Lying. Is it ever OK? 2/2/14

Good Morning,

Coffee is done, fireplace is glowing, and my prayer today is for wisdom in some decisions to be made. My coffee is Door County Maple.

Being truthful at all times. Is it ever correct for us to lie? I would call this a great question. If I answer Yes you probably will stop reading. But bear with me. Scripture forbids telling a lie.

Exodus 20:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Lying is wrong and is a sin and is listed as a heinous sin before God. God never lies.

Proverbs 12:22

New King James Version (NKJV)

²² Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

Numbers 23:19

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁹ “God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

In some Scriptures it is indicated that lying was not condemned. The Hebrew midwives were instructed by the Pharaoh of Egypt to let newborn boys perish, the midwives disobeyed the Pharaoh and lied to him when interrogated.

Exodus 1:15-19

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁵ Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; ¹⁶ and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” ¹⁷ But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. ¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?”
¹⁹ And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.”

The Hebrew midwives saw lifesaving as higher on an ethics scale than telling the truth. God not only did not punish them for lying but rewarded them with kindness.

Exodus 1:20

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁰ So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful.

During the Holocaust where Jews were being murdered by the millions, numerous Christians  lied to the Axis powers to protect Jews from being captured and killed. I believe that in circumstances as these telling a lie is permissible because saving a life is a higher issues and ethic that truth.

But beware not to take this out of context. It is not many instances where a life hangs in the balance on a lie. One must pray for wisdom in all circumstances. God does punish lies.

Acts 4:32-37

New Living Translation (NLT)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³² All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. ³³ The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. ³⁴ There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them ³⁵ and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

³⁶ For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. ³⁷ He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

Acts 5:1-11

New Living Translation (NLT)

Ananias and Sapphira

5 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. ² He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. ⁴ The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”
⁵ As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. ⁶ Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.
⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”
“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”
⁹ And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”
¹⁰ Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

In all things pray and study Scripture. You will do well.

God bless,
Marty