Why not lie?

We live in what must surely be the most calculatedly untruthful society and civilization in world history - where dishonesty is expected and demanded of many people in their work - on a daily, hourly, basis. 

So, given that it is so expedient to do so - why not lie, since everybody else does? 

In a neatly composed post; blogger "Rev Matt" puts forward a coherent psychological argument against lying...

Which is that a life built on lies is like that of an undercover spy: the liar always needing to be vigilant, anxious; ever vulnerable to exposure. 

This may psychologically be true of most individual persons who have constructed their lives based on dishonesty*, but it does not apply to the prevalent form of untruthfulness here-and-now - which is to sustain and defend the social lies of our totalitarian civilization. 

This is actually less anxious, than it is to think - and maybe - speak truth**!

The harm is thus primarily spiritual, rather than psychological. It is the harm from sustaining systematic dishonesty and calculated misleading, and from defending-it-as-good; and doing so for our innermost selves: in conscience.  

Such is to invite evil into one's heart - with inevitable adverse spiritual consequences; consequences that will not be repented for so long as the lie is self-excused. 

That is the real reason why not to lie. 

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* There are - however - some individuals who positively enjoy living-a-lie. Some spies seem to be of this sort. Such people experience a sense of their own superiority at deceiving people. And, if they are caught in the lie, they likewise enjoy either worming their way out of the situation - by whatever means is effective; or perhaps brazenly admitting they have fooled so many people for such a long time, and laughing at the gullibility of others. 

** The same applies to science and academia more widely: it is much less stressful, and more immediately gratifying, to go-along-with whatever current untruths are prevalent among the leadership class; than it is to pursue truth and to speak truth.