Is a lie always a lie? (Aren't some lies acceptable, justified, or necessary -- perhaps to save a life?)

One major definition of a lie is anything spoken or done with intent to deceive. Based on that description, lies exist primarily for purposes of pride and power. With a lie a person can exalt themselves, steal honor rightfully due to another, or manipulate others for self gain 1. In virtually all major examples of lies being used in this manner, most people (especially Christians) would be quick to say that they are wrong. For the purposes of this examination it is necessary to focus solely on a Christian view of lying. Much of the world quickly will adopt an ends-justify-the-means approach to the subject of lying when the results are viewed favorably. At the heart of this issue is the question, 'are all lies always wrong?' This cannot be an opinion based study, rather it must be one based solely on what can be proven by the Word of God. Left only to opinion, a group of three would likely have four different ones! In the realm of Christianity - even conservative evangelical Christianity - there are two primary views on this subject; which are as follows: A. All lies are wrong at all times. While the outcome of a specific lie may appear to have positive results it is never justified, or at the least can never be said to not be sin. 2 B. Most lies are wrong most of the time. The qualification given here is that sometimes a particular individual is not due the truth. In this view, a lie is only sin if it is given to someone due the truth. 3 At this point, someone might raise the issue of telling jokes. The early church father, Augustine, addressed that issue way back in the 4th century. Setting aside, therefore, jokes, which have never been accounted lies, seeing they bear with them in the tone of voice, and in the very mood of the joker a most evident indication that he means no deceit, although the thing he utters be not true: touching which kind of discourse, whether it be meet to be used by perfect minds, is another question which we have not at this time taken in hand to clear; but setting jokes apart, the first point to be attended to, is, that a person should not be thought to lie, who lieth not. (On Lying [De Mendacio], Moral Treatises, St. Augustine) Normally a joke lacks intent to deceive as is revealed by its' delivery and conclusion. As Augustine hints at, that doesn't necessarily make all jokes proper (consider Ephesians 5:4). Some jokes are merely a disguise for willful deceit. Proverbs 26:18-19 Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows 19 is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" (NIV) Where the views of the two opposing positions (A & B) especially collide is in regards to perceived acts of mercy such as the following: 1. A Christian family hiding Jews from the Nazis during World War Two. Lying to conceal their presence was a regular occurrence and the only way to keep those being hidden from going to their death. 2. A Christian acting as a spy for their government, spying on the enemy. Lying to conceal their true identity was continual and the only way to personally stay alive. While there are similarities in these two examples, two other non-related ideas are sometimes also justified: 3. A co-worker or friend asks if the dress she is wearing looks good. Lying to keep from hurting her feelings seems to be the best way to act lovingly. 4. As a member of a secret society a person is required to conceal from all others what goes on there. Lying to others when questioned about this seems to be the only way to keep the oath (or promise) made to the organization. Examples 1 and 2 are easily seen as having good results. But is having a good outcome, alone, enough justification for the lie? Those who hold that not all lies are wrong will offer additional reasons. Exodus 20:16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (NIV) Referencing the ninth of the Ten Commandments, they cite the provided restriction on giving false testimony, to not be against your neighbor. Extrapolating from this, the argument is made that truth is due only to certain people, for example; your neighbor (countrymen), just governments, and God Himself. A few additional passages of Scripture are offered in defense of this view. Not every passage we will consider is used by every individual who holds to this position, yet a quick Internet perusal of written materials in support of this position turned up all of the ones which will follow. Before beginning the passage-by-passage examination, the first point of contention lies with their trying to constrain who the truth is due to. The Bible, as a progressive (and now complete) revelation from God, enables later passages to clarify earlier, especially wherein the New Testament makes much clear that was only a shadow in the Old Testament. The Pharisees endeavored to use technicalities and word-games to limit the intent of the law, yet Jesus clearly showed this for what it was. For those who claimed a neighbor to only be those of Israel, and not their enemies (perceived or real), consider Jesus' words... Luke 10:29-37 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (NIV) Simply put, as clarified by the New Testament, everyone is my neighbor. If truth is due to my neighbor, it's due to everyone! Back to the Ten Commandments, consider for a moment the reemphasis found in Leviticus... Leviticus 19:11-12 'You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. 