I'm surprised that the first statement in your article misuses the word "lie." Because of this, you jeopardize your entire article's premise, and instead of coming off informed, you sound as though you are writing an emotional opinion piece, losing persuasion as a result. You are a smart guy. You should know that words and definitions matter. You could have done better.

Per the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (quotes are mine):

"A lie is a statement made by one who does not believe it with the "intention" that someone else shall be led to believe it" (Isenberg 1973, 248)."

"[lying is] making a statement believed to be false, with the "intention" of getting another to accept it as true" (Primoratz 1984, 54n2)). This definition does not specify the addressee, however. It may be restated as follows:

(L1) To lie =df to make a believed-false statement to another person with the "intention" that the other person believe that statement to be true."

To be clear, lying is a conscious, "intentional" act of deception. As someone intimately familiar with the Protestant Christian church and its leaders (and the expert in this dialogue), I assure you that the far majority of leaders do not "intentionally" lie to their congregations with a plot to deceive.

Now, I agree with you that Christians get it wrong--a lot. Their hermeneutical gymnastics make even my head spin. Why that is is another conversation.