Discussion on Lying and whether context determines sinfulness

August 17, 2015

Church elders at the new church we are attending stand behind their teaching that it is wrong to tell a lie even if telling a lie would save the lives of your family from an intruder in your home, or perhaps saving the lives of a classroom full of students from a deranged killer. Any thoughts???

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Justin Tilghman I can understand their intention but I can’t help but think of Rahab who lied to save the spies (2:1-7) and that certainly wasn’t looked upon as wrong. In fact she was blessed for her actions and allowed to be in the lineage of the Messiah (Matt. 1:5)….just a thought.

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Ed Chait We’ve had a couple of good discussions on that question. If you search for “Rahab” in the search box, they will show up.

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Jonathan Morales My opinion is that if it will bring a greater good then it’s ok. The same can be said of wars. There are wars that are necessary to avoid a bigger tragedy and to bring about a greater good. Even God ordered the killing of many to bring about a greater good for His people.

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Julie Kimani Rahab was my first thought as well.

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Christopher Dupre You cannot fight a war without deception. Without the element of surprise any military is in great peril. Israel deceived their enemies by looking as though they were thousands in number, when they were much fewer, not even enough to win a battle. Even if Rahab didn’t lie, she deceived by hiding the spies.

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Jesse Mcphaill Also the Hebrew Midwives (Exodus 1:15-20), not telling the truth about why they let the male children live (see esp. v. 20). Interestingly, as has been noted to me before by another, the Pharaoh is nowhere named, and yet these two godly women are specifically named, demonstrating God’s blessing on them for their righteous deeds.

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Tim White There is a difference between those who know to do right and don’t do it. This is merely an issue of trust. Do we trust in our lies and our own devices, or do we trust God to protect those made righteous when they choose to make a righteous decision? You can’t draw that from Rahab, a prostitute, or the midwives of Israel, who had no spiritual maturity. Is God big enough to protect mature saints who trust in Him alone, or does He allow us to revert to the carnal practices of those who do not know Him or the immature who have not developed faith in living?

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Ed Chait Rahab did the best she could with the faith she had. The safety of the spies was not dependent on her lie but on God’s sovereignty.

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Fred Apelquist Crazy. Understandable though. In those situations I would pray afterwards for repentance & God’s protection from my sinfulness. I’d also pray for an insight about lying in such circumstances & whether God would or could ever countenance such behavior.

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Tim White Can we really ask if the Kingdom of God and His righteousness be strengthened or supported by willful practices of darkness by His people when the odds are stacked against us? In other words, do we surrender that righteousness really doesn’t work? I am asking God to place me in situations where my faith is truly challenged. And yes, I will fail at times. God is always pushing me towards the line in my life when I stop representing Him and start representing myself. His plan is for me to move that line further out. That is a lifelong process. But never be mistaken that God expects us to be holy as He is holy.

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Gina Cook Rahab was not blessed because she lied, she was blessed because she had faith, immature faith, but nevertheless faith. Lying is always a sin.

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