in the world today, social media has given everyone a platform to say and put out anything. i find myself having to be more cognizant of the things i allow to seep through my eye and ear gates as i scroll though my various social media timelines. what i've found to be somewhat disheartening, however, is that christians are out here lying about their testimonies (note: a testimony is a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience). seems that so many of us are out here posting pictures for the love of the double tap; we've become so engulfed in wanting to appear a certain way through our social media pages that it's become normal for us to massage reality. while the world may find solace in doing this, we as believers have to do better in this area. when we lie about our testimonies, we are serving as a liability and not an asset to the body of Christ. while i can go on and on about this particular topic, here is a condensed list of four reasons we as christians have got to stop lying about what God has done for us. 

4). lying does not reflect the likeness of God.

i mean...ya'll know we ain't supposed to be lying, anyway. so, i don't even need to stay on this point for too long. there's a saying that goes "if you'll lie, you'll steal. and if you'll steal, you'll kill." are you a murderer? 'cause that's basically what liars are...murderers (of the truth). see what i did there? not that i condone lying, but if you gonna lie, you should at least know not to lie on Lord and Savior, ya know? but in all seriousness, as christians it should be our goal to live in such a way that is pleasing to God. i'm pretty sure he wouldn't be pleased with believers out here lying on what he's done for them. let's get it together, saints. 

3). lying about our testimonies is destructive to our mission of saving souls.

sometimes, we get so caught up in how we want our lives to unfold that we confuse speaking something into existence with flat out lying. bottom line is, we can't be out here trying to express the goodness of God to non-believers and the wondrous works he's able to accomplish if we ourselves don't even believe in what we are attempting to preach to them, ya know? God is God, which is why this is one of the few times you'll see me use a capital letter 'cause ya'll know i typically don't. he is awesome on his own; no need to try and embellish on what he's done and what he can do. he's not a genie; he's not waiting to do your will. he's our father; we should be making up in our minds that we are prepared to do his will. faith is not just a noun. it's a noun...then it's a verb. don't ruin someone else's experience with God because you're too hesitant to be all in.

2). lying about our testimonies adversely affects other believers.

there's enough external attacks on the church as it is. we don't need any drama working against us inside the church as well. it's time out for trying to keep up with the joneses in the church. i'm convinced that we (as christians) sometimes feel the need to lie about our testimonies because we don't know how to cope with the fact that we aren't hearing the voice of God clearly in our own lives. that doesn't mean you lie, though. it means you make honest efforts to get your spiritual hearing in tune. you're worried about why such and such is getting blessed and you haven't even stopped to consider the magnitude of their praise outside of the church. you have no idea the extent to which they prayed nor can you attest to the level of discipline, dedication and unwavering trust that was required to release their season of greater. it's not good english, but christians be lying so much in the church, and for what? you've done nothing but make those around you have to exercise an extra dose of discernment and keep their guards up every time they converse with you. it's not only counterproductive, but takes too much energy that could be allocated to another effort that is actually helping (and not hurting) the church.

1). the truth will always come out in your results, or lack thereof. 

here's something to consider. you know how the old folks used to say "if it doesn't come through in the wash, it's gonna come through in the rinse"? no? never heard that phrase? well, go talk to an elder somewhere. but in either case, it's so true. you can't be out here talking about "God blessed me with a new car" and you're struggling to make the payments because you have to choose between being behind in your rent or being behind on your car note. that ain't God, that was you. the word says in jeremiah 29:11 that "i know the plans i have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." now i'm no pastor, but "blessing" me with a car i can't afford isn't my idea of God prospering me. i don't see any hope in having to live paycheck to paycheck with a job God "blessed" me with. we've got to chill on the false testimonies, saints. forreal.