Maybe pastors should lie

Okay, I don't really advocate pastor's lying, but I almost wonder if it wouldn't be better not only if they did, but also if they said they would.

Let me explain. I recently read an article about a student whose teacher was, as he said, "a self-confessed liar":

I guess that statement requires a bit of explanation.

The topic of Corporate Finance/Capital Markets is, even within the world of the Dismal Science, (Economics) an exceptionally dry and boring subject matter, encumbered by complex mathematic models and obscure economic theory.

What made Dr. K memorable was a gimmick he employed that began with his introduction at the beginning of his first class:

"Now I know some of you have already heard of me, but for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar, let me explain how I teach. Between today until the class right before finals, it is my intention to work into each of my lectures … one lie. Your job, as students, among other things, is to try and catch me in the Lie of the Day."

And what were the results?

This was an insidiously brilliant technique to focus our attention – by offering an open invitation for students to challenge his statements, he transmitted lessons that lasted far beyond the immediate subject matter and taught us to constantly check new statements and claims with what we already accept as fact.

Early in the quarter, the Lie of the Day was usually obvious – immediately triggering a forest of raised hands to challenge the falsehood. Dr. K would smile, draw a line through that section of the board, and utter his trademark phrase “Very good! In fact, the opposite is true. Moving on … ”

As the quarter progressed, the Lie of the Day became more subtle, and many ended up slipping past a majority of the students unnoticed until a particularly alert person stopped the lecture to flag the disinformation.

Every once in a while, a lecture would end with nobody catching the lie which created its own unique classroom experience – in any other college lecture, end of the class hour prompts a swift rush of feet and zipping up of bookbags as students make a beeline for the door.

On the days when nobody caught the lie, we all sat in silence, looking at each other as Dr. K, looking quite pleased with himself, said with a sly grin: "Ah ha! Each of you has one falsehood in your lecture notes. Discuss amongst yourselves what it might be, and I will tell you next Monday. That is all."

How much better off would we be if it was a requirement of our spiritual walk to check everything that our pastor said? After all, Acts says the Bereans were of "more noble character" because they "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true".

In this case I wouldn't truly consider it a lie as people knew and were actively seeking the truth. In the end, the pastor would detail the misstatement and all would be well,

But in the meantime people would search the Word of God and find the truth for themselves.

Unfortunately there are myriad reasons this wouldn't work. How sad. Think how many dusty Bibles would become used again.

But what about you? Do you need someone to lie to your face before you will be like the Bereans and judge for yourself?