Is Lying always wrong?

God forgives lying, he never excuses it.

~Lorelei

 

Man, now THIS was a thread some time back!

Seems I recall some people here who were basically from another web site, who were supporters of a gentleman named Bob Enyart; and their opinion was that if it saves a life or a soul, then you should lie and smile about it afterwards.

Generated a LOT of discussion, and even got pretty heated at one point.

Jailminister, I agree with Lorelei.

 

Exodus 20:16 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour"

With everything in the Old Testament it is important to look at why God said that. For example they were forbidden to eat Pork, yet Science today tells us why.

Same with Lying, God tells us not to do it. I would venture that it is because it hurts people, whether or not it has a reason that sounds good.

 

To lie is to sin. If some lies were to be allowed, who whould judge what lies were allowed. We would have to have an entire book dedicated to the Christian edicate of lieing.

I'm glad all lieing is sin, we would have to worry constantly if we should lie.

 

I agree that lying is wrong. Is it always wrong? I will be happy to listen to everyone's opinions but, bear in mind that if your answer isn't based on scripture, it will be falling on deaf ears (more and more literally true everyday ).

Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

Rahab was praised for what she did and what she did was lie through her teeth? For a good cause, I understand, but she still LIED.

 

Enyart is very notorious here in Colorado. He was convicted of child abuse of his stepson, if recollection serves.

To stay OT, I say lying is ok in some instances. For instance if someone says they would kill my wife if I didn't say the moon is made of cheese, well, you can bet I'd say the moon is indeed made of cheese!

 

I believe it's POSSIBLE that in some cases it is acceptable. For example, the midwives who were to let the Israelite children die before birth yet refused and lied saying they were born too quickly were dealt with kindly by God.
David lied by faking mental illness in order to save his life.
Jacob fulfilled prophecy by lying to his father to gain the birthright.
I don't recall where the specific incident I'm thinking of is, but weren't there more than one where a person was told by God to hide or distort the truth?
Gina

 

Actually Gina, the King ordered the midwives to kill the baby boys, not just allow them to die. The midwives followed a higher authority, God, just as wives are to submit to their husbands unless what is asked of them is against God's word.

IF the midwives had admitted what they were doing instead of just lying, the King would have had them put to death and other women would have been ordered to take over and kill the baby boys.

 

To add to what Brother Joshua posted:

Romans 11:34
"For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?"

Diane

 

Diane, a step further on your logic of them having lied in order to follow God's commands not to kill.
If women went into midvifery in the midst of this would they have been wrong? Should they have abstained if they knew that there was an order in this profession to kill the baby boys?
I'm sure you see where I'm headed with this.
Gina

 

Rev 21:7-8

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
KJV

Ronnie

 

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:2 God forbid.

 

Someone please define lying.
Someone please define when it is common sense that one must use deceit to overcome an enemy.
Gina

 

Gina, may I submit:

And this scripture tells us that the ONLY weapon we are given to fight with is the sword of the Spirit!

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Lie

an intentional violation of the truth. Lies are emphatically condemned in Scripture (John 8:44; 1 Timothy 1:9,10; Revelation 21:27; 22:15). Mention is made of the lies told by good men, as by Abraham (Genesis 12:12,13; 20:2), Isaac (26:7), and Jacob (27:24); also by the Hebrew midwives (Exodus 1:15-19), by Michal (1 Samuel 19:14), and by David (1 Samuel 20:6). (See ANANIAS .)

Common sense leaves no room for the Holy Spirit, in my humble opinion.

Diane

 

Yes, lying is always wrong.

God Bless,
Neal

 

Neal,
You state this so emphatically. Can you explain why God then blessed the mid-wives who lied. Also, why did God bless Rehab for lying? And what about David?

 

God didn't bless them for lying; He blessed them for doing what was right. The midwives, for not killing the babies. For Rahab, for turning to Him.

 

Amazing, isn't it, how God used a lowly prostitute to protect men of God and how God prepared her heart before their arrival and showed her the truth? Rahab said: