Is it a sin to lie?

Question

If so then what do you do in the following situation:

It is 1944 and you are a resident of Amsterdam. You are hiding a Jewish family in your attic. The Nazi's come to the door and ask you if you have seen the family that you are hiding.

Should you tell the truth or is there such a thing as moral relativism?

Answer 1

It is a sin to lie. In that situation I would have started praying ahead of time and waited on the Lord to show me how to handle it.

Answer 2

Honestly in that type of situation it is a moral think to lie, you could be saving a life, or a few lives. Although lying is a sin it is sometimes necessary and in that type of situation i believe it would not be a sin but lying just for lying as in every day life is a sin.

Answer 3

The simple fact is that it is a sin to lie - Revelation 21:8 equates lying with fornication and murder.

Now as to your specific situation...to tell them "no" would be a lie.

I would find a way not to answer the question. You cannot say that Jesus would have lied, so as a Christian can I? NO.

Also, do not worry about hypothetical situations. Often times people bring these kinds of things up in hopes of gaining "permission" to continue doing something they fell might be wrong.

There is no relativity in morality - situational ethics is ridiculous.

Answer 4

I'm not a Christian, but I used to study the Bible extensively.

The Bible never says that lying is a sin. In fact, several people in the Bible lied to protect David from a homocidal King Saul in a very similar situation and they were specifically blessed by God because of it. Rahab is another good example of a person lying to save lives.

The only mention of lying is that of perjury - "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" - and that's a far cry from lying to protect someone.

Again, I'm not a Christian, but I would find it morally reprehensible to turn a family over to the Nazis and say, "Well, I had a duty to God not to lie!" If God demands "truth" in a situation like that, then he is not just. Especially since he could have saved the famliy (and saved you to trouble of the whole situation) but chose not to.

Answer 5

The 10 commandments say "thou shalt not bear false witness AGAINST thy neighbor", which would be like going to court and swearing that you knew somebody did something wrong to get them in trouble, when in fact they hadn't done the thing you said. In your example you are bearing false witness in FAVOR of somebody, not against them, and you are doing so knowing that you're risking your own life in the process.
The Bible says "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
St.John 15:13
The overriding theme of the Bible, and of Christianity is LOVE.
Jesus taught us there are 2 great laws that encompass our total obligation in life; love God with all you heart and mind and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
So in this case telling a lie would not be a sin, nor would it be moral relativism, it would be complying with the law of love.

Answer 6

I'm pretty sure it is considered wrong to lie in the good religion (Zoroastrian) religion. Well they don't really call it "sin"... but they know it of a wrong deed. They care alot about telling the truth and doing good deeds, having good thoughts, and good speech.

But your example of nazies is a matter of doing the right thing... you don't need to lie... simply don't answer correctly (twist the truth)

Answer 7

honestly a sin is a sin but would i lie yes,pray for forgiveness but lie -God is love He wouldnt have to lie-but for me it would be very important for these people to have safe haven,there is no such thing as a moral lie a sin is a sin regardless i try to be led by my heart and concience and would have to lie to protect them

Answer 8

of course its not a sin to lie if you have no choice. if lying could save another's life then i would think it would be a sin to tell the truth.

Answer 9

it is not a sin to lie if you are protecting someone from getting hurt by a malicous force e.g. the Nazis. lying out of selfish pursuit is a sin.

Answer 10

The Bible commands that we will be blessed if we bless the Jews. If we understand the Bible we will know what the greater commandment is in this case. The greatest deed we can do is to give our lives for the innocent.

Answer 11

When Jacob was told by his mother about the blessing by his father and putting of the negatives on her; then Jacob told his father he was Esau; was he lying or obeying his mother?