Other than lying there are tools of deception, many of these are illustrated with great ingenuity by C. S. Lewis in his book, “The Screwtape Letters”. It is one of my favorites telling a fictional story of one demon telling his underling tempter how best to lead his subject human towards sin and ultimately Hell. This book is also a treasury of sound theology, although it is illustrated in the reverse. 

On of the best illustrations of deflecting was in Al Gore’s testimony before congress regarding legislation to reverse global warming. When Gore was caught making investments in companies that would profit directly if the legislation was passed, he admitted it. He said it was just a wise investment to invest in a clean environment and saving the earth. The fact is that it is illegal for politicians or any insider to have financial interest or profit from matters in which they are involved. This is the definition of political corruption. Moreover, any witnesses testimony would be rejected if they had related financial incentive. Gore deflected saying that he was putting all profits into his exempt organization to fix global warming. His suggestion was, Yes, I’m profiting, but putting the profits back into the cause. No one on the committee had the presence of mind or audacity to call his integrity into question and point out the corruption Gore admitted. They could have said, “Your admission may be subject to criminal investigation and your testimony is self serving at least and potentially fraudulent.”

The most common deflection is, “you do it also” or “everyone does it”. A while back there were several democrat politicians were caught in corrupt practices and the media at that time reported it. The Democrat leaders simply said the Republicans do this also and that was the end of the matter. The response should have been, “What others potentially do is not irrelevant to criminal charges of those indicted.” The Bible teaches that we all are sinful and therefore disqualified to judge our fellow man. (Rom. 2:1-3) However, it is not an excuse or justification for our actions before the law or God. The Bible addresses this saying, “Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: ‘Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?’ But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” (Romans 9:18-20)

When people turn away from God, we lose all sense of right and wrong and follow our own values which are flawed. Deflecting has a tiny bit of truth, but it is irrelevant to the facts and what is right. Political Correctness is similar in that it recognizes human frailty and fault, but ignores what is true, just, and right for all parties involved before God. Let us return to God for His wisdom and righteousness as ours is clearly inadequate and corrupted.