Lies Are at the Heart of Temptation

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Because the Devil is the father of lies, it follows that temptations are built on a foundation of lies.

Some of the lies are small, others are large.  Some of the lies are obvious; others subtle and hidden in our unconscious.   And some of them arise from our own natural talents for wishful thinking and self-deception.  But in the end, they are all lies.

Serious Temptations Don’t Involve Cake

When I was a child my image of temptation was formed, in part, by clichés such as “I’m really tempted to have another slice of cake.” I managed to internalize temptation as somehow trivial.  As a child, I didn’t struggle with temptation too much.  My desires did not outstrip my permissions by much, if at all.

There is a moral simplicity in childhood and adolescence: the rules are set by the adults, and one either agrees and submits . . . or works to evade them.  As children we can hide behind a claim of unfair adult control to justify our disobedience.

With maturity, however, comes the responsibility for adopting moral rules.  As we accept that responsibility, temptation becomes more troubling and more painful.  But when I advanced to adolescence, my moral thinking was compromised by family dysfunction and teen-age hormones.

I was probably in my late teens or early 20s before I experienced the torment of real temptation.  This is when morality gets serious.  Before that I was more concerned with figuring the odds of getting caught than with the concept of temptation.

As adults we are faced with the reality that oftentimes we cannot even live up to our own strictures, as lax as they may be. Some people are better than others at dodging this awareness.  But sooner or later, most people have to face this singular reality of the Fall: we are, by nature, disobedient, even to our own standards.

The Real Torment Of Temptation

Temptation becomes a real torment when we desire something that we know is wrong, not just in the eyes of society or even through the teachings of the Church, but also in our own convictions.

I tend to think that the better formed someone’s conscience is, the more opportunities for serious temptation.  We cannot be tempted by something we do not think is wrong.  This is why the sentence “I’m tempted to have another slice of cake” is in danger of trivializing both temptation and the sin of gluttony. Having a second slice of cake one day is not gluttony but eating the whole cake is gluttony.  And having a second and even a third slice every day, week after week is gluttony as well.  At this point one is not being tempted – one has surrendered to temptation.

A person adrift in time and unaware of their own habits may not be aware that they have surrendered to “another slice of cake” gluttony. One of the shocks that can come from a Lenten discipline is the realization of how serious an extra slice of cake has become.  It is surrender to a disordered appetite.

This is when the torment of temptation begins.

I Don’t Care. I Want It.

The torment of temptation comes when we want something, but genuinely understand and know that what we want is wrong.

I am not speaking of a transient desire, but of something strong and persistent. It may be a sin we have already surrendered to and become aware of, such as having a second and third slice of cake after every meal.  Doing this for long enough can add 40 pounds to our frame and several inches to our waistline. In this case our temptation is to continue a habit we realize is both wrong and bad for us.

But it may also be a new desire that hits seemingly out of the blue – a sudden crush that quickly escalates into a temptation to infidelity.  Or it could be a desperate response to financial problems leading to a temptation to steal or defraud. It could even be a growing anger toward a neighbor or co-worker that becomes a temptation to violence, bearing false witness, or some other form of malicious action.

It is in such circumstances that the lies of temptation really kick into high gear. Most of us have an innate gift for rationalizing what we want. This predisposes us to buying into temptation’s lies.

The Simple Lies Of Temptation

“It’s not that big a deal”
”It’s only a piece of cake.”
”Just this one time won’t matter.”
“Nobody would blame me.”
”Everybody does this kind of thing.”
”I‘m only human.”
”It’s really ______’ s fault.”

The list of lies is close to endless.  And if we are truthful with ourselves, we recognize these attempts at justification as being essentially dishonest, no matter how comforting they may be.  They are relatively easy to recognize as enablers – excuses to yield to temptation – because we use them as excuses when we argue with ourselves before or after the fact, or when someone calls us out on what we have done.

The simple lies are just that – simple. The big lie is less obvious.

