photo courtesy of LibertyNews.com When NBC News anchor Brian Williams was recently caught up in a scandal of his own making, it revealed a truth about our modern culture and how anxious we are to use lies to further our own agenda.
His lies probably did not seem like lies when he told them over and over at public events, many of which were recorded on video. He probably did not realize that he was unwittingly setting a trap for himself by lying about details and incidents that others also experienced. Even though Mr. Williams knew that there were plenty of witnesses around who could dispute his version of events, he proceeded to fabricate these details and events as if they were absolute truth. And when you have a national platform, as Mr. Williams did, in which to fabricate more and more lies about people, places and things, it's just a matter of time before someone said "hey, I was there too and what he's saying is simply not true".
Mr. Williams however, also had a marketing slogan attached to his name. As the NBC Nightly News Anchorman, he had ascended to a position of power in news media that few ever reach. Being an anchor for one of the "big 3" broadcast networks in the USA is pinnacle of career achievement in American journalism. As such, Mr. Williams was touted as "The most trusted man in America".
Now that the smoke has cleared and Brian Williams has been exposed as "the most famous liar in America", he has destroyed his journalism career and has lost his position as the top news anchor at NBC. To boot, he has become the butt of endless jokes about his news coverage. In his attempts to make himself look better than he was by lying about events that he reported on, he has exposed himself as just another human being who has been deceived by his own delusions.
With ample video and audio evidence of his lies and half-truths, Brian Williams has joined a club populated by many other "has-beens" who have attempted to lie to either make themselves look good, or to cover up known sins that they knew they would be criticized for if exposed.
But who among us could stand up to the scrutiny to which Brian Williams has been subjected?
If someone were to replay a video or audio recording of everything you have ever said or done, would they find your lies as well? While Brian Williams, as a news anchor, charged with a sacred public trust, he got what he deserved. But lets keep in mind that we all will eventually face a day in which our own words and deeds will be made public before God and man. When that day comes, will you be found to be truthful or a liar?
Mat 12:33 Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.
Mat 12:34 You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.
Mat 12:35 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.
Mat 12:36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.
Mat 12:37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.
His lies probably did not seem like lies when he told them over and over at public events, many of which were recorded on video. He probably did not realize that he was unwittingly setting a trap for himself by lying about details and incidents that others also experienced. Even though Mr. Williams knew that there were plenty of witnesses around who could dispute his version of events, he proceeded to fabricate these details and events as if they were absolute truth. And when you have a national platform, as Mr. Williams did, in which to fabricate more and more lies about people, places and things, it's just a matter of time before someone said "hey, I was there too and what he's saying is simply not true".
Mr. Williams however, also had a marketing slogan attached to his name. As the NBC Nightly News Anchorman, he had ascended to a position of power in news media that few ever reach. Being an anchor for one of the "big 3" broadcast networks in the USA is pinnacle of career achievement in American journalism. As such, Mr. Williams was touted as "The most trusted man in America".
Now that the smoke has cleared and Brian Williams has been exposed as "the most famous liar in America", he has destroyed his journalism career and has lost his position as the top news anchor at NBC. To boot, he has become the butt of endless jokes about his news coverage. In his attempts to make himself look better than he was by lying about events that he reported on, he has exposed himself as just another human being who has been deceived by his own delusions.
With ample video and audio evidence of his lies and half-truths, Brian Williams has joined a club populated by many other "has-beens" who have attempted to lie to either make themselves look good, or to cover up known sins that they knew they would be criticized for if exposed.
But who among us could stand up to the scrutiny to which Brian Williams has been subjected?
If someone were to replay a video or audio recording of everything you have ever said or done, would they find your lies as well? While Brian Williams, as a news anchor, charged with a sacred public trust, he got what he deserved. But lets keep in mind that we all will eventually face a day in which our own words and deeds will be made public before God and man. When that day comes, will you be found to be truthful or a liar?
Mat 12:33 Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.
Mat 12:34 You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.
Mat 12:35 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.
Mat 12:36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.
Mat 12:37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.