12' You shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the LORD. (NASU) Some prefer the above translation over the way the NIV handles the same text... Leviticus 19:11-12 11 "'Do not steal. "'Do not lie. "'Do not deceive one another. 12 "'Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. (NIV) Those wanting to limit the truth to only neighbors, of course, find comfort in the NASU and other similar translations. They take the 'one another' that is attached to the 'do not lie' as again being a loop-hole. Regardless of whether this rendering is correct, or that the 'one another' should be on the next clause, as with NIV, the fact remains that our neighbor is everyone, so 'one another' has to be in regards to everyone as well. Besides, if it came down to technicalities, the 'do not swear falsely' is without condition. If charged to swear whether or not you are telling the truth, could you then try and grasp for some exclusion or loop-hole. Certainly, the text does not allow for one. Getting back to our aforementioned Pharisees, they loved the technicalities. They where quick to hold up the responsibility of telling the truth if under oath, but far more readily allowed for lies given circumstances. Jesus put that to a rest as well. Matthew 5:33-37 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (NIV) Jesus was clearly stating that our 'yes' and 'no' at any time should be as good as our affirmation or denial under oath. Notice that He clearly said that anything beyond this was from the evil one. The book of James echoes Jesus' words with a warning... James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned. (NIV) It is considered a mark of the remnant of Israel (the church) to be free from lies and deception. Zephaniah 3:13 The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths. (NIV) Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. (NASU) [Also Revelation 21:27] Proverbs 13:5 A righteous man hates falsehood... (NASU) So where does lying come from? It began with the Devil, the evil one that Jesus referred to when He warned that anything beyond our yes, or no, is wrong. John 8:43-45 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! (NIV) The Devil is the father of lies. Jesus proclaimed this to people that loved lies, deceptions, and were looking for justifying loop-holes to lie. In opposition, and in contrast to these people and their spiritual father, He proclaimed himself (and his Father) to be a teller of the truth... one who told the truth at all times, even to those that would appear to be (and subsequently would be shown to be) his enemies. How glad I am that God does not lie to his enemies, but always speaks the truth even though they may not understand it, since I was once an enemy as well (Romans 5:10)! For the record, it should be noted that Judaism of today still makes exceptions for lying in some circumstances, a practice they claim was handed down to them from the great schools of Pharisaical thought of the time just prior to Jesus. This is a quote from a modern rabbi... Because we find the truth unpleasant and agonizing, we often resort to telling a white lie. A white lie is an untruth or partial truth which has no evil intent. For generations, Jewish parents would tell white lies to their children about sex, illness, and death to protect them against some of the harsh realities of life. We also tell white lies to promote harmony and good will among people. ... In addition, in the case of a seriously ill patient, our Rabbis not only permit the white lie. They actually mandate it. Tradition orders us not to tell a person who is gravely ill about his or her condition. We should minimize the actual danger. [Excerpt from a sermon, Is Lying Ever Justified?, given October 11, 2002, by Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl of Temple Beth-El, San Antonio, Texas. It must be noted that this rabbi was actually disagreeing with the ancients, especially the school of Hillel, as recorded in the Talmud, which strongly endorsed the position of justifiable lying. His reason... I am opposed to the white lie. I will admit that the white lie does have advantages. It does spare feelings. It does promote harmony. It does protect secrets. But only in the short run. In the long run, telling white lies erodes trust. It damages credibility. It increases suspicion.] Still another modern Jewish perspective... The Tenach [Tanakh] says that G-d hates liars! Even though the Tenach states that lying is one of the seven sins G-d hates rabbium say lying under certain situations in not wrong. I agree! In addition there are category of lies. Some are more serious than others. That is true. [Excerpt from an article by Dr. Akiva G. Belk as found at http://www.jewishpath.org/embracinglies(p2)1.html] It's a good thing we're not really dealing with opinions in this article, as we assuredly would find many on both sides of the issue, whether in Judaism, Christianity or elsewhere.

