Is lying ever the right thing to do?

[Guest shiloh357]

You will notice that it says, "All liars". Referring to that no matter what kind of lie we tell it is still against the commandments of God.

Those Christians who saved Jews from the Nazis were not "liars." Secondly, by that Standard Elisha, Samuel, and Rahab must be in Hell right now.

This example is not correct. That is like saying that since David committed fornication and had a man killed that it is okay for us to do it because he was counted as righteous before God. Also since Moses killed a man that murder is also okay.

We know and believe that people are forgiven of their sins. If God has told us that these people were counted as righteous then we know that they were not counted as righteous because they were liars, fornicators, or murderers because then the bible would be a lie.

If I lie and repent then it is counted as righteousness before God, but if I believe that I can live as a liar then I am fooling myself and will be as the scriptures say in that I will not make it to heaven.

Your comparison is between Elisha, Samuel and Rahab with David's sins of adultery and murder is not a valid comparison for the following reasons.

1. David was punished for the sins he committed. The first son born to him by Bathsheba died shortly after birth.

2. David was confronted by the prophet of God and David confessed his sin.

3. Though forgiven, David continued until very late in life paying consequences for his sin of adultery.

Neither Samuel, Elisha or Rahab is ever recorded as having been rebuked or disciplined by God for the lies and half-truths they told. They are consistently upheld as having dealt correctly in those situations.

Rahab in particular is listed in the Hebrews 11 list of some of the most faithful people in Scripture. Her act of receiving and protecting the spies has brought her eternal honor and there is no disclaimer or qualifier added to that. No mention is made of any disappointment disapproval of her acts of deception employed to protect the Israelite spies.

As for Moses, that example is also not valid, because Moses did not commit murder. Moses was protecting a fellow Israelite who was being inrodinately beaten by an Egyptian task master, and it was most likely an inordinately severe beating for Moses to react as he did. The Bible nowhere condemns Moses for acting as he did to save a fellow Israelite.

[Openly Curious]

Rahab gets an commendation but Abraham is reprimanded for lying in Egypt to save his own skin. Is ther a criteria for a justifiable lie?

Not only was Rahab listed in the hall of faith (Hebrews 11:31) but she was also mentioned in the book of James which spoke of her "justifiable lie" as she acted in faith and was justified my her act of faith. That is why her work was justified by her actions.

James 2:25--"Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot "justified" by works, when she had recieved the messengers, and had sent them out another way."

True faith is evidenced by works. Rahab knew that Jericho was going to fall as she also knew that all the other nations had fallen the the Israelites and she feared God herself so she acted in faith for it was and act toward the messenger how she kept them safe and showed them another way out.

Abraham didn't technically lie as Sarah was Abraham half sister. Abraham got in trouble because the king almost slept with his wife and Abraham he got throwed out of that place because he almost caused a curse to come on the king had he slept with Sarah. Abraham was scared for Sarah and for his on self as well. The princes as they went out was going to pick women for the king and Abraham was scared they would pick Sarah for the king as she was very beautiful.

OC

[traveller]

Break time.