Don't you think it is ridiculous that telling a lie is as bad a sin as murder or child molestation?

Question

That is insane.

I haven't given any one a thumbs down. I like to hear everyone's opinion, it's the others who are being judgemental.

(and some people put the mental in judgemental)

Answer 1

Hello Bete Noire.
The deeper you delve into religion, the more you will ferret out the fanatics, erratics and just plain crazies. The Bible was originally written in various languages before the English language existed in any form remotely understandable to us (or King James). Try to read 'Beowulf' in the original 'Old English'. In spite of this, some Protestant and most generic 'Christian' followers consider ONLY the 'King James Translation' of The Bible legitimate. I've nothing against it personally except I prefer a form of English I don't have to decipher.
Many Christians (mostly Fundamentalists) also insist the bible is meant to be followed in a strict, literal way, even though when it is looked at this way, it contradicts itself from chapter to chapter almost as often as the best congressional speeches and documents. Your question is a fine example of why a strict, literal interpretation of every line of The Bible is counter productive.
We should worship God, revear His Prophets, Saints, Angels, Disciples and the meanings of the messages of The Bible. To want to be ruled by each literal word would be borderline idol worship, not to mention just plain insane.
I hope this helps a little.

Regards,

Lenny.

PS: A note to certain of you out there (you know who you are):

Maybe if there weren't so many self righteous, holier than thou, 'self appointed prophets' around downgrading people and trying to make everyone believe they're privy to, and all knowing of the mind of God, there would be less people getting PO'd and leaving God and religion. Maybe if they instead spoke with someone with some objectivity, they would be more acceptable. And maybe they would find less reason to scoff and more to believe.

L.

Answer 2

No way... Some Fundamentalist Christians are really crossing the line on you...

Christian theologians have a way of justifying every single lie written in the Bible... The Bible is full of situation ethics favoring God. The whore Rahab was hiding some Jews and she lied to the police a few times to protect them. She is mentioned in the Hall of Fame of the Heroes of the Faith in the New Testament.

Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

There is a well defined double standard in Christianity. Saint Jerome the author of the Vulgata said that in case of a doubt he always favored the faith... Saint Paul said that he lie to "enhance God's glory"

"If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" (Rom 3:5-8)

And so on... There is such thing as situation ethics that most fundamentalist Christian preachers deny, but it is in the Bible!

Any lie that favors God is OK!!! Please correct me if I am wrong and show me a case in the Bible, Amen?

Answer 3

it depends honestly what the lie was. Sometimes its better to tell a lie than to tell the truth. it all depends on the intention on the liar. Now if it was a lie that literally broke a person down to have no self worth or even trust, then that may be another story and in that case yes , lying is just as bad as those mentioned.

Answer 4

No because you are not being obedient to God's will no matter what it is and as a matter of fact in Proverbs 6:16-19 it says,

"There are six things the LORD has, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."

So lying and murder are on the same level to Him.

Answer 5

Sin is sin in the eyes of God. It is Man that places the degree of "badness" on the sin to make it acceptable to us.

Answer 6

This is not true. You missed the point. Murder or child molestation are far greater sins. What the Bible says is that just a small seemingly insignificant sin is enough to condemn one-just as though he broke all the laws.

Answer 7

Sin is sin. God will not look upon sin of any kind. When we begin to assign degree to sin it allows each individual the option to decide what sin is acceptable today or tomorrow. Homosexuality was totally unacceptable just a few years ago, and now there are many who try to validate it as normal behavior. I want God to set the standard, not you.

Answer 8

Yes, because it's not true. Who would say such a thing?

Edit: Instead of thumbing us down, why don't you explain yourself better?

Edit: That quote about all sin be equal in the eyes of the Lord means that all sin can be equally forgiven by him--it doesn't mean that lying is just as bad as murder or that murder is on the same level as lying.

Answer 9

In Leviticus it rates Homosexuality equal in "blasphemous behavior" as farming on Saturday or touching a woman who is having her period. Wrap that one around your Pastor's head so that he can think about it for a while.

Answer 10

Depends on the lie. 'You shall not die' reverberates all down through history to this day. It has caused far more damage than the sins you mention.