tremendous A-Chewing. It was one of the worst I have ever received. The answer was 100% honest but also 100% percent inaccurate. I personally have no problem lying in the presence of evil. (Known evil) but I prefer not to answer when asked a loaded question. I will deflect, defer, ask another question, or wiggle out of it somehow. What kind of question would that be. Something like, does this dress make me look fat? My answer to that question is, first, why would you ask such a foolish question like that; you think I'm some kind of new crazy? But I digress. 

Being a grandfather is my highest calling and one that I take seriously. I really enjoy conversations with my grandsons. It allows them to know me and for me to know them better every time we talk. Right at the time of this writing, the middle grandson is bringing me his laptop so we can discuss his grades. We will discuss every subject and what he liked or disliked about them and discuss what he has learned this quarter. I can't wait; this is going to be a total gas.