Short of another good biblical example or clear exceptions, I think the succinct Biblical arguments we've already looked at should put the issue of situational lying to rest. But, because many appeal to other areas of Scriptures in search of a valid supporting argument, we will move on to the specific examples often used in support: Case I: The Israeli midwives in Egypt saving babies Exodus 1:15-21 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?" 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." 20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. (NIV) While no one questions that the Hebrew midwives did right in ignoring the king's unjust command, choosing to follow God as the higher authority rather than man (Acts 5:29), it is also clear that they chose to lie to the king to justify their action. Those using this example cite God's kindness to the midwives (v20&21) as proof that God condoned their lie as well as their original actions. Case II: David fleeing from Saul to save his own life 1 Samuel 21:1-3, 8-10a David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him, and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?" 2 David answered Ahimelech the priest, "The king charged me with a certain matter and said to me, 'No one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.' As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find." ... 8 David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king's business was urgent." 9 The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one." David said, "There is none like it; give it to me." 10 That day David fled from Saul... (NIV) Acts 13:21-22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' (NIV) Case III: Rahab saving lives of Israeli spies. Joshua 2:1-6 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land." 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) (NIV) Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (NIV) James 2:25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? (NIV) Case IV: Jesus appearing to deceive his brothers. John 7:2-10 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. 3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4 "For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." 5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him. 6 So Jesus said to them, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. 7 " The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. 8 "Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come." 9 Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. 10 But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret. (NASU) Case V: Elisha deceiving soldiers aided by God 2 Kings 6:18-20 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. 19 Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria. 20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. (NIV) Case VI: Jael deceiving Sisera Judges 4:17-22 Sisera, however, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there were friendly relations between Jabin king of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite. 18 Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come, my lord, come right in. Don't be afraid." So he entered her tent, and she put a covering over him. 19 "I'm thirsty," he said. "Please give me some water." She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up. 20 "Stand in the doorway of the tent," he told her. "If someone comes by and asks you, 'Is anyone here?' say 'No.'" 21 But Jael, Heber's wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died. 22 Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. "Come," she said, "I will show you the man you're looking for." So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple - dead. (NIV) Judges 5:24-27 "Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. 25 He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk. 26 Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman's hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple. 27 At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay. At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell-dead. (NIV) Case VII: God telling Moses what to say to Pharaoh Exodus 3:16-20 "Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites - a land flowing with milk and honey.' 18 "The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.' 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. (NIV) Case VIII: Samuel hiding his actions from Saul 1 Samuel 16:1-5 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." 2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate." 4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?" 5 Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. (NIV) To understand a lie it is necessary to understand what truth is. Since we live in a fallen world perhaps the question should be, what was in like before sin and what will it be like after sin is done away with? I believe a focus on eternity will provide proper perspective on our here and now. Fact#1. The eternal God is truth [and unchangeable] and cannot lie. John 14:6-7 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (NIV) Titus 1:2 ... in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago... (NASU) Heb 6:18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie... (NIV) Quite simply, God cannot sin, as He is perfect and good (James 1:17). 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (NIV) If God can't do it (versus having no need to do it), it has to be sin and, it is safe to say, if God has done it... for Him it is not sin! While some things are given as commands for people to do and not do, or some people in some positions, the ultimate standard is God. This is why we are called to be perfect even as He is perfect (Matthew 5:48). God hates all sin and delights in those who are being conformed to His image. Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. (NIV) [Consider also Proverbs 13:5] Zechariah 8:17 'Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,' declares the LORD." (NASU) Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (NIV)

