Social Dallas Podcast

Episode Summary: "God Hates _______ | A Lying Tongue"

Date: October 27, 2025
Speaker: Pastor Robert Madu (with Pastor Taylor Madu)

Overview

In this powerful installment of the "God Hates _______" sermon series, Pastor Robert Madu tackles the challenging subject, "A Lying Tongue." Taking inspiration from Proverbs 6, the message explores why God hates lying, the forms lies take in our daily lives, and how truth—embodied in the person of Jesus—sets us free. Pastor Robert blends humor, vulnerability, scriptural insight, and cultural relevance as he dismantles the subtle and overt ways lies infiltrate our lives, our relationships, and our identity. At its core, the episode is a call for self-examination, confession, and embracing truth as the foundation for spiritual growth and community health.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Series Context: "God Hates _______"

• This is the second message of the series based on Proverbs 6:16-17 ("There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him..."), focusing on the destructive things God hates, not to shame but to mature believers ([00:58]).
• "His hate is not antithetical to his love. It is the proof of his love that God hates what harms us." — Pastor Robert ([02:32]).

2. Why Does God Hate Lying?

• Lying is mentioned twice in the Proverbs 6 list: as "a lying tongue" and "a false witness who pours out lies" ([16:30]).

• The Hebrew word for "hate" is sanne, meaning "to stand in active opposition"—God positions Himself against lying.

• Lying is detestable (Hebrew: to'eba), meaning it makes God nauseous ([14:00]).

  "God stands against lying, and he gets sick to his stomach when people lie. That's how serious this is to God." — Pastor Robert ([14:00])

• Lying runs counter to God’s character as Truth; it is the “native language” of the devil ([28:47]; John 8:44).

3. Forms and Excuses of Lying

• We often don't see ourselves as "liars" because we excuse "microlies" or justify exaggeration, omission, or reframing stories ([05:28]).

• "Just because lies don't show up on your face, though, doesn't mean they have not shown up in your life. Lies are like icebergs. They look small on the surface. But what lies beneath has the potential to sink your life." — Pastor Robert ([07:18])

• Microlies: Protect image or avoid discomfort (e.g., "I'm on my way," "Traffic was crazy," "I'm praying for you" — ([10:18]-[11:24])).

• "The problem with the microlies is that they never stay micro. They fester. They grow." — Pastor Robert ([12:03])

• Mirror lies: The lies we tell ourselves: "I'm fine," "I'm over it," "I'm not addicted," "That's just how I am." These protect ego and avoid responsibility ([25:54]).

• Malicious lies: To harm others, “false witness” and character assassination ([33:44]).

4. The Root of Lying: Self-Protection and Fear

• All lying, ultimately, is for self-protection—to shield ourselves from pain, exposure, correction, or rejection ([18:30]).
• Biblical roots: The devil as the first liar (Genesis 3); Humanity's first lie was deflecting blame to avoid responsibility ([19:46]).

  "We don't lie because we're loving. We lie because we're afraid. We're afraid of how we'll look. We're afraid of being exposed." — Pastor Robert ([18:45])

5. Gendered Patterns of Lying (Humorous Take)

• Men are more likely to lie to benefit/boost themselves.
• Women are more likely to lie to "protect" others' feelings ([23:31]-[24:51]).

6. The Danger of Living a Lie: Self-Deception

• Rehearsing and believing mirror lies leads to living a lie—spiritual bondage.

• “He wants you to speak a lie, believe the lie so you’ll become the lie.” — Pastor Robert ([29:55])

7. The Language of the Enemy & The Alternative

• "When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44, quoted at [28:47]).
• Contrasting this, Pastor Robert urges us to “flip it on the enemy” by declaring, believing, and living God’s truth ([31:27]).
• Truth is not unattainable moral perfection, but a person—Jesus Christ ([41:33]).

8. Truth as Spiritual Armor

• Ephesians 6: The first piece of the armor of God is the belt of truth, which holds everything else together ([32:14]).

