Christian stance on lying?

[Allister]

What is the Christian stance on lying?

I have been having a debate with a Christian and I am aware that this person is lying, quite clearly and openly, about a specific subject, which I will not get into here.

 

[ChaliceThunder]

I believe the Christian stance on lying is forgiveness.

Sometimes you have to be the first one to reach out in order for the other to accept it.

 

[Allister]

But it is the Christian that is lying! What is the Christian stance on Christians lying?

 

[ChaliceThunder]

But it is the Christian that is lying! What is the Christian stance on Christians lying?

Forgive.

It's not right to lie - but we are called to forgiveness.

You might want to face that person and just be honest with him/her: "You know, I caught you in a lie, and I would like to you come clean about it, knowing that I have forgiven you already."

Just a thought

 

[Allister]

Thanks CT, but I've already confronted the person and I was ignored or dismissed out of hand.

 

[MercuryAndy]

lying is a good thing. It makes people less likely to kill each other.

 

[Beanieboy]

I think some people, Christian or non, simply lie because proving themselves right (pride) is more important than being honest. For Christians, it's a clear violation of one of the 10 Commandments.

From a Buddhist stance, those who lie are seen as liars and not believed even when they tell the truth. That's their karma.

I also believe that they should be forgiven (even if they refuse to admit the lie), but there is no need to continue the debate once the lie has been exposed.

 

[The Nihilist]

What is the Christian stance on lying?

I have been having a debate with a Christian and I am aware that this person is lying, quite clearly and openly, about a specific subject, which I will not get into here.

The official position is that lying is bad. The de facto position, however, is that lying is good if it's for the progress of the christian church. You'll particularly find this in discussions about homosexuality, creationism, and the existence of God. Many christians find that they are all to happy to sin that grace may abound.

 

[Beanieboy]

The official position is that lying is bad. The de facto position, however, is that lying is good if it's for the progress of the christian church. You'll particularly find this in discussions about homosexuality, creationism, and the existence of God. Many christians find that they are all to happy to sin that grace may abound.

I have to agree with that. There is certainly a brand of Christianity that seems to give people carte blanche to win people to Jesus, except that it doesn't win anyone to Jesus. It simply shows them to be liars, and if a religion or diety made you into a liar, who would want to join up?

A friend of mine told me that following Zen Buddhism was far more difficult than his Catholic practice, because Catholic practice seem to focus on the sins once committed. ZB calls for the person to stop the sin before happening, which usually starts simply as a thought. If you forgive those who have harmed you or who you feel hatred for, you can begin to act loving toward them. If you search your thoughts, you will see that they are the motivator for all the words and actions deemed as "sin".

With Buddhism, there is no justification in lying.

 

[MarkSB]

Lying is a subject I have debated with myself about. For example, if I choose to not fully disclose something is that lying a sin?

An old boss once asked me if a co-worker was sick because he didn't attend a work function. I told him no that I had just seen him and he wasn't sick. Whoops! The guy I worked with wasn't happy that I had ratted him out. (he had to pay $25 for a plate that he didn't get to eat)

In hindsight, I don't think that it was my responsibility to lie and cover for him. But I also don't think I should have happily blurted out "no I just saw him, he wasn't sick!" Perhaps a simple "That's between you and him" would have been the better answer?

 

[SaintInChicago]

I believe the Christian stance on lying is forgiveness.

Sometimes you have to be the first one to reach out in order for the other to accept it.

I always thought the Christian stance on lying is that it is a sin and do not do it.

 

[daniel777]

i'm lying to you now.

 

[MercuryAndy]

i'm lying to you now.

ahhh your paradox will kill us all!

 

[ArchaicTruth]

Lying is something I severely punish myself for, even if they may be called small "white lies", but withholding information or using double edged words to tell the truth while still avoiding a possibly bad situation is acceptable in my standards.

 

[ChaliceThunder]

Thanks CT, but I've already confronted the person and I was ignored or dismissed out of hand.

Sorry you are going through this - you seem pretty bummed about it.

This person may be a Christian, but human frailty is also a part of his/her make up. I know that doesn't make it any easier.

Hang in there.

 

[ChaliceThunder]

I always thought the Christian stance on lying is that