Acceptable lies

[creativemechanic]

Have you noticed we Christians can excuse "acceptable " lies when the situation is one where we dont want to deal with uncomfortablr situations or persons and feel justified 

Case in point 

1) An older Christian lady once told me she raised her  sons to never lie . One day the J.witnesses came and because she didnt want to talk to them she told the boys to say my mother isn't  home (something I was asked to do as a child  as well) to which the boys said-No mummy that's a lie and you told us not to tell lies.

 we need to be conscious  and remember,Gods principles apply in every situation no matter how uncomfortable 

 

[missmuffet]

3 hours ago, creativemechanic said:

Have you noticed we Christians can excuse "acceptable " lies when the situation is one where we dont want to deal with uncomfortablr situations or persons and feel justified 

Case in point 

1) An older Christian lady once told me she raised her  sons to never lie . One day the J.witnesses came and because she didnt want to talk to them she told the boys to say my mother isn't  home (something I was asked to do as a child  as well) to which the boys said-No mummy that's a lie and you told us not to tell lies.

 we need to be conscious  and remember,Gods principles apply in every situation no matter how uncomfortable 

 

Yes, don't be a hypocrite. 

[copenhagen]

LOL, I've already tried this at my current church. I tried to tell them about some major flaws with their teaching materials. They just doubled down and acted as if there were no problems. 

I hate to say it, but my church is corrupt. The sad part is, there's a general, bumbling incompetence among church staff in general. Most churches are muddling along, getting by, and generally speaking, aren't questioned because, after all, they are God's mouthpiece. 

I've become very cynical about churches. When it gets right down to what's really important to a church, 99% of the time it's money. Money, money, money, honey. 

[Blood Bought 1953]

Given the choice of hurting somebody feelings or telling a lie......I will go with the lie .And “ that” is no lie! There’s the Letter of the Law, and there is the Spirit Of The Law . To me, Spirit trumps Letter.

[Neighbor]

4 hours ago, copenhagen said:

When it gets right down to what's really important to a church, 99% of the time it's money. Money, money, money, honey. 

Really? Funny I haven't found that to be true at all.

The principal I found to be true within the local body of Christ Jesus where I worked for 14 years and was responsible for input and expenditure of  eight separate categories of our budget was and is the provision from God is always perfect.  No matter what the provision was it  is always perfect for our need, regardless of whether it fits  or meets our budget projection of need.

The only time money has been talked about  from  the pulpit has been when the text of scripture we are going through happens to be about money. 

I have association with two additional churches neither has use of a collection plate. The only comment about money that I have heard at either came as a throw away laugh line when the body moved into a permanent building. The line was, "though we never talk about money nor pass a collection plate that doesn't mean we don't need it." And again the attitude there seems to be what God provides is perfect provision for our need.

That said God seems to have appointed men,  at the time He commands, to raise money for various projects and needs. Some 25% of the bible deals with money.  The need of it the raising of it and the use of it included.

If one sees only a flaw in a church body discussion regarding money, perhaps it is because the hearer is not a cheerful giver.

 

Reference: 

2 Corinthians 9 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints,  for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.  But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.  Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident.  So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the giftyou have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

The Cheerful Giver

 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[d] will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[e] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.  As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.” *

 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.  For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.  By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

 

* "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever." Paul quotes from the Bible with the context being familiar to his audience the readers of his circular letter th efuller context being found at Psalm  112

 

* Psalm 112

 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who fears (reveres and worships) the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.

 His [spiritual] offspring shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Prosperity and welfare are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

 Light arises in the darkness for the upright, gracious, compassionate, and just [who are in right standing with God].

It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.

 He will not be moved forever; the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) shall be in everlasting remembrance.

 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord.

 His heart is established and steady, he will not be afraid while he waits to see his desire established upon his adversaries.

 He has distributed freely [he has given to the poor and needy]; his righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) endures forever; his horn shall be exalted in honor.

 The wicked man will see it and be grieved and angered, he will gnash his teeth and disappear [in despair]; the desire of the wicked shall perish and come to nothing."