  "If I don't have the belt of truth, I won't have anything to connect the breastplate of righteousness with." ([33:21])

9. Lies That Hurt Others—Malicious Lies and the Ninth Commandment

• Lying about others can destroy reputations and communities.

• Online slander, social media character assassination, and the power of a single "false witness" ([33:44]-[37:00]).

  "A lie can break a life." ([39:25])

• Even sharing technically "true" things can be sinful when done from the wrong motive or spirit. Paul: "Speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) ([39:51]).

10. Confession and the Path to Freedom

• The solution is not simply “trying harder” but coming closer to Jesus, who is Truth ([42:32]).

  “Confess. Surrender. Receive.” — Pastor Robert ([43:54])

• Confession to God brings forgiveness; confession to others brings healing ([43:54]).

• There’s a process to freedom and transformation; deliverance often happens in steps, not all at once ([55:41]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the pervasiveness of lying:

  "Studies show us that the average person lies one to four times a day... 375 to 1500 lies every single year. And for some of y' all, those are way low numbers." — Pastor Robert ([03:59])

• On God’s opposition to lying:

  "There are not many places in Scripture where God uses this word, hate... When you know what he hates, you can see what his heart is." ([14:00])

• On micro-lies:

  "We should totally get lunch." ... "Knowing full well you are not ever going to lunch with him." — Pastor Robert ([10:18]) "You just got in the shower." — Taylor Madu (humorously pointing out classic micro-lies) ([10:32])

• On the real root of lying:

  "We don’t lie because we’re loving. We lie because we’re afraid." ([18:45])

• On mirror lies:

  "I'm fine. No, you're not. You're hurting and you're quietly falling apart on the inside." ([26:28]) "That's just how I am. No, it's not. It's who you've been. And Jesus can transform who you are if you'll stop hiding behind who you were." ([26:59])

• On destiny and bondage:

  "If he can get you to believe a lie that keeps you stuck, I wonder what would happen if you could believe the truth— I think it would set you free." ([41:33])

• On Truth as Person and Deliverance:

  "Truth is not a principle. Truth is a person, and his name is Jesus." ([41:33]) "Truth is not about trying harder. Truth is about coming closer to the person who is truth personified. His name is Jesus." ([42:32])

Important Timestamps

• [00:58] — Series introduction: why "God Hates _______" matters
• [03:59] — How often do people lie? Surprising statistics
• [06:00] — We rarely see ourselves as “liars”
• [10:18]-[11:24] — Examples of micro-lies—funny and relatable
• [12:03] — The infection and escalation of small lies
• [13:15] — Pastor Robert’s own confession: the marathon story
• [16:30] — The double appearance of lying in Proverbs 6
• [18:45] — The root of lying: self-protection, not love
• [23:31] — Gender differences in “why” we lie
• [24:51] — American Idol example: self-deception and the dangers of compassion-wrapped lies
• [25:54] — Mirror lies: self-delusion and its dangers
• [28:47] — The devil’s language vs. God’s language
• [32:14] — The armor of God: why truth comes first
• [33:44]-[39:25] — Malicious lies, social impact, and the "false witness" commandment
• [39:51] — The requirement to speak truth in love
• [41:33] — Truth as the person of Jesus—freedom through truth
• [43:54] — The process: confess, surrender, receive
• [51:21]-[56:00] — Altar call; the journey of walking out of lies and into truth

Final Takeaway

The episode closes with a passionate call to confession, surrender, and to receive the freedom that only truth—in the person of Jesus—can bring. Pastor Robert warns not to fall into the trap of thinking you must simply "try harder" to tell the truth, but to draw near to Christ, who alone transforms and liberates. The challenge is to reject all forms of falsehood—microlies, mirror lies, and malicious lies—and to embrace the truth, for "you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free" ([43:54]).

If you’re ready to move from bondage to freedom, from lies to life, Pastor Robert’s conviction is clear: confess the lie, surrender to Jesus, and receive true, lasting freedom. Truth isn’t just a concept; it’s a person who welcomes you home.