Some raise the argument that God is not bound by His Ten Commandments. This is true. As the eternal source of the law, He is not bound by it. Rather it is a reflection of the Holiness of God, and the absolutes of who He is, as an example to show us the holiness and perfection that we are to aspire to. Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (NIV) Leviticus 11:44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. (NIV) [Also 1 Peter 1:15-16] Some cite the admonition in the law to not kill as an example (Exodus 20:13), but I believe this example is incorrect. The Hebrew word is not 'kill' as such; rather it is to not murder (especially when clarified by additional usage throughout Scriptures). Murder is unlawfully or unjustly taking someone's life. God actually upholds this command, in that His taking of any life would be just on the grounds of sin (Romans 6:23). For the record, the Ten Commandments and how they apply to God... #1 You shall have no other God's before me. God has no other God. Consider John 20:17, Matthew 27:46 #2 No idols. See #1 & #3. #3 Do not misuse the name of the Lord. God never misuses His own name. Consider Isaiah 42:8, Hebrew 6:13, 2 Timothy 2:13 #4. Keep the Sabbath holy. God made the Sabbath for man and of this very purpose is not bound by it. Consider Mark 2:27. #5. Honor your father and mother. As a primary form of following authority, and the structure of authority created by God, Jesus exampled this in regards to His Father. Consider John 8:49 #6. You shall not murder. As described in the paragraph before this list. #7. You shall not commit adultery. The best example of this is Jesus and the church (his bride). We trust that He is faithful to His betrothed and will be to His bride for all eternity. Consider 2 Corinthians 11:2 & Revelation 19:7, 21:2, 21:9 #8. You shall not steal. To steal requires that you take something that does not belong to you. Since God created everything (Ephesians 3:9b) and owns everything, God cannot steal. Consider Psalms 24:1, 1 Corinthians 10:26, Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 10:14, 1 Chronicles 29:11. #9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. See paragraph following this list. #10. You shall not covet your neighbor's belongings. See #8 again. The passages we've already examined from Scriptures show us that God cannot lie. It's who He is, not merely what He chooses to be. To use the claim that God is not bound by His Ten Commandments as justification for making the claim that God could lie, or want others to lie in some circumstances, goes against who God has revealed Himself to be. The very reason the Ten Commandments (and Scriptures) speaks against lying is because God cannot lie and He wants us to be like Him. Because of God's standard of perfection and His holiness, God must punish sin. God repeatedly warned that the guilty would be punished (Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Proverbs 11:21, Nahum 1:3). Lying is one such thing that must be punished, because it is sin. Proverbs 19:5, 9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free. ... 9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish. (NIV) Some cite the fact that there are degrees of sin to say that 'minor' lying could be permitted. The Bible gives us some guidance on this. It teaches that not all sins are the same. Some are more egregious than others. This is very clear in the Scriptures. Jesus said to Pilate, "He who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin" (John 19:11). According to Jesus, some sins are greater than others. ("White Lies and Other Deceptions" by Gregory Koukl as found at www.str.org/free/commentaries/ethics/lie.htm) While acknowledging that any sin makes us guilty before God, the quoted writer claims that some 'lesser' sins may be necessary at some times. Any situation that pushes you towards committing any sin is known by one word: temptation. The Bible clearly tells us that God will never allow us to be tempted in any way that would cause us (or force us) to sin... 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (NIV) Having to yield to a 'lesser' sin would not be standing up under temptation; it would be falling into it. The myth of moral dilemma hinges on a persons' view of God. If God cannot keep you from being tempted beyond what you can bear, then of course you'd have to come up with you own solution. Gregory Koukl won't even call it what it is, looking for the lesser of two evils, because he doesn't want to call the lesser sin 'evil'. It sounds much more palatable when the wording has been changed to 'good'. A moral dilemma is when you must choose one of two things, but either thing would be wrong to do when taking on its own. Do you endanger a human life, or do you tell a lie? If you choose to tell the truth, and may you do right by telling the truth, but it seems you do wrong by exposing a human being to serious harm. If you protect the human being by lying, well, you've saved a life, but told a lie. That is a moral or ethical dilemma. ... Common sense alone tells us that stealing a pencil is not as serious a crime as taking someone's life. Make no mistake, it's still a sin, and even a small sin is enough to make us guilty before God. But all sin is not the same to God. He certainly does make distinctions. And because God makes distinctions, it's possible for us to solve ethical dilemmas. When stuck between two options, we choose the greater good. ... I think lying is right sometimes. ("White Lies and Other Deceptions" by Gregory Koukl as found at www.str.org/free/commentaries/ethics/lie.htm) Looking for the lesser of two evils is still that; looking for evil. God has promised to provide us a way to stand up under temptation, perhaps it time we started looking for His way, that which is truly 'good'. Evil never becomes good merely because we need it to be so, to justify our chosen actions. Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (NKJV) Fact#2. God cannot be accused of sin, for directing where sin is committed, limiting it, or ultimately restraining it. While it is clear that God, in His sovereignty, directs all things, even using evil for good, God cannot be accused of being the source of the evil acts. The one with the evil intents and desires is still responsible for the sin, regardless of where they are directed to commit it, or ultimately restrained from committing it. Many examples could be given regarding this, but perhaps the clearest is found in the book of Job. Job 1:9-22 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." 12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. 13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. (NIV) Today, unlike Job (verse 22), many Christians would easily charge God with wrong doing, including being deceptive. God, while working all things out for good (Romans 8:28) will use and direct even evil acts and intents to accomplish His purposes... Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me (Joseph), but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (NIV) Case V perhaps should have been considered as a separate topic. The reason I've chosen to examine it in this section is its' ties to sin and deception. The blindness that God struck the entire army with appears to not be physical blindness as much as mental blindness. They heard and saw what they wanted to hear in spite of what their eyes truly saw. The soldiers were already in a state of deception, clearly opposed to God; God directed or enhanced their delusion for a time, before showing them the truth. 2 Kings 6:18-20 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. 19 Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria. 20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. (NIV) Truly it was not the road or the city where they would see Elisha, as God prevented and intended. They only found who they were looking for when God wanted them to see. Fact#3. Withholding future plans is not deception (or a lie). God regularly reveals only the part of future events He chooses to reveal. While some will use this to accuse God of deception (a form of a lie), the very fact God does so shows that it is not sin. Examples abound... Matthew 24:35-36 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (NIV) While Jesus knew that the end times would occur and what would happen during them, the Father kept the exact timing to Himself. While other questions can be raised about this, the fact remains that the Father has kept - for a time - the timing secret from His Son and ultimately all his other children until the events reveal them. Psalms 101:7 No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. (NIV) Case VII shows that revealing the first part of a plan, while concealing the rest, is not deception. Exodus 3:18 "The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.' (NIV) Case VIII, as above, can be laid to rest for this same reason. God told Samuel very clearly that there was no need to reveal a future plan, but to only reveal the more immediate one; namely the sacrifice. Even in regards to the acts that would follow, God merely told him to trust that He would show him what to do when the time came. God was withholding some of the future plan even from Samuel. 1 Samuel 16:3 But Samuel said, "How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 "You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you." (NASU) To show that some believers will even charge God with deception concerning these events, consider the following quote. ...God tells Samuel to deceive Saul by saying his purpose of going somewhere is to perform a sacrifice, when his real purpose is a divine mission Saul would not have approved of. There is potential risk of life in this case, and it's Samuel's own life. ... What Samuel does here is clearly deceptive, and God commands it of him. [Excerpt of a message board posting by Parableman as found on http://mt.ektopos.com/parablemania/archives/000650.html] At the beginning of this article, where we defined the two primary positions on lying, the second (B) asked the question, "To whom is the truth due?" I agree that the truth is not due to everyone, but that does not mean that they are in turn due a lie. The only acceptable response to someone the truth is not due to, is silence. Even if God reveals in the form of a mystery, dream, or parable, God cannot be charged with deception. It is God's choice alone if He wishes to make clear anything, and to whom He wants to make it clear. Daniel 2:29-30 "As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come (i.e. his mysterious dreams), and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind. (NIV) Matthew 13:34-35 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world." (NIV) Luke 8:9-10 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.' (NIV) Case IV can be understood in the same way. Jesus was speaking in a way that his unbelieving brothers could not understand. He clearly told them that His time was not now, which of course implied that it could be later. His 'not going up to this feast,' was telling them that he was not going to this feast publicly (v10), offering himself as Messiah, as he would later do on His final triumphal entry into Jerusalem. None of this could be understood by a non-believer unless Jesus wanted them to understand. John 7:6-10 So Jesus said to them, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. 7 " The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. 8 "Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come." 9 Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. 10 But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret. (NASU) One evangelical website used John chapter 4 as an example of harmless deceptions. In claiming that Jesus wasn't being forthright to the woman at the well, it was implied that this somehow justified deception. Once again, withholding future plans, or even all of the information you have on a particular subject (even for a time) is not deception... proven by the very fact that God does so and He cannot lie. God even instructs believers to withhold some truth from the wicked, who are not ready for it or will misuse it... Matthew 7:6 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. (NIV) [Consider also Proverbs 9:7-8, Proverbs 23:9, Matthew 15:26] In the same way, a presentation of the gospel need not present everything at one time. If a person has used the law to show what sin is and the need of repentance and salvation, and the listener rejects that truth, there is not need (or purpose) in presenting the rest of the good news. Progressive revelation of the truth can never be misconstrued as being deception. God's holy word, the Bible, was given in this very manner!