The Big Lie at the Heart Of All Temptations

I think there is one lie in particular, however, that serves as the foundation for most, if not all, temptations.

The big lie at the core of all temptations is one lie with many parts:  It is the delusion that by giving in to temptation we can control a fear, soothe a pain, heal a wound, or fill an existential void in our hearts and souls. These are lies we may not even be aware of, because they are hidden in things we have trouble acknowledging.

At best we can distract ourselves from wounds or fears or pains for a while before reality returns, often with even more force.

The power of this lie comes from denial.  So often we do not want to confront deep set fears, traumas, or weaknesses so we tend to remain as unaware of them as we can unless – until – they begin to cause us problems. We feel the discomfort they create and we act to mitigate that discomfort.

Unfortunately, the lies of temptation offer relief without demanding that we confront what is causing our discomfort directly.  The sugar rush, or the euphoria of alcohol or drugs, legal or otherwise, do not require introspection or self-awareness to work. Neither does the thrill of a new romance or other adrenaline inducing activities.

This big lie works on a sub-conscious level as well as a conscious one. People in pain, from whatever source, are always looking for relief from the pain. People, in general, also prefer an easy answer to a difficult one and immediate relief over an extended process. Anything that seems to offer fast relief without much effort is incredibly attractive, and in consequence, tempting.

Truth and Temptation

The antidote for a lie is the truth. When faced with temptation, we need to remember that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

But simply remembering this is not enough. We need to turn to the truth in prayer, admitting our struggle and asking God to reveal the lies in our temptations and replace them with the truth of our Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

This is not easy, especially when the desire we are tempted by is deeply rooted in some primal need or wound we may be only dimly aware of. Even as we pray we can find ourselves looking for an out – some excuse to justify what we know is not justifiable.

Among other resources, there are two books by Dr. Bob Schuchts, Be Healed and Be Transformed, which deal specifically and directly with how life wounds impact us and draw us into sin. These books and similar resources can help us find and articulate the wounds that provide power to temptation, and give us a cognitive basis to resist that power.

But first, last, and always we have prayer, turning directly to our Lord and the Saints for intercession and aid.

Lord Jesus, you knew the truth when you were tempted and withstood the assault from the evil one. Grant us insight to see the truth beyond the lies of temptation, and deliver us from delusions and desires that would lead us away from you. Send the Holy Spirit to surround us with protection against all the lies of the enemy, and strengthen our hearts and minds so that we may cling to you as our hope and salvation. Thank you our heavenly Father for the example of your beloved Son, and the strength to meet each day’s needs.
Amen!

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10 thoughts on “Lies Are at the Heart of Temptation”

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  4. God has graced me with a long life and I am thankful for it. One of the things that I have found is that it has been easier for me to never lie. Don’t get me wrong I’m not a holier than thou person, but I have found that by not lying, I simply never have to worry about what I said to whom. It would be a more difficult task for me to remember to get my “fabricated story” straight if I lied. So, many many years ago I decided simply not to lie. I can also tell you this. As a fishing boat captain it is very difficult to not tell a lie to the other fishing boat captains as to where I was when I had a very good day of fishing.
    Thoughtful article, Mark.

    1. I’ve been thinking about this – remembering to get the fabricated story straight. Many times lies are piled onto lies in the attempt to keep the story from derailing.

      Wouldn’t it be hilarious to hear the sequence of lies needed to get to where we are … I think it all started with a purse snatching …

    2. Thank you, Dennis.

      A fisherman who tells the truth? They should have named you Nathanael!

      Mark

  5. Forgive me while I weep. I not only weep for the sins of those who hurt me but for my sins that hurt others.
    But even more I weep for the sins of choosing to go against a Devine Father’s will for me. As David said, “Against thee alone have I sinned.” I’m grateful for Christ who redeems me and fir His Spirit in me reminding me of my sins and calling me to repentance. Thank you friend and brother in Christ for reminding us that our daily walk means dying to self and living for Him.

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