White Lies?
by padapa on Feb.27, 2009, under True Christianity
Last year I saw Today show host “Meridith” admit that she lies, “Little White Lies”, like to her friends asking if an outfit makes them look fat, etc. As a result, I don’t trust her reporting as much anymore. How about you … Do you lie?
Is it OK for a Christian to lie? (No, I don’t think Meredith is a Christian.)
Here are a couple of scriptures for you to think about. There are plenty more on this subject.
Lev 6:2-5 If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
Lev 6:3 Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
Lev 6:4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
Lev 6:5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Is there a time when its ok to lie? NO!!!!!!!!
June 11th, 2009 on 6:45 am
Although I agree that any type of lie is needing to be brought into question, if you know your Bible, Rahab lied in order to protect a group of followers of Christ. She said she had not seen them or did not know what direction they had fled. Was she a sinner? Yes. She also was lifted up for doing what she did, because she protected men of God. We need to be discerning when confronted with someone who lies, but also look at their intent and even then, only God can truly judge what is in a person’s heart. In other words, one may lie in order to bring about a worthy cause or to protect another.
June 20th, 2009 on 3:02 pm
Roxanne,
You are right to point out that God can use even our bad behaviour, but that doesn’t make doing wrong ok. Exodus 20:6 shows that God gave Rahab mercy, just like he gives us (you and me) sinners mercy.
Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.But the same God said:
Leviticus 19:11-12 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. 12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Clearly God commands us to not lie, steal or deal falsely. Just because God gave mercy to Rehab doesn’t mean he allows lying. In proverbs 14:5 we see a faithful person doesn’t lie and Rehab did lie, placing her in the “false witness” camp, needing God’s grace to survive, just like us.
5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
Romans 3:23, we find that all have sinned, some more than others, but all are separated from God by their sins, so we all need the saviour Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Acts 5:1-9 is very important if lying for a good cause is ok. Funding the growth of the church is a good thing. These two died for their lies.
Acts 5:1-9 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
As for judging a person’s heart, you are very right to point out that God can read the hearts of people, we people can’t.
I Sam 6:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
But, that doesn’t relieve us of the responsibility to judge people that are Christians. Paul even chastises the church in Corinth for not judging issues within the church (read chapters 3-6). Here was a guy in the church that was having a sexual relationship with is father’s wife (chapter 5) and nobody in the church was stopping him and telling him that it was wrong … it appears they weren’t juding his actions and in chapter 6 Paul says:
Corin 6:1-5 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
You see, God has already judged the world at the cross of Jesus Christ, so I don’t judge the world in day to day life, but God calls us to judge Christians by their actions, which come from their heart.
Matt 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Paul also warns us not to use our own measure of right and wrong. He tells us to use God’s word as a straight (true) ruler.
Padapa