Articles
The Worst Kind of Deception
In 1912, the fossilized bones of a supposedly-unknown early species of man were revealed as having been found in a gravel pit at Piltdown, East Sussex, in 1912 by archaeologist Charles Dawson - and were named as Eoanthropus dawsoni ("Dawson's dawn-man"). For the next 41 years it was believed that this was an early species of man who had yet to be discovered. However, in 1953, it emerged that Piltdown Man was actually a huge fraud — he was in fact a fully-developed modern human, believed to have died 600 years previously, whose lower jawbone had been replaced with that of an orangutan.
For 41 years, the forgery/hoax was promoted as yet another bit of evidence for evolution, and stirred many scientists to search more diligently for that elusive "missing link" between man and ape. For 41 years, it was taught as credible evidence for evolution. Though the hoax was finally exposed after 41 years, the effects were longer-lasting, as many people still hold to the idea of some "missing link" because of that hoax and its resulting discussions.
I imagine that when the hoax was discovered, there were many scientists who were greatly upset to learn that it was a hoax. Some were upset because they no longer had a piece of evidence to support their belief in evolution; others were upset that they had been deceived, and rightly so. No one likes being deceived.
But the great irony in all this, and in many aspects of life, is that though some scientists were deceived by that hoax, they still cling to the false idea of macro evolution, and all because it is what they want to believe — not because the evidence is conclusive and overwhelming. An honest examination of all scientific evidence would reveal that it is not a forgone conclusion that evolution has been proven; many scientists have many legitimate issues with the theory — issues that stem from logic, evidence, the scientific process, and honest investigation.
Now, we might get a good laugh at these scientists who hold to their faulty beliefs, but are we any better when we claim to have faith, but have no evidence or substance to which we can point as our reason to believe? We might laugh at others who hold to faulty theories, but do we also deceive ourselves into thinking we are faithful servants of the Lord when, in reality, we are merely putting on an outward show for others? Have we deceived ourselves into thinking we have faith, but really have none at all? Have we deceived ourselves into thinking we are praiseworthy disciples when, in reality, we are just a bunch of hypocrites?
You see, the worst kind of deception is self-deception; when one deceives himself, there is little anyone else can say or do to get him to see the truth of how things are and who the self-deceived really is. Paul reminds us, “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal. 6:3). One who believes he is right will not hear those who tell him he is wrong; one who believes another is guilty before hearing the evidence will not honestly examine the evidence; one who believes he is wise will not listen to instruction because he thinks he has no need. To support this idea, the wise writer tells us, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise” (Prov. 12:15).
To put it another way, Amos Bronson Alcott once said, "To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant." It's one thing to be ignorant, but quite another to be ignorant of your ignorance; in the same way, it is one thing to be deceived, but quite another to deceive yourself into thinking a lie is the truth. How can you convince the self-deceived that they are deceived? How can you convince the ignorant that they are ignorant?
As with anyone, we cannot know the hearts of others, so we must treat the self-deceived as if they were anyone else, and simply lay out the facts, evidence, and arguments that demonstrate truth, and then see how they respond to it. Remember that Jesus, who knows the hearts of all men, spoke truth to the Pharisees, whom He knew were nothing but hypocrites. He spoke truth and then let their responses and reactions reveal their hearts. He gave them the opportunity to hear the truth and respond positively to it, because He knew that merely telling others they were hypocrites was not enough; others needed to see and hear their hypocrisy. [And they demonstrated it clearly!]
Self-deception is the worst kind of deception because we can believe ourselves to be righteous, when we are actually only self-righteous [as with the praying Pharisee, Luke 18:9-14]; we can believe we have done the will of God when we actually have disobeyed Him [as did King Saul, 1 Sam. 15:1-33]; we can believe we have done many great things in the name of the Lord when we actually have done only what we wanted to do and did not glorify Him at all [as many will discover when they stand before Christ in Judgment, Matt. 7:21-23]; we can believe we are doers of the word, when we are actually only hearers (Jas. 1:22); and we can believe we are free of sin, while we are actually guilty (1 John 1:8).
As with all these self-deceived individuals, there will come a time when the self-deception is finally and completely exposed for what it truly is, and thoroughly and completely debunked; for some, it may come while they yet live on this earth, and they will have time and opportunity to repent and change, while others will only finally believe the truth when they hear it from the mouth of the righteous Judge, and there will be no time or opportunity for repentance for them.
To reduce the possibility of self-deception, it would be prudent for you as a disciple to find a brother or sister — one who believes in Christ as you do — who is personally interested in your salvation, and who will tell you the truth, even when it hurts. Each disciple must be likewise willing to hear what they have to say and — even as hard as it may be for you to believe what they are telling you — act accordingly. If the praying Pharisee would have heeded wise counsel, if King Saul would have listened and willingly repented, and if those who followed their own ways would have examined themselves in light of Christ's words, their fate would be different.
It is truth alone that will set you free from the lie of self-deception; but you must be willing to listen. —— Steven Harper
