SELF-DECEPTION A bipartisan panel was unanimous last week in finding Congressman Charlie Rangel guilty on 11 charges of violating ethics rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. At issue was the congressman’s handling of finances over a period of several years. Despite the unanimous ruling of the panel, which included four members of Rangel’s own party, the congressman remained defiant, refusing to accept the outcome. Rather than focus on the facts in evidence, Rangel claimed he had been “deprived of due process rights.” Thus Rangel held on to his denial and defiance by rationalizing that the trial wasn’t fair. DIVINE PERCEPTION We’ve all heard the phrase appearances can be deceiving. The use of various forms of “window dressing”—smooth speech, clever arguments, attractive appearance, etc.—to deceive others is bad enough, but self-deception is often worse. Self-deception may come about as a result of rationalizing. God, however, knows everything about us. We take the first step toward ending our rationalizing self-deception when we admit that God knows. When we seek to hide the truth from ourselves, we may succeed for a time. But God is never fooled. Divine knowledge extends past all human character flaws, manipulative skills, or rationalizing tendencies we may have. 1. Why do public figures not seem to learn the lessons of other public figures who have been

discovered to be engaged in unethical activities? 2. Why do we deceive ourselves into thinking we can hide secrets from God? 3. Does God’s knowledge of our heart limit our free will? Why, or why not? 4. When do you find it difficult to pray that God will search you and test you? Why? 5. What anxious thoughts or offensive ways can God help you overcome?

—Charles R. Boatman

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