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NASB | Exodus 20:16 ¶ "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Exodus 20:16 ¶ "You shall not testify falsely [that is, lie, withhold, or manipulate the truth] against your neighbor (any person). [Ex 23:1; Prov 19:9; 24:28] |
Subject: Is it always a sin to lie? |
Bible Note: Greetings Makarios! I keep finding my name in various posts! ;-) First of all, allow me to state that I have no understanding as to why this seems to be such an emotional issue. I have been called 'wrong', 'stubborn', and said to be 'dodging' passages, when all I have done is post several Scriptures that deal with lying. Since it is apparently such an emotional issue, and since you have already stated in another post that 'you will not be convinced', I will make this my last post on this issue. :-( I have already dealt with Ex. 1 and 2 in my last post to you, so now I will address the 'logic' that you speak of in this post. You state three facts: "FACT: The midwives lied and deceived Pharaoh. FACT: Neither Pharaoh nor God punished the midwives. FACT: God blessed the midwives with families." I don't think anyone would disagree with your statement of facts. However, your premise is seriously flawed. You state: "Therefore, in certain circumstances it is not wrong to lie." Where exactly does Scripture state this, or how exactly does logic demand this premise? This is an excellent example of the argument from silence that I so dislike in Scripture. Since no value statement is even made concering the lies in Ex. 1 and 2, it would be more logical to simply say that God simply does not state anything about the morality of the lie in Ex. 1 and 2. Finally, my friend, I am very concerned that Christians feel that a lie is necessary at anytime, when God's provision and protection is promised. Everyone likes to make up two choice hypotheticals, but as Mark previously pointed out there are usually far more than two choices available. Someone used the illustration of the young woman running from her pursuers. Would you lie or tell the truth? Well, as Mark pointed out, I could also: a) Say nothing at all. b) Stop the men myself. c) Or, Seek help. But, let's assume the worse. I tell them exactly where the young woman went. Are we to assume that God is not capable of stopping these men? How many ways could God use to save this young woman that would not directly violate one of His commands? ;-) a) He could spirit the woman away! b) He could blind the men! c) He could stop their hearts on the stop! d) He could give me the strength of Samson and command me to stop them! Is there any limit to what God could do? Why would we assume that He would need us to lie, when He has already told us that He abhors lying lips? Well, convinced or not my friend, this my final word on the subject. May God richly bless you and yours my friend! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |