False witnessing can appear in many forms. It can, of course, be a lie or a “little white lie.” It can be slander or gossip. Gossip often destroys reputations. False witnessing can also appear as false charges like: “You always” or “You never.” Some are false witnesses by reposting stuff on social media without first verifying both the TRUTH of a statement or picture and the CONTEXT in which it was said.
When I was a child, my mom had a quick and effective solution for cleaning my mouth when it needed to be cleaned. She would “wash my mouth with soap.” I learned very quickly that I did not want a repeat of that discipline. I also remember, as a child, that we could “cross our fingers” in secret to make what we were saying essentially ineffective. It was “excuse me for my little white lie.”
God however, who is Truth and always tells the truth has no room in His Kingdom for liars. How do I know this? Revelation 21:8 (ESV) says: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Proverbs 19:5 “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.”
Proverbs 19:9 “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.”
Proverbs 25:18 “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.”
Sometimes telling the truth can be painful, but the reality is that liars will endure a great deal more pain in the end. Of course, there is hope. The remedy is found in verses like Romans 6:23 and John 14:6.
Know Your Flocks & Herds 