Is lying an acceptable sin? Let's see what the Bible says
From business to politics to personal relationships, not telling the truth can be more common than ever. But what does the Bible say about lying? From cover to cover, the Bible disapproves of dishonesty, but surprisingly it also lists a situation in which lying is acceptable behavior.
First family, first liars
According to the book of Genesis, the lie began with Adam and Eve. After eating the forbidden fruit, Adam hid from God:
He (Adam) replied: “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself. "(Genesis 3:10, NIV)
No, Adam knew he disobeyed God and hid himself because he was afraid of punishment. Then Adam blamed Eve for giving him the fruit, while Eve blamed the snake for deceiving her.
Lie down with their children. God asked Cain where his brother Abel was.
"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:10, NIV)
It was a lie. Cain knew exactly where Abel was because he had just killed him. From there, lying became one of the most popular items in humanity's sins catalog.
The Bible does not tell lies, plain and simple
After God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, he gave them a simple set of laws called the Ten Commandments. The Ninth Commandment is generally translated:
"You must not give false testimony against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16, NIV)
Before the establishment of secular courts among Jews, justice was more informal. A witness or party in a dispute was forbidden to lie. All the commandments have extensive interpretations, designed to promote the right behavior towards God and other people ("neighbors"). The Ninth Commandment prohibits perjury, lying, deception, gossip and slander.
Several times in the Bible, God the Father is called "the God of truth". The Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of truth". Jesus Christ said of himself: "I am the way, the truth and the life". (John 14: 6, NIV) In Matthew's gospel, Jesus often preceded his statements by saying "I tell you the truth."
Since the kingdom of God is founded on truth, God requires that people also speak the truth on earth. The book of Proverbs, part of which is attributed to the wise King Solomon, says:
"The Lord hates lying lips, but delights in men who are sincere." (Proverbs 12:22, NIV)
When lying is acceptable
The Bible implies that lying on rare occasions is acceptable. In the second chapter of Joshua, the Israelite army was ready to attack the fortified city of Jericho. Joshua sent two spies, who stayed at Rahab's house, a prostitute. When the king of Jericho sent the soldiers to his home to arrest them, he hid the spies on the roof under piles of linen, a plant used to make linen.
When questioned by the soldiers, Rahab said that the spies had come and went. He lied to the king's men, telling them that if they left quickly, they could capture the Israelites.
In 1 Samuel 22, David escaped from King Saul, who was trying to kill him. He entered the Philistine city of Gath. Afraid of the enemy king Achish, David pretended to be mad. Cunning was a lie.
Either way, Rahab and David lied to the enemy in wartime. God had anointed the causes of Joshua and David. The lies told to the enemy during a war are acceptable in the eyes of God.
Because lying comes naturally
Lying is the ideal strategy for destroyed people. Many of us lie to protect others' feelings, but many people lie to exaggerate their results or hide their mistakes. Lies cover other sins, such as adultery or theft, and eventually a person's entire life becomes a lie.
Lies are impossible to keep up. Eventually, others find out, causing humiliation and loss:
"The man of integrity walks safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be discovered." (Proverbs 10: 9, NIV)
Despite the sinfulness of our society, people still hate a fake. We expect better from our leaders, companies and friends. Ironically, lying is an area where our culture agrees with God's standards.
The Ninth Commandment, like all other commandments, was given not to limit us but to keep us out of trouble on our own initiative. The old saying that "honesty is the best policy" is not found in the Bible, but agrees with God's desire for us.
With nearly 100 warnings about honesty throughout the Bible, the message is clear. God loves truth and hates lying.