Reading that first part you mind respond with, “of course not.” Then you might read the rest and think, “well of course, we are to save lives.” What if I posed the question like this; “is it ok to lie to protect or save someone?” What was your first, or gut instinct? Is lying a sin? Do we believe that if we lie, and someone is saved, they are only saved because we lied? Is lying thus rewarded because it is less bad than the alternative? What then becomes the standard? Who then decides the standard of more or less bad? Is that the justification for conformity that I just wrote on? Because it is less bad, sin is justified? What does the Bible say…
The Bible is clear that lying is a sin. The first sin involved a lie told to Eve. One of the Ten Commandments includes, “Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” In Acts 5:3, God had stern judgement on Ananias and Sapphira for lying. Colossians 3:9 says, “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.” God never lies. In numbers 23:19, “It is impossible for God to lie.” We are made in the image of God. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We are to walk with Christ, becoming more and more like Christ. We are to be followers of Him, and to be people of Truth.
Ok, so Holy Scripture is very clear; lying is sin and we are not to sin or lie. But then we come back to, “what if I have to lie, or sin, to save the life of someone else.” There are many examples in Scripture that appear to reward some type of sin. One that was brought up today was within the pages of Joshua; Rahab lying to save her family. These are difficult questions to answer, but we must look to Scripture, the Word of God, for answers. Rahab was saved, and her family saved, because of her faith in God, despite her sin of lying. God is patient and wants all to come to faith in Him for salvation. Sin in Scripture is never rewarded; all comes back to faith and the mercy displayed by God.
What is mercy? Forgiveness or withholding punishment we deserve. As sinners, we are at enmity with God. God displays His mercy through His compassion and kindness towards people. We will never truly understand the extent of God’s mercy. Which is why our first thought may be, “well if we are not immediately punished, and we did a good thing, it must be justified (or some variation of that).” But sin is never rewarded. God has mercy on believers and unbelievers, but clearly states that sin separates us from God.
Difficult situations arise all the time. Each is unique, but the answer is the same. Do we have faith that God’s plan and will is righteous and Holy? Do we believe that God is just and merciful? I would think those are easy to answer. Why then do we feel it’s justified to take matters into our own hands by using sin as a means of doing good? Do we not trust God in difficult situations? Did the Apostles lie about their faith in order to save their own or the lives of others? Those who were closest to our Lord Jesus Christ lost their lives, in horrible ways at that. Were many saved upon witnessing or hearing of their tremendous faith in God? Would those same people have come to faith if the Apostles lied continuously to save? Of course those are hypothetical questions, but ones to think deeply on.
We don’t know everything. We are not omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent. God is. God gave us His Word in Holy Scripture. We are to learn, love, and live His Word. Sin is never the solution. Are we punished instantly and directly when we sin? Most likely, no. Does that justify sin; may it never be so. We don’t have the big picture. We may never know the ramifications of our sin. Does that lie or sin cause untold problems down the road? We may never know. We feel in that moment it’s ok because it saves. But does it? What we do know is sin is never ok, and makes us at enmity with God.
We all pray to never be in a situation where lying seems like the only solution. This is a difficult topic, but God gives us answers in His Word. There is so much more to be said on this. Like most topics I discuss, I only scratch the surface. But I pray it leads you to open your Bible and begin to read the Word of God. I would love to discuss this, or any topic further. Feel free to contact me anytime. God Bless.
Jason Pauley