 

[Neighbor]

..."we need to be conscious  and remember,Gods principles apply in every situation no matter how uncomfortable "

 Yes and also remember a little kindness goes a long way, and is the better choice over rash truth for truth's sake.

It is way better to be kind in the telling of a lie, or in avoidance of declaring a brutal truth, than is the abrupt halt to kindness that truth  telling may bring to a day.

" Do you think I look fat?"

Choices;

Well in truth, yes of course you look fat, because you are fat.

Now that may be a truth, but it is immensely unkind, and harmfully mean spirited. Better the kind lie be told; 

Gee I haven't noticed that at all! You look good and healthy to me. Do you feel you want or need to be slimmer for some reason?

 

[JTC]

8 hours ago, creativemechanic said:

Have you noticed we Christians can excuse "acceptable " lies when the situation is one where we dont want to deal with uncomfortable situations or persons and feel justified

I've noticed that almost everyone feels lies are acceptable to get what they want. I try very hard to not do this and occasionally when I do lie it usually comes back and bites me. So I very rarely lie. But from what I see most people lie when it's to their advantage to do so.

[BibleStudent100]

5 hours ago, copenhagen said:

I've become very cynical about churches. When it gets right down to what's really important to a church, 99% of the time it's money. Money, money, money, honey. 

We can't forget that money can be both beneficial and harmful. Money provides a defense against poverty, which is a positive; money can also enable someone to procure luxuries, which can create a context in which a person begins to trust in money as security and to forget his Creator. (Deuteronomy 8:10-14.)  And of course, the most famous of Biblical texts about money is relevant for us: “The love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains” (1 Timothy 6:10).

On the other hand, though, there are proper uses of money (Luke 16:1-9); this includes contributing toward the advancement of pure worship and giving material assistance to those in need.

If I were in a church Copenhagen that stresses money as much as you have indicated, I would look for another church to attend...

[creativemechanic]

2 hours ago, JTC said:

I've noticed that almost everyone feels lies are acceptable to get what they want. I try very hard to not do this and occasionally when I do lie it usually comes back and bites me. So I very rarely lie. But from what I see most people lie when it's to their advantage to do so.

That is true. I actually witnessed an older person  tell teens how to lie in haggling to get items  cheaper (sayto the clerk i saw this  cheaper elsewhere  so  they'd drop the price when they hadnt).  I didnt want to call them out there  and then but it was a blatant lie just  to get a few dollars off 

[JohnD]

11 hours ago, creativemechanic said:

Have you noticed we Christians can excuse "acceptable " lies when the situation is one where we dont want to deal with uncomfortablr situations or persons and feel justified 

Case in point 

1) An older Christian lady once told me she raised her  sons to never lie . One day the J.witnesses came and because she didnt want to talk to them she told the boys to say my mother isn't  home (something I was asked to do as a child  as well) to which the boys said-No mummy that's a lie and you told us not to tell lies.

 we need to be conscious  and remember,Gods principles apply in every situation no matter how uncomfortable 

 

Lies like the older Christian lady told stem from laziness. Laziness in not studying to show herself approved a workman who needs not blush with embarrassment rightly dividing the word of truth. Then she (with the leadership of the Holy Spirit) would have clashed with the Jehovah's Witness wolves in sheeps clothing  exposing how they wrongly divide the word.

Laziness, convenience, frustration, annoyance... all reasons why we lie. 

Just because it is common doesn't mean it's okay or excused or acceptable... 

ALL sin would be enough to require the blood of Jesus Christ to pay for if man is to be redeemed.

There's no need to obsess over each and every little sin big sin medium sized sin... but rather

focus on the JOY of your salvation.

That's what will attract unbelievers to your faith.

And, don't be like Jim Carey in liar liar "Yes dear, that dress does make you look fat!"

Point of order... a slight dodge... "How could you ever look fat?"

Didn't deny it, just answered a question with a question.... 

Or the dress itself is not what makes you look fat, but he fact that you are fat...

So, "No that dress does not make you look fat..." is in fact the truth.

It's not the dress's fault. ← leave that part out.

LOL