When, if ever, is deception acceptable?

[Tristen]

Many will be aware of Matt Walsh's new film "Am I a Racist?" - where Matt pretends to be sympathetic to the race hustling movement for the purpose of infiltrating and exposing the disingenuous nature of the race-baiting ideology.

I'm curious to know where Christians stand on whether this form of deception is an acceptable strategy for a Christian (I understand Matt to be Catholic).

Thinking about this, I realized that I accept deception as normal practice in many aspects of life. For example, it is a common sports strategy to indicate to an opposition that you intend one action, whilst planning to do something else. Likewise, more seriously, in the context of war - one might (for example) leak false information to an enemy. I can think of many examples.

NOTE: I'm not interested in a review of the film (that could be for another thread). As of the time of writing, I have not watched it - but I plan to.

My primary interest is in hearing where Christians draw the line on the acceptable use of deception, and why? 

I'm still trying to figure this out for myself. My initial instinct is to consider the film's use of deception to be acceptable - i.e. to bring dark truths into the light. But I am interested to hear from other perspectives.

 

 

[missmuffet]

15 minutes ago, Tristen said:

Many will be aware of Matt Walsh's new film "Am I a Racist?" - where Matt pretends to be sympathetic to the race hustling movement for the purpose of infiltrating and exposing the disingenuous nature of the race-baiting ideology.

I'm curious to know where Christians stand on whether this form of deception is an acceptable strategy for a Christian (I understand Matt to be Catholic).

Thinking about this, I realized that I accept deception as normal practice in many aspects of life. For example, it is a common sports strategy to indicate to an opposition that you intend one action, whilst planning to do something else. Likewise, more seriously, in the context of war - one might (for example) leak false information to an enemy. I can think of many examples.

NOTE: I'm not interested in a review of the film (that could be for another thread). As of the time of writing, I have not watched it - but I plan to.

My primary interest is in hearing where Christians draw the line on the acceptable use of deception, and why? 

I'm still trying to figure this out for myself. My initial instinct is to consider the film's use of deception to be acceptable - i.e. to bring dark truths into the light. But I am interested to hear from other perspectives.

 

 

It is not acceptable in the Christian world. It is the sin of committing a lie.

[enoob57]

It is the confusion of thinking we can do sin and good will come from it...

[missmuffet]

26 minutes ago, enoob57 said:

It is the confusion of thinking we can do sin and good will come from it...

It is the confusion of sinning and not caring.

[enoob57]

All sin God tells us brings confusion and it is not from Him
1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)

[33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

[Jayne]

2 hours ago, Tristen said:

I'm still trying to figure this out for myself. My initial instinct is to consider the film's use of deception to be acceptable - i.e. to bring dark truths into the light. But I am interested to hear from other perspectives.

I draw the line with people like Matt Walsh who do these things NOT to bring into light dark truths, but to mock people and make conservatives laugh at all the stupid sinners.  This is how he makes a living.

 

 

[Tristen]

Thank you all for the replies.

- If playing rugby, is it a sin to motion like you are going to pass the ball so as to trick the defender into going after the next player in line, but with the intention of holding onto the ball?

- If playing American football, is it a sin to set up to kick the ball, when the actual play is to pass the ball?

- In war, is it a sin to feed your enemy false information?

- In war, is it a sin to attempt to deceive the enemy into thinking you will attack at one location, when the actual plan is to attack somewhere else?

- Was it a sin for the allied forces in WWII to create a decoy army to delay the deployment of German troops to where they would be required?

- Is it a sin for a police officer to pretend to be a friendly - as to encourage someone in custody to self-incriminate?

- Is it a sin for a police officer to go undercover in a criminal organization - pretending themselves to be a criminal to gain information resulting in arrests of criminals?

Forget about the film if that distracts you from the point. I don't care about anyone's opinions on the film or its motives. I'm only concerned with the interesting theological dilemma posed by such scenarios. Given the above examples, I think there is more nuance to be considered beyond the 'all deception is sin' position.

 

[BornAgain490]

3 hours ago, Tristen said:

Many will be aware of Matt Walsh's new film "Am I a Racist?" - where Matt pretends to be sympathetic to the race hustling movement for the purpose of infiltrating and exposing the disingenuous nature of the race-baiting ideology.

I'm curious to know where Christians stand on whether this form of deception is an acceptable strategy for a Christian (I understand Matt to be Catholic).

Thinking about this, I realized that I accept deception as normal practice in many aspects of life. For example, it is a common sports strategy to indicate to an opposition that you intend one action, whilst planning to do something else. Likewise, more seriously, in the context of war - one might (for example) leak false information to an enemy. I can think of many examples.

NOTE: I'm not interested in a review of the film (that could be for another thread). As of the time of writing, I have not watched it - but I plan to.

My primary interest is in hearing where Christians draw the line on the acceptable use of deception, and why? 

I'm still trying to figure this out for myself. My initial instinct is to consider the film's use of deception to be acceptable - i.e. to bring dark truths into the light. But I am interested to hear from other perspectives.

 

 

We are being conformed to the image of Lord Jesus, in whom there is no deception.  Christians should not practice that which is antithetical to Christ. 

[Sower]

4 hours ago, Tristen said:

My primary interest is in hearing where Christians draw the line on the acceptable use of deception, and why? 

Joshua 2         Rahab's Deception

So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.”

But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!” (But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)

“Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.”

Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city. “Go to the hill country,” she said, “so that your pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there for three days until they have returned; then go on your way.”

[BibleStudent100]

10 hours ago, missmuffet said:

It is not acceptable in the Christian world. It is the sin of committing a lie.

Deceiving Achish

David pretended to be insane to escape Saul and take refuge in the city of Gath, where he deceived the king, Achish, into allowing him to stay. 

Deceiving Ahimelech

While fleeing from Saul, David lied to Ahimelech the priest, saying he was on official business for the king. This lie resulted in the deaths of Ahimelech and the other priests at Nob. 

Deceiving Pharoah

Abraham represented Sarah as his sister. This resulted in Pharaoh’s taking beautiful Sarah into his household to be his wife, but before he could violate her, God had Pharaoh give her back.

 

And the list goes on...Some have referred to these "deceptions" as "theocratic war strategies."  If there is a unique need to utilize "deception" for the Lord, then that is acceptable.  This may sound only theoretical, but what happens if the government turns against Christians?  Would we readily give up a fellow brother or sister or would we provide the authorities with misleading information if we could to save the lives or incarceration of our spiritual brethren?