Christians: According to the Bible, can a lie ever be justified so that it's not a sin?

Question

I was afraid you would say that.

Answer 1

Suppose you're living as a German citizen during the Nazi era, and you're hiding a Jewish family in a hidden at your apartment for their protection. Nazi soldiers stop by and ask you if you have any Jews in your apartment. As a Christian, you know lying is considered a sin. But if you tell the truth, you will have been responsible for helping kill an innocent family.

Classical Christianity holds to the existence of Objective, Universal moral absolutes. They are objective and absolute because they are true independently of our subjective perceptions about them. They are universal because they apply to everyone at all times, and on every occasion.

However, we know from the words of Jesus (Matthew 11:20-24) that there are sins that are worse than others. True, all sin is equal in the sense that any amount in our lives are enough to separate us from God. But it would be a mistake to think that therefore all sin has equal value.

Given this moral heirarchy, it makes sense to choose that which in our best estimation allows for the least amount of evil. This would be considered an exemption of a moral rule, and not its exception. The difference is that in an exemption, the moral rule still applies at all times, whereas in an exception, the moral rule's "oughtness" simply ceases.

So even though you might lie to save the Jewish family's life, you were exempted under the circumstances from being kept from lying. The exemption doesn't make lying itself a right now, but given the kind of world we live in, it's a tragedy that there are occasions when there just aren't any good options left, and somehow you've got to decide which option leaves for the least amount of evil.

Answer 2

LIE will always remain a LIE and will be always against God's Righteous standards.

The Bible identifies the DEVIL as the FATHER OF LIE which means that LIE does not ORIGINATE from a TRUTHFUL God. There can be no union between light and darkness.

Hence if you try to 'JUSTIFY' a lie, you are trying to prove the DEVIL as righteous - WHICH HE IS NOT.

If a lie is spoken, then it is SIN - even though in a certain situation it may seem justified to use it.

LIE IS SIN - CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED -

Answer 3

I'm not a Christian but a lie, like any other action you make, depends on your mental motivations. If the lie is to truly help someone it is not a sin ('sin' being a reflection on you own mental well being).

The words 'lie' and 'truth' mean nothing as rules of conduct. Everything depends on the mental motivation behind the conduct.

That said, the truth is almost always better. :-)

Answer 4

I DO NOT THINK SO

Prov.6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination
unto him: Prov.6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent
blood,Prov.6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift
in running to mischief,Prov.6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he
that soweth discord among brethren.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye
will do.He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie,
he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Answer 5

In the Ten Commandments it states; you shall not lie.
Satin is the father of lies, and the Bible teaches us to be aware
of Satin. No a lie can not be justified for any reason.

Answer 6

Yes... lies are justified in the acts of war and self (and family) defense... if a thief came into my house and asked where my family was I wouldn't think twice about lying... and I don't think God would hold that against me.

I don't know the passages for that but I know I was taught that growing up.

Answer 7

Rahab lied to protect the Hebrew spies and that was OK. Read about the spies that scoped out Jericho before it fell.

Generally lying is bad, but there are those occassions its given a pass.

Answer 8

The biggest liars I know happen to be Christians who are pillars of the Church. So it must be justified. I have concluded you can't ask a christian an intelligent question about the bibel or anything. They have been too brainwashed as children to change. It's like trying to communicate with a Nazi about his beliefs, or a member of Al-Qaida. When you talk to someone you know is a fool, then you become a fool.

Answer 9

find a diffrent way of saying things with out lying, but don't say it making them think in something thats not true because you'll be making them belive a lie. ---don't know if u understand what im trying to say.

Answer 10

that is the story of the bibles life isnt it
the book of lies justifying lies
unsinning sins
and creating them