Should we as Christians always tell the truth?

Question

Even if it hurts someone's feelings? But if we don't then we're lying and that's a sin. What are people's thoughts on that?

I guess what I'm thinking for example is if someone says to you, "Do I look fat?" You can't say, "Ya, you look fat." That would hurt them and some people can't help it. So normal people would lie and say they don't. Is that ok because it's said out of love or should we just not answer?

Answer 1

I have been studying the Bible for many years to figure this one out,I have not yet, however I do not believe we know what lie { as a sin } means.
example: a little child gets hurt, they are scared
so are You, they say mommy I am scared, will I be o.k.,You must give them comfort,i.e. of course
You are o.k. I think the answer is in John 1 :22
who is a liar,He that denies Jesus is The Christ.

Answer 2

YES! AND YES! GOD IS TRUTH! GET IT? I think you already know the answer to your own question but you're looking for other people to sympathize with you and tell you that it's ok.... God will forgive you. YES HE WILL! If you repent of your sin(s), sincerely mean it and not continually do it. ISN'T THAT GREAT! But that's being disobedient to one of God laws (Ten Commandments). The 9th commandment "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16 niv). A TRUE Christian has the power of the Holy Spirit in them and KNOWS that they will be convicted by the Holy Spirit if they do tell a lie or lies. God's laws work in the Spiritual Realm like the Laws do in the Physical (Natural) Realm. If you break one of God's Law's, there is an equal and automatic reation to it that God set in place. Such are the Laws of Physics. In the Law of Physics, what goes up must come down. So it is in God's Laws. there will be an automatic penelty for sinning or not living within God's laws. That's why this world is so messed up. People don't obey God's Manual for Living. They try to do it themselves. Sad isn't it? TRUE Christians practice being Obedient to the Word of God by following all of God's Commandments, statutes and precepts. His Word, His Will and His Ways through Jesus Christ His Son. And will continually mature and grow in them, EVERYDAY! Remember this and never ever forget it. The ONLY thing that's ever going on in this world is the TRUTH and the LIE! That's right! The TRUTH and the LIE! Good and Evil, Light and Darkness, God and Satan. The "Ultimate Battle For Your Very Soul" in the "Spiritual Realm". We can't see it, but it's REALLY THERE!! Think about it.

Answer 3

We're imperfect, and may not always say or do the right thing. However, we should always avoid lies and deception to the best of our ability. If we can not avoid answering a question which will hurt the feelings of others, we should do so with gentleness, love and respect.

1 Peter 3:15 says: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

I'm not easily offended, so I personally prefer straight forward honesty even if it will hurt my feelings, or if it's not what I want to hear. It saves time, and allows me to deal with the truth immediately. It's the beating around the bush that bothers me. :)

However, I sometimes forget that others have a different temperment and may be more sensitive, so I work hard every day to share my thoughts and feelings honestly, but with gentleness. It's not always easy...but yes...lieing is a sin and should be avoided. It's impossible to preach God's Word without offending or upsetting someone, but we must try.

NOTE: Never compromise your relationship with God, to avoid offending humans. :) Miji

Answer 4

Ideally, the truth is best for ALL people, not just christians. But if it's going to hurt someone AND won't achieve any good result (such as telling someone they're fat...they know it!), then you can always just dodge the question. I don't believe in sin, but even if I did, if I would still say that lying is NOT a sin in a case like that. Being kind is always more "christian" than adhering blindly to some rule!

Answer 5

truth must be told always, but they are times when it is better to lie than tell the truth. For example, its Nazi germany and some jews come to your door asking for a place to hide. Some germans come asking for jews, and you tell them no jews here officer. Obviously that was a sin to lie, but it was morally justified in the safety of a family of jews. Ask God to forgive you for the lie afterwards (this doesn not mean sin it up and just say, forgive me, and you'll be fine).
check out Christian Ethics :Norman Geisler for more info.

Answer 6

My Grandmother always said "you can tell the truth and talk too much ...it will do no good to tell that person his/her hair looks terrible even if it is the truth....if you know the truth about a situation, unless asked by someone directly involved, telling all, will be the truth.....but unnecessary...and painful...If your best friend comes to you and asks if you know if her husband is having an affair...then yes, if you KNOW it for the truth, then lying would be wrong....use common sense and God's guidance in every individual situation....

Answer 7

Please remember that we all have our own truth and thus "the" truth is quite often a matter of perspective.

I am an agnostic and my truth differs from yours. I would hope though, that your God loves humanity and kindness more than perception. I understand that the Bible says to spread the Gospel but for those who don't follow Biblical teachings the Gospel is false.

Religion is never a lie to those who believe in it, and always a lie to those who don't. It just depends which side of the fence you are on. Conviction does not equal truth.

I wish we could all just be accepting and good to one another.

*TheWord*- What exactly WAS the pun?? The term "God"? Nearly every religious person uses the term God to mean the one that they believe in. I feel your response was thoughtless and lacking any logic whatsoever.

Answer 8

No, I personally do not think the truth is always the way to go. I don't feel like it's good when it hurts people, damages relationships or potentially can wreck a life. What good can come of doing any of those things to someone?

Answer 9

You should tell the truth when you can. Hurting people's feelings can be a tricky business but there are ways about being nice in how you put things. Jesus knows we are not perfect, but as christians we should try are best. If you are a Christian and He is truly living in your heart, then you will know what to say. Sometimes praying about how to handle something is your best bet.

Answer 10

“TO BE honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.” So wrote William Shakespeare over three hundred years ago. Since then the public’s respect for honesty and its worth has shown no real improvement. As you likely know, this is true also among young people. Why is such a low value placed on honesty?

Most people today do not think it makes sense to tell the truth all the time. Many businessmen claim they could not compete successfully without some dishonesty. Daily, advertisements come into our view that exaggerate or misrepresent. Though political leaders bear the serious charge of watching over the public’s general welfare, most people view their word as often untrustworthy.

Seeing so much dishonesty among adults, young people often adopt the same course. In school, many cheat at tests or cut classes under false pretenses. With friends, they may boast, brag and otherwise paint false pictures of what they are or have done. At home, they may even deceive their parents—answering questions about their conduct with half-truths, hiding the facts by phrasing their answer so it gives an entirely different impression from the true one. If their parents, or others rightly concerned about their welfare, try to find out how they feel about immorality or drugs or similar things, they may give them “a snow job” to cover over the facts, saying what they think those questioning them want to hear, not necessarily the truth of how they really feel. To get money or permission to do something, they may “butter up” a parent with insincere affection or with flattery.—Compare Psalm 55:21.

Strange, really, that so many young people today insist they want people to ‘tell it to them like it is,’ when they themselves spend so much time ‘telling it like it isn’t.’ Yet many feel they are justified in doing this. Why? Well, it is true that their parents may teach them it is wrong to lie. Yet they may see their parents themselves misrepresent facts in order to get out of some unpleasant situation or to avoid paying some bill, debt or tax. Some parents even use their children to falsify for them in giving excuses.