Fact#4. God commending someone, or calling them blessed, does not condone or endorse all their acts or methods. Psalms 32:1-2 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. (NIV) [Also Romans 4:7-8] Every believer is blessed, because God doesn't count our sins against us. We're blessed because we have put our faith in God. God commends us for our faith, for acting on our faith. God doesn't instantly make believers perfect, in fact while living a life of faith, seeking to please God, we often stumble and fall. In addition, sometimes we do stupid acts while trying to accomplish good things. As such, we are trying to live out our faith in God, but sometimes doing it the wrong way. Again, mercifully, God doesn't count this sin against us. (This also doesn't condone the sin, or necessarily remove the affects or consequences that usually accompany sin). Examples of this include Case I... Exodus 1:17-21 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?" 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." 20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. (NIV) The midwives showed their fear of God (faith) in letting the children live, it was this faith that was commended (v21), not the means by which they accomplished it (their lie). Case II is no different. David lied... 1 Samuel 21:2 David answered Ahimelech the priest, "The king charged me with a certain matter and said to me, 'No one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.' As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. Though it accomplished the purpose of helping David to escape and to live, it had consequences for others (1 Samuel 22:13-18). It's only because it appears to have been good for David, that people want to justify the means. The mere fact that David is called a man after God's own heart does not justify everything he did. In Case III, Rahab displayed her new found faith in providing for and protecting the Israeli spies. Her means for doing so (lying) are not commended. In Hebrews 11:31 she is commended for her faith in welcoming the spies, additionally in James 2:25 she is commended for giving lodging and sending them a different direction. Nowhere is her act of lying condoned or commended. Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (NIV) James 2:25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? (NIV) Case VI, is more of the same. Jael was commended for justly striking down an enemy of the Israelites, not her lies. Judges 5:24-27 "Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. 25 He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk. 26 Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman's hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple. 27 At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay. At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell-dead. (NIV)

Conclusions So great blindness, moreover, hath occupied men's minds, that to them it is too little if we pronounce some lies not to be sins; but they must needs pronounce it to be sin in some things if we refuse to lie: and to such a pass have they been brought by defending lying... (On Lying [De Mendacio], Moral Treatises, St. Augustine) I agree completely with Augustine in this matter. Lying is always sin 4. When we justify it by saying that it is required, that to not do so would be sin, we are attempting to justify ourselves. This is not a straw man argument; rather 'justifiable' lying is something being espoused by a number of Christian leaders. Consider one such statement: That is why I avoid the word absolute in my discussion of these issues. An absolute is seen by many in an extreme way when, in fact, what we have in the Scripture are objective moral principles that are staggered in their significance, but some are more important that others. This is clear from things that Jesus said and from other teachings in the Scripture. There are greater goods and lesser goods. Sometimes you are stuck in what is called a moral dilemma and you have to do one thing or another, both of which are wrong. You must either protect human life and lie or hand over the innocent life to be killed. It happened to Corrie ten Boom and she chose to lie to protect Jews from the Nazis. In so doing, she did not do something wrong. She didn't do the lesser of two evils in my view. She did the greater of two goods. Therefore, lying in that circumstance was even morally obligatory. There are two instances in the Bible where we see exactly the same thing, the Egyptian mid-wives protecting the Hebrew newborns and Rahab protecting the Jewish spies. These people are even praised for what they did. (Excerpt from a radio show, "Stand to Reason" by Gregory Koukl, 2001. As found on www.str.org entitled, "Does God Have to Obey the Ten Commandments?") This writer elsewhere claims that because some of the Ten Commandments don't apply to God that the very existence of exceptions opens the door for more exceptions. As we have already seen, the exceptions in regards to God do not apply here (nor would man be automatically justified doing something that may be only for God, if that was the case). The issue at hand is quite specifically in regards to lying, which God can never do. Remember, no lie ever comes from the truth: 1 John 2:21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. (NIV) [This is in the context of talking about antichrists. Antichrists often look like the real thing, or look good externally, but subtly merge truth and lies. So too those who would use lies to try and accomplish good.] If the ends justify the means, an easy example would be persecuted believers. Wouldn't it just be easier to lie about being a believer for the sake of preserving you own life or even that of your family? On a lesser scale maybe it would merely allow your family to stay together as the persecuting government may use this as cause. These are real world dilemmas that have played themselves out throughout the church age. Two ancient examples will suffice: The troops forced their way by the superiority of numbers, and having gained the rocks, pass, and defile, began to make the most horrid depradations, and exercise the greatest cruelties. Men they hanged, burned, racked to death, or cut to pieces; women they ripped open, crucified, drowned, or threw from the precipices; and children they tossed upon spears, minced, cut their throats, or dashed out their brains. One hundred and twenty-six suffered in this manner on the first day of their gaining the town. Agreeable to the marquis of Pianessa's orders, they likewise plundered the estates, and burned the houses of the people. Several Protestants, however, made their escape, under the conduct of Captain Gianavel, whose wife and children were unfortunately made prisoners and sent under a strong guard to Turin. The marquis of Pianessa wrote a letter to Captain Gianavel, and released a Protestant prisoner that he might carry it him. The contents were, that if the captain would embrace the Roman Catholic religion, he should be indemnified for all his losses since the commencement of the war; his wife and children should be immediately released, and himself honorably promoted in the duke of Savoy's army; but if he refused to accede to the proposals made him, his wife and children should be put to death; and so large a reward should be given to take him, dead or alive, that even some of his own confidential friends should be tempted to betray him, from the greatness of the sum. To this epistle, the brave Gianavel sent the following answer. My Lord Marquis, There is no torment so great or death so cruel, but what I would prefer to the abjuration of my religion: so that promises lose their effects, and menaces only strengthen me in my faith. With respect to my wife and children, my lord, nothing can be more afflicting to me than the thought of their confinement, or more dreadful to my imagination, than their suffering a violent and cruel death. I keenly feel all the tender sensations of husband and parent; my heart is replete with every sentiment of humanity; I would suffer any torment to rescue them from danger; I would die to preserve them. But having said thus much, my lord, I assure you that the purchase of their lives must not be the price of my salvation. You have them in your power it is true; but my consolation is that your power is only a temporary authority over their bodies: you may destroy the mortal part, but their immortal souls are out of your reach, and will live hereafter to bear testimony against you for your cruelties. I therefore recommend them and myself to God, and pray for a reformation in your heart. -- JOSHUA GIANAVEL. (A Narrative Of The Piedmontese War from Fox's Book of Martyrs) Note that in these examples the person is not being asked to renounce Jesus, only to convert to Roman Catholicism. Knowing the truth of the Bible, they equated renouncing their Biblically based beliefs, for a system of error, to be the same as renouncing Jesus. Consider how easily, externally, a little 'white lie' would have spared them. An inhabitant of La Torre, named Giovanni Andrea Michialm, was apprehended, with four of his children, three of them were hacked to pieces before him, the soldiers asking him, at the death of every child, if he would renounce his religion; this he constantly refused. One of the soldiers then took up the last and youngest by the legs, and putting the same question to the father, he replied as before, when the inhuman brute dashed out the child's brains. The father, however, at the same moment started from them, and fled; the soldiers fired after him, but missed him; and he, by the swiftness of his heels, escaped, and hid himself in the Alps. (An Account Of The Persecutions In The Valleys Of Piedmont, In The Seventeenth Century from Fox's Book of Martyrs) Why did these, and thousands of others, allow their families and themselves to be tormented and even put to death? Because they loved both God and the truth more than life. They could not deny God in anyway, and they believed God to be greater than their circumstances. Matthew 10:32-33 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. (NKJV) Matthew 10:37-39 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (NIV) How better to confess and honor the God who cannot lie, than to stand for the truth at all times! So from that perspective, let's examine the original four challenges... 1. A Christian family hiding Jews from the Nazis during World War Two. Lying to conceal their presence was a regular occurrence and the only way to keep those being hidden from going to their death. This is not a 'lie or someone else will die' situation. Most hypothetical 'lie or die' situations are not such. What it comes down to is that the person doing the lying considers it more expedient to lie than to risk their own life by their silence. The Bible is clear what the right course of action should be: 1 Peter 3:17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (NIV) John 15:13-14 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. (NIV) So what's more important, lying for self preservation or being obedient to God? When we say that our own solution is better than the truth (and obedience) we actual show our lack of faith in God. If we truly believe that God is in control, then our first priority should be to honor Him in all we do, trusting that He will work things out. Psalms 34:12-13 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. (NIV) This same principle applies to the second challenge... 2. A Christian acting as a spy for their government, spying on the enemy. Lying to conceal their true identity was continual and the only way to personally stay alive. Lying is often justified in term of enemies, but as believers do we legitimately have enemies or potential brothers and sisters in Christ? Even if they are an enemy now, we are called to love them (and in truth!). Luke 6:35a But love your enemies, do good to them... (NIV) 1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (NIV) In the third challenge the lie is not for self-preservation, rather it is for self gain. 3. A co-worker or friend asks if the dress she is wearing looks good. Lying to keep from hurting her feelings seems to be the best way to act lovingly. The person choosing to lie is more concerned with how they will be viewed than the hurt feelings of the friend or co-worker. In fact, in occurrences like this, if the truth is spoken in a nice way (requiring more effort) it would likely be accepted. Even if was not, it is still the right thing to do. What's more important? Honoring God with speaking the truth or lying to be easier on you? Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (NIV) Proverbs 24:26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. (NIV) Lying for self gain of any type is never right. Proverbs 21:6 The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death. (NASU) While this could be applied to any lie, the distrust that develops among people who cannot trust even their close friend regarding trivial things, works to make enemies when the truth is known (or found out). According to the Bible, to lie to someone is to hate them. Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. (NIV). The last challenge is really not one. 4. As a member of a secret society a person is required to conceal from all others what goes on there. Lying to other when questioned about this seems to be the only way to keep the oath (or promise) made to the organization. No matter what one calls this, or how they justify this, it's still a lie. An unlawful oath, binding you to something that is improper (an oath to commit sin), cannot be made better by a second sin; that of lying. [Lawful oaths were always considered binding. Consider 2 Chronicles 36:13]. As a believer in Jesus Christ you have been set free to not sin. John 8:31b-32 ... Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV) Ephesians 4:22-25 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor... (NIV) Psalms 119:128 Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way. (NASU) While David prayed this concerning those who used lies to oppose him, we could just as well pray this concerning our own penchant for lying (Psalms 116:11). Psalms 120:2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. (NASU)

Note 1 Writing in On Lying [De Mendacio] of his Moral Treatises series, Augustine defines eight types of lying. In order of severity from worst to least: 1) lies done in doctrine of religion; 2) lies wherein none are profited and some are hurt; 3) lies wherein one is profited by another's hurt (excluding defilement); 4) "unmixed" lies done through the enjoyment of lying and deceiving; 5) lies done with the desire to please others; 6) lies wherein another is helped and no one is hurt; 7) lies wherein several are helped and no one is hurt; 8) lies wherein one is preserved from defilement and no one is hurt." Note 2 On the other hand, those who say that we must never lie, plead much more strongly, using first the Divine authority, because in the very Decalogue it is written "Thou shall not bear false witness;" under which general term it comprises all lying: for whoso utters any thing bears witness to his own mind. But lest any should contend that not every lie is to be called false witness, what will he say to that which is written, "The mouth that lieth slayeth the soul:" and lest any should suppose that this may be understood with the exception of some liars, let him read in another place, "Thou wilt destroy all that speak leasing." Whence with His own lips the Lord saith, "Let your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Hence the Apostle also in giving precept for the putting off of the old man, under which name all sins are understood, says straightway, "Wherefore putting away lying, speak ye truth." (On Lying [De Mendacio], Moral Treatises, St. Augustine) Note 3 But whether a lie be at some times useful, is a much greater and more concerning question. Whether, as above, it be a lie, when a person has no will to deceive, or even makes it his business that the person to whom he says a thing shall not be deceived although he did wish the thing itself which he uttered to be false, but this on purpose that he might cause a truth to be believed whether, again, it be a lie when a person willingly utters even a truth for the purpose of deceiving; this may be doubted. But none doubts that it is a lie when a person willingly utters a falsehood for the purpose of deceiving: wherefore a false utterance put forth with will to deceive is manifestly a lie. But whether this alone be a lie, is another question. Meanwhile, taking this kind of lie, in which all agree, let us inquire, whether it be sometimes useful to utter a falsehood with will to deceive. They who think it is, advance testimonies to their opinion, by alleging the case of Sarah, who, when she had laughed, denied to the Angels that she laughed: of Jacob questioned by his father, and answering that he was the elder son Esau: likewise that of the Egyptian midwives, who to save the Hebrew infants from being slain at their birth, told a lie, and that with God's approbation and reward: and many such like instances they pick out, of lies told by persons whom you would not dare to blame, and so must own that it may sometimes be not only not blameworthy, but even praiseworthy to tell a lie. They add also a case with which to urge not only those who are devoted to the Divine Books, but all men and common sense, saying, Suppose a man should take refuge with thee, who by thy lie might be saved from death, wouldest thou not tell it? If a sick man should ask a question which it is not expedient that he should know, and might be more grievously afflicted even by thy returning him no answer, wilt thou venture either to tell the truth to the destruction of the man's life, or rather to hold thy peace, than by a virtuous and merciful lie to be serviceable to his weak health? By these and such like arguments they think they most plentifully prove, that if occasion of doing good require, we may sometimes tell a lie. (On Lying [De Mendacio], Moral Treatises, St. Augustine) Note 4 For that death which men are foolishly afraid of who are not afraid to sin, kills not the soul but the body, as the Lord teacheth in the Gospel; whence He charges us not to fear that death: but the mouth which lies kills not the body but the soul. For in these words it is most plainly written, "The mouth that lieth slayeth the soul." How then can it be said without the greatest perverseness, that to the end one man may have life of the body, it is another man's duty to incur death of the soul? The love of our neighbor hath its bounds in each man's love of himself. "Thou shall love," saith He, "thy neighbor as thyself." How can a man be said to love as himself that man, for whom that he may secure a temporal life, himself loseth life eternal? Since if for his temporal life he lose but his own temporal life, that is not to love as himself, but more than himself: which exceeds the rule of sound doctrine. Much less then is he by telling a lie to lose his own eternal for another's temporal life. His own temporal life, of course, for his neighbor's eternal life a Christian man will not hesitate to lose: for this example has gone before, that the Lord died for us. To this point He also saith, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." For none is so foolish as to say that the Lord did other than consult for the eternal salvation of men, whether in doing what He hath charged us to do, or in charging us to do what Himself hath done. Since then by lying eternal life is lost, never for any man's temporal life must a lie be told. Therefore the only point to be attended to in this question is, whether a lie be iniquity. And since this is asserted by the texts above rehearsed, we must see that to ask, whether a man ought to tell a lie for the safety of another, is just the same as asking whether for another's safety a man ought to commit iniquity. But if the salvation of the soul rejects this, seeing it cannot be secured but by equity, and would have us prefer it not only to another's, but even to our own temporal safety: what remains, say they, that should make us doubt that a lie ought not to be told under any circumstances whatsoever? For it cannot be said that there is aught among temporal goods greater or dearer than the safety and life of the body. Wherefore if not even that is to be preferred to truth, what can be put in our way for the sake of which they who think it is sometimes right to lie, can urge that a lie ought to be told? (On Lying [De Mendacio], Moral Treatises, St. Augustine)

(c) 2004 Brent MacDonald/LTM. Duplication is permitted as long as the source is cited.