Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Politics and Religion
Why Do Many Christians Show Indifference To Political Lies?

Why Do Many Christians Show Indifference To Political Lies?

Last updated on: December 1, 2025 at 2:17 am by Henry Karlson

0 Comments

Why Do Many Christians Show Indifference To Political Lies? 2025-12-01T02:17:29-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ: J.D. Vance / Wikimedia Commons

Lying is an intrinsic evil. “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight” (Prov. 12:22 RSV). Because of the ontological connection between truth and goodness, when we lie, we attack and hurt that which is good. This is why lying is classified as an intrinsic evil, for when we lie, we always denigrate the good which lies behind the truth that is being falsified. Therefore, we should not be surprised that the Law of Moses took lying seriously. “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another” (Lev. 19:11 RSV). The Law of Moses tells us that we are expected to show respect to our neighbor, to love them (cf. Lev. 19:18), which, of course, we do not when we lie about them. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16 RSV). And, as with all sins, the corruption of the good that comes out of lying, if it is left unchecked, will defile us so much, we risk finding ourselves in a cycle of continual degradation that could lead to eternal perdition. “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who utters lies will perish” (Prov. 19:9 RSV). Obviously, this is not to say all liars will be damned, or even if any will ultimately suffer eternal perdition; we are warned, however, it is a possibility for those who grievously lie and hold onto their lies throughout eternity.

When we lie, we need to repent, and if we repent, grace can come into our lives and heal us from the harm we have caused ourselves due to lying. Then, we can set on the path of truth, the path which leads to salvation. Jesus, therefore, said if we are to be his disciples, we are to embrace the truth, allowing it to set us free: “Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free’” (Jn. 8:31-32 RSV). If we follow Christ, if we love him, we will not only love the truth, we will worship him in and through our love for the truth. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:24 RSV). When we think nothing about lying, when we embrace it for the sake of our inordinate desires, we show we do not worship God in truth, and so, we are far following the way of salvation.

It amazes me how often those who talk about intrinsic evils, especially within a political discussion, rarely point out lying is an intrinsic evil. If they seriously believe we cannot vote for a politician who “supports” an intrinsic evil, why don’t they say that about those politicians who not only lie, but revel in their lies? If they answer that it is because all politicians lie, so it would be impossible to vote for any politician, I would point out the kind of lie, the effects of the lie, differ from politician to politician. Thus, not all lies are equal, and not all politicians lie with the same quantity or gravity. We should be concerned with those who lie, who revel in their lies, and use their lies to promote other, especially grave, evils. That these commentators rarely, if ever, do that, makes me question if they even believe their own argument. They know there is a difference between supporting and promoting an evil, and tolerating it. They try to suggest toleration is support in regards politicians they do not like, but they will be the first to say no one is perfect when it is their own politician whose moral integrity is in question. We must realize that people will have various ways they might want to deal with some evil, and sometimes, they think those ways are best done by dealing with the root causes which lead people to doing such an evil than it is to make such actions illegal. Certainly, this was what St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas following him, suggested concerning prostitution. Just as it would be foolish to suggest Augustine and Thomas Aquinas supported prostitution because they wanted it to remain legal, it is similarly wrong to assume those who want various other evils to remain legal support those evils. Like Augustine and Aquinas, they often think there are better means to deal with the problem than by the mere force of law.

While lying is an intrinsic evil, it is best not to make lying, in and of itself, illegal. It would be impossible to enforce such a law in a just manner. What we should do is deal with those who lie, and our response to them should be based upon the lie they make, the harm the cause through their lies, and what they say in defense of their lies. While every lie contains a sin, we should keep in mind that not all lies, like any other sin, is not of equal value or gravity. When politicians lie to gain or maintain power, when they lie in order to have society cause harm to those they hate, their lying must be denounced, and we must question whether or not we should allow them to have any power. Thus, when J.D. Vance admitted he made up stories about Haitian immigrants, that he would continue to make up stories about anyone who gets in the way of his pursuit of power, Christians, and anyone else of good will, should have seen how dangerous Vance is and why he should not be given any power. Instead, it seems that those who otherwise like to moralize about intrinsic evils, had no qualms in supporting him, indeed, they just shrugged it off, proving that their rhetoric against intrinsic evils was pure sophistry.

The lies we see coming from the Trump administration are extremely grave in nature because they come out of malice, and the intention is to promote the harming (or execution) of innocents. For example, when Trump and J.D. Vance claim it is wrong for anyone (whether or not they are a former soldier, a politician, a reporter, or a common ordinary citizen) to tell soldiers they must disobey illegal orders, that it, when they claim it is the crime of sedition to tell soldiers not to engage war crimes, Trump and his administration not only are lying, their lying is intended to bring grave harm, not only to those who would suffer war crimes, but to those who call out such war crimes (as can be seen in the way Trump suggests executing those who call out such illegal actions). It’s amazing how many people talking about free speech and the right to free speech have already given that right up! Similarly, when the Trump administration tries to defend itself by laying blame for their actions (or inaction) on others, like Biden, the sin involved is much worse than the lie coming from someone lying in order to defend the honor of an innocent. Finally, when Trump lies in order to justify his vile attacks on migrants, the purpose of the lie, and the harm which it can and will cause, once again, suggests a grave sin is involved. Trump is using lies to promote his anti-immigrant agenda, and one can say, it is the same kind of agenda and technique used in totalitarian regimes. Why, then, are those Christians concerned about intrinsic evils willing to support him in his, or at least, remain silent?

Christians must do better. They must do away with those lies which lead to great pain and suffering in the world, such as those which lead the poor, the oppressed, the migrant, and others Christ lifted up as representing himself, to be persecuted and killed. “Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another” (Eph. 4:25 RSV). Christians are to love their neighbor, which, as Christ showed us in the parable of the Good Samaritan, means everyone, especially those who society looks down upon and is willing to oppress. We must not only look after those who are “our own” and ignore everyone else. We must help everyone, especially those in need. We must help those who suffer grave harm due to the lies being told about them. In the time of Trump, this includes refugees, and other migrants, as well as the poor and others the structures of sin oppress.

* This Is Another Post From My Personal (Informal) Reflections And Speculations Series

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!

N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

General Christian

Politics and Religion

Previous Post

November 30, 2025

Celebrating St. Andrew: His Life, Death, And Eternal Hope

Next Post

December 3, 2025 The Powers That Be Often Do Not Give Us A Choice

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Gosh, did that hit the spot. I have been having great anxiety lately. And I ..."

Mark Wilson

Rejecting Doom: Christian Hope And Human ..."

"Justice and peace are two sides of the same coin. Where there is justice, there ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

"Thank you for your very, very powerful and very, very insightful analysis of the relationship ..."

alwayspuzzled

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

"Given the amount of lethal malevolence that has prevailed in human history for the past ..."

alwayspuzzled

We Must Value Our Health

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz