I’ve been thinking about this question for the past few days. There are a number of examples in Scripture where a person lied in order to achieve a ‘good’ outcome. On the surface, a lie may appear to be the lesser of two evils; in such cases - can the lie be justified? In today’s study, Selwyn says: “Situational ethics often proposes possible scenarios to justify a position, such as; ‘What if someone came to your house to murder a member of your family and asked if that person was in. Would it not be right to lie in those circumstances?’”
I’m sure there were many people during WW11; who, when hiding Jews or other wanted people, had to face this question on a regular basis. A straight out lie, even in these cases, can never be justified. It demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s love. It brings into question, God’s depth of involvement in our daily lives; that perhaps He has more important things to do and may not be available to help us during our moment of questioning. The answer could be; “sure, I’m hiding Jews, there’s a family hiding under my kitchen table, right now.” Which was true for one person answering the question, but it was said in such a way that the interrogating officer did not believe the answer, and left.
Selwyn makes the good point: “God Himself can never lie, and He will never delegate to you, (one of his children) the task of lying for Him.”
Yet, we live in a fallen world and God allows evil; we will not fully understand why, our all-powerful God – who is in control of all things (including evil spirits) – allows, in particular, bad things to happen to good people – but He does!
In part, the answer is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans, Chapter 1, some relevant bits, follow (NLT): ” (18) But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. … (24) So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. … (25) They traded the truth about God for a lie. (26) That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. … (28) Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. …”
God allowed Satan to test Peter; and, He also allowed Job to be tested. Jesus will allow Satan to test you! Yet, He knows His intersession with His Father, will always result in your survival, all His chosen children will survive the trials of this world - in that, you can trust.
Consequently, Rahab (Joshua 2) was not required to lie, to save the Hebrew spies – God would have still save the spies; nothing Rahab said – could have changed the outcome. Her faith in helping the spies was commended – her lies were never commended!
Likewise, in 2 Chronicles 18:15-22 ( & Kings 22:22-24) NLT, we read about the prophet Micaiah, advising the evil King Ahab that his prophets were lying, (let’s keep in mind the verses from Romans – evil people don’t want to know the truth and seek knowledge in lies!): “But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the Lord?” Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’” “Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”
Then Micaiah continued, “Listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the armies of heaven around him, on his right and on his left. And the Lordsaid, ‘Who can entice King Ahab of Israel to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?’ (As if God need to ask the question, this alone, gives a clue as to the nature of this ‘parable’.) “There were many suggestions, and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, ‘I can do it!’ “‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked. “And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’ “‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’ “So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of your prophets. For the Lord has pronounced your doom.” In a similar way, God used Pharaoh’s hardened heart to serve His purposes. On a related issue, (Exodus 1:19) the Hebrew midwives lied to Pharaoh – the outcome they desired was fine – their lie was not – and was not required, God’s love – if trusted; would have provide a solution that did not require a lie.
In summary; a follower of Jesus; never, never has to lie to ensure that God’s work succeeds.
Listen carefully, to Selwyn’s conclusion: “The Bible does not advise that anyone, in any situation, ought to sin. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 10:13; teaches that because God is faithful, we will never find ourselves in a situation where we must sin (by telling a lie), and promises that there will always be a way of escape. God never puts us, one of His children, in such a situation or calls us to break one of His laws in order to keep another of His commands.”
A lie can never be justified. Any comments?
Can a lie be justified?
I’ve been thinking about this question for the past few days. There are a number of examples in Scripture where a person lied in order to achieve a ‘good’ outcome. On the surface, a lie may appear to be the lesser of two evils; in such cases - can the lie be justified? In today’s study, Selwyn says: “Situational ethics often proposes possible scenarios to justify a position, such as; ‘What if someone came to your house to murder a member of your family and asked if that person was in. Would it not be right to lie in those circumstances?’”
I’m sure there were many people during WW11; who, when hiding Jews or other wanted people, had to face this question on a regular basis. A straight out lie, even in these cases, can never be justified. It demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s love. It brings into question, God’s depth of involvement in our daily lives; that perhaps He has more important things to do and may not be available to help us during our moment of questioning. The answer could be; “sure, I’m hiding Jews, there’s a family hiding under my kitchen table, right now.” Which was true for one person answering the question, but it was said in such a way that the interrogating officer did not believe the answer, and left.
Selwyn makes the good point: “God Himself can never lie, and He will never delegate to you, (one of his children) the task of lying for Him.”
Yet, we live in a fallen world and God allows evil; we will not fully understand why, our all-powerful God – who is in control of all things (including evil spirits) – allows, in particular, bad things to happen to good people – but He does!
In part, the answer is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans, Chapter 1, some relevant bits, follow (NLT): ” (18) But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. … (24) So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. … (25) They traded the truth about God for a lie. (26) That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. … (28) Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. …”
God allowed Satan to test Peter; and, He also allowed Job to be tested. Jesus will allow Satan to test you! Yet, He knows His intersession with His Father, will always result in your survival, all His chosen children will survive the trials of this world - in that, you can trust.
Consequently, Rahab (Joshua 2) was not required to lie, to save the Hebrew spies – God would have still save the spies; nothing Rahab said – could have changed the outcome. Her faith in helping the spies was commended – her lies were never commended!
Likewise, in 2 Chronicles 18:15-22 ( & Kings 22:22-24) NLT, we read about the prophet Micaiah, advising the evil King Ahab that his prophets were lying, (let’s keep in mind the verses from Romans – evil people don’t want to know the truth and seek knowledge in lies!): “But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the Lord?” Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’” “Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”
Then Micaiah continued, “Listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the armies of heaven around him, on his right and on his left. And the Lordsaid, ‘Who can entice King Ahab of Israel to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?’ (As if God need to ask the question, this alone, gives a clue as to the nature of this ‘parable’.) “There were many suggestions, and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, ‘I can do it!’ “‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked. “And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’ “‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’ “So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of your prophets. For the Lord has pronounced your doom.” In a similar way, God used Pharaoh’s hardened heart to serve His purposes. On a related issue, (Exodus 1:19) the Hebrew midwives lied to Pharaoh – the outcome they desired was fine – their lie was not – and was not required, God’s love – if trusted; would have provide a solution that did not require a lie.
In summary; a follower of Jesus; never, never has to lie to ensure that God’s work succeeds.
Listen carefully, to Selwyn’s conclusion: “The Bible does not advise that anyone, in any situation, ought to sin. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 10:13; teaches that because God is faithful, we will never find ourselves in a situation where we must sin (by telling a lie), and promises that there will always be a way of escape. God never puts us, one of His children, in such a situation or calls us to break one of His laws in order to keep another of His commands.”
A lie can never be justified. Any comments?