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Do we all lie and if so, is it justifiable?The story about God and Sarah, as she laughed at the promise that she would bear a child in her old age."Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said,'I did not laugh.' " Genesis 18:15 NIV
Rahab, the prostitute lied to cover for the spies that were hiding.She was written about as a heroine. Joshua Chapter 2 NIV
The apostle Paul told the Colossians:"Do not lie to each other,since you have taken off your old self with its practices." Col 3:9 NIV
That's an interesting question. Is it not a lie to say that someone looks good when they don'tl or say to the telephone surveyer you're busy when you're not? Or to tell your young child there is a Santa Clause? Maybe that's not exactly what you meant but they are still lies. It also makes one think of the age old quandry about whether or not it is ok to lie or stretch the truth (which basically is a lie) to save someone hurt or humiliation??
That's an interesting question. Is it not a lie to say that someone looks good when they don'tl or say to the telephone surveyer you're busy when you're not? Or to tell your young child there is a Santa Clause? Maybe that's not exactly what you meant but they are still lies. It also makes one think of the age old quandry about whether or not it is ok to lie or stretch the truth (which basically is a lie) to save someone hurt or humiliation??
If we tell the surveyor something that is not true,is it not a lie?Could I say,"Sorry, I'm not interested."
Last edited by JANA MANIA; 03-14-2008 at 09:40 PM..
Many Dutch people, during the Nazi occupation in WWII, lied to the German occupiers when they were hiding the Jewish Dutch from the Nazis. Although it is my principle not to lie, I will not hesitate to tell a lie if I can save a life; I find saving lives more important than upholding my own principles.
The bible makes it VERY clear that it's not okay to lie.
It's one of the 10 commandments.
I found it interesting that you brought up Sarah and Rahab.
It seems obvious that God forgave them.
That was the O.T. though, and I can't recall seeing anything
in the N.T. where a lie was acceptable to God.
Judas lied, but it wasn't his lie that got Jesus arrested
and later crucified, it was the fact that he turned him in.
So that lie was not acceptable.
(Here's a question for another thread: Do you think Judas went to Hell?
He was responsible for sending Jesus to the cross, but he also helped
fulfill a prophesy and later regretted what he did and threw away the silver and hung himself.)
I personally think it's a sin to lie.
Even when we lie to spare someone's feelings, or lie by omission. That said, I have been guilty of both, many, many times in my life.
Some people call them "Little white lies",
but they are lies just the same.
I had a friend who didn't lie to spare someone's feelings.
If he was invited to something he didn't want to attend,
he didn't make up an excuse, he'd just say "I don't feel like going".
He wasn't very popular, but I have to admit that I really respected that.
He wasn't even a Christian.
Would I lie to save an innocent person's life?
I'm ashamed to say that I Probably would.
But I'd repent and pray for forgiveness.
Would God see it as a sin? Yes.
Would God forgive me? I think so under the circumstances.
Would there be consequences because of that lie? Probably. Every sin carries a consequence! Don't kid yourself.
This is a really good thread where a few of us may learn something. I hope to hear from a lot of folks on this subject.
Every sin carries a consequence! Don't kid yourself.
Only when it is also a sin to save someone's life will lying to save someone be sinful. I mean lying in order to save someone who has committed crimes on the scale that Hitler has and shows no repentance whatsoever would imo indeed be sinful.
There are seven ways to lie. There is the white lie, the lie of omission (not telling the whole truth,) the lie of commission (active and purposeful), the lie in thought - i.e., misremebering a true occurrance on purpose, the lie of false flattery... anything that is not true is a lie.
Instead of telling someone who is not well-put together, "You look wonderful!" you can say, "That is a beautiful dress!" or "I like that hat!" and you therefore do not lie. Some people carry truthsaying to an injurious point; i.e., "You smell awful! No water or soap at your house?" - this is bullying and self-aggrandizement thru "truth", and isn't acceptable either to those of a truly Christian mindset. If someone is a truly horrible cook and doesn't know it, it is better to give them a recipe book for a birthday or Christmas 'to enhance and expand their own recipes', and to simply say, "No thank you" and not offer an excuse when offered something they have made. Remember the old saying - "If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing?" Silence is kinder than false flattery.
I would lie to save someone's life, but it would have to not just be expedient but immediately necessary. Otherwise, I would commit the sin of omission - bad, but not as bad as simply coming out with a baldfaced lie! The problem with a lie is not the lie itself - it is the hundred or so afterward that you have to tell to cover up the first lie!
Do we all lie and if so, is it justifiable?The story about God and Sarah, as she laughed at the promise that she would bear a child in her old age."Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said,'I did not laugh.' " Genesis 18:15 NIV
Rahab, the prostitute lied to cover for the spies that were hiding.She was written about as a heroine. Joshua Chapter 2 NIV
The apostle Paul told the Colossians:"Do not lie to each other,since you have taken off your old self with its practices." Col 3:9 NIV
JANA, you have brought up an important topic that should be taken extremely serious by all Christians. No, No, No!!! It is never good to tell a lie. Not under any circumstances whatsoever. Not under the threat of death, not for the love of money, or for any other reason! If there is something a person does not want to say, then they should simply be silent. It is never ok to lie. Remember, we in the Church have been given far more revelation of the Truth, than the old testament saints had in thier day. The SPIRIT of Truth actually dwells in us and we in Him.
Originally Posted by TheComputerGuyOnly when it is also a sin to save someone's life will lying to save someone be sinful. I mean lying in order to save someone who has committed crimes on the scale that Hitler has and shows no repentance whatsoever would imo indeed be sinful.
Notice I said "an innocent person" in my example.
And even in that case it's very possible that the lie
could create unintended consequences.
That's the problem when dealing with hypothetical situations.
It usually gets too far out.
The problem with a lie is not the lie itself - it is the hundred or so afterward that you have to tell to cover up the first lie!
You have that right!
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Although it is my principle not to lie, I will not hesitate to tell a lie if I can save a life; I find saving lives more important than upholding my own principles.
I mean lying in order to save someone who has committed crimes on the scale that Hitler has and shows no repentance whatsoever would imo indeed be sinful.
