I just lied to someone.

[Ceallaigh]

Kind of a weird story. I work near a waterfront and railroad property. Another employee saw someone placing fairly big beach rocks near the railroad tracks. We picked them up and dumped them into the water with the other rocks already there. The other employee was concerned he might put the rocks on the tracks or use them to smash something.

So the rock man shows up again about ten minutes later, carrying another rock, and asked me what happened to the other rocks he left there. He was pretty agitated.

I told him twice "I don't know what you're talking about".

I suspect he was probably mentally ill. We get a lot of mentally ill folks going through the area.

So did I sin by lying to him to defuse the situation?

 

[Sabertooth]

So did I sin by lying to him to defuse the situation?

Not that I can see.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

As it is written, to the innocent you show yourself innocent, and to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. (2 Samuel 22:27, Psalms 18:26).

 

[d taylor]

-​

Well was this person supposed to be doing this and if not, then did you have the right to move the rocks if so. Why not tell this person to move on and get off of the railroads property, if you were in a position to do this.

If not then you should have reported to someone in authority, to let them handle the problem. At least that is the way i see it.

Because if you did know what he was talking about then telling him you did not know would fall under lying as i see it.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Kind of a weird story. I work near a waterfront and railroad property. Another employee saw someone placing fairly big beach rocks near the railroad tracks. We picked them up and dumped them into the water with the other rocks already there. The other employee was concerned he might put the rocks on the tracks or use them to smash something.

So the rock man shows up again about ten minutes later, carrying another rock, and asked me what happened to the other rocks he left there. He was pretty agitated.

I told him twice "I don't know what you're talking about".

I suspect he was probably mentally ill. We get a lot of mentally ill folks going through the area.

So did I sin by lying to him to defuse the situation?

Agreed, you sinned by lying which is breaking God's 9th commandment *Exodus 20:16 but I suspect deep down inside you already know this. According to the scriptures, "sin is the transgression of the law *1 John 3:4. Thou shalt not lie is Gods 9th commandment and you broke it which is sin because you broke God's law by lying. It is not God's will that we sin but if any man sin we have an advocate with the father *1 John 2:1-4, and if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness *1 John 1:9.

 

[Ceallaigh]

Well was this person supposed to be doing this and if not, then did you have the right to move the rocks if so. Why not tell this person to move on and get off of the railroads property, if you were in a position to do this.​

No he wasn't supposed to be doing that. I'd say we were within our rights to get rid of the rocks. I'm certain the railroad would thank us.
I told him he was being watched on camera (true) and it would be best if he left the area.

If not then you should have reported to someone in authority, to let them handle the problem. At least that is the way i see it.

I am someone in authority. We were concerned he was going to use the rocks to vandalize railroad property or our property. This occured around 3:00 AM btw.

Because if you did know what he was talking about then telling him you did not know would fall under lying as i see it.

I thought it was the most prudent way to defuse an agitated probably mentally ill man who confronted me while holding a large rock. The question isn't was I lying. The question is did I commit a sin doing so under the circumstances?

 

[A_JAY]

Were you bearing false witness "against" your neighbor? In this case it probably benefited him. He avoided incarceration and possibly avoided personal injury or even death.

It may be a small sin. The problem with frequent small sins is that they could lead to frequent large sins. If you are concerrned about it confess your sin and don't do it again.

 

[Ceallaigh]

Were you bearing false witness "against" your neighbor? In this case it probably benefited him. He avoided incarceration and possibly avoided personal injury or even death.

It may be a small sin. The problem with frequent small sins is that they could lead to frequent large sins. If you are concerrned about it confess your sin and don't do it again.

It's more a question of Christian ethics and morality. I'm normally very against telling lies. This was one of those rare/odd occasion things.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

It's more a question of Christian ethics and morality. I'm normally very against telling lies. This was one of those rare/odd occasion things.

Sin is sin. There is no small sin or large sin and nothing we can do to justify sin accept to seek God's forgiveness.

 

[Sabertooth]

Whether lying is a sin or not depends on its context.
Perjury & deliberately misleading advertisement are clearly sins.
Bluffing at a card game is not.

I can show an example where Jesus did a bluff.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Whether lying is a sin or not depends on its context.
Perjury & deliberately misleading advertisement are clearly sins.
Bluffing at a card game is not.

I can show an example where Jesus did a bluff.

Sin is the transgression of the law *1 John 3:4. Lying is breaking God's 9th commandment *Exodus 20:16. Therefore lying is sin. There is really nothing to argue about here if we believe the scriptures.

 

[Aldebaran]

It's more a question of Christian ethics and morality. I'm normally very against telling lies. This was one of those rare/odd occasion things.

Remember the story where Rabab the harlot lied to protect the Israeli spies? Here's something related to that which might help: Did God Approve of Rahab's Lie? - Apologetics Press

Sometimes the truth isn't always useful or wise in a given situation.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Remember the story where Rabab the harlot lied to protect the Israeli spies? Here's something related to that which might help: Did God Approve of Rahab's Lie? - Apologetics Press

Sometimes the truth isn't always useful or wise in a given situation.

Rhab was not an Israelite or a Christian. She was a harlot and was sinning in ignorance. Lying is a sin regardless of the situation according to the scriptures *1 John 3:4.

 

[BPPLEE]

Sin is the transgression of the law *1 John 3:4. Lying is breaking God's 9th commandment *Exodus 20:16. Therefore lying is sin. There is really nothing to argue about here if we believe the scriptures.

If you were hiding Jews in your basement and the SS showed up and asked if there were any Jews in the house what would you say?

 

[LoveGodsWord]

If you were hiding Jews in your basement and the SS showed up and asked if there were any Jews in the house what would you say?

Try keeping silent. There is no excuse for sin.

 

[Aldebaran]

Rhab was not an Israelite or a Christian. She was a harlot and was sinning in ignorance. Lying is a sin regardless of the situation according to the scriptures *1 John 3:4.

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

 

[Jonaitis]

Kind of a weird story. I work near a waterfront and railroad property. Another employee saw someone placing fairly big beach rocks near the railroad tracks. We picked them up and dumped them into the water with the other rocks already there. The other employee was concerned he might put the rocks on the tracks or use them to smash something.

So the rock man shows up again about ten minutes later, carrying another rock, and asked me what happened to the other rocks he left there. He was pretty agitated.

I told him twice "I don't know what you're talking about".

I suspect he was probably mentally ill. We get a lot of mentally ill folks going through the area.

So did I sin by lying to him to defuse the situation?

I would have just confessed and explained the concern, because he might continue to do again. I think that is more important than worrying about whether you lied.

 

[Ceallaigh]

I would have just confessed and explained the concern, because he might continue to do again. I think that is more important than worrying about whether you lied.

I'm not worried. I just thought the situation might make for a productive discussion. I think maybe if I confessed he might have become violent then, or decided to do worse later in retribution.

 

[BPPLEE]

Try keeping silent. There is no excuse for sin.

Keeping silent wouldn't be an option.

 

[Jonaitis]

I'm not worried. I just thought the situation might make for a productive discussion. I think maybe if I confessed he might have become violent then, or decided to do worse later in retribution.

You never know until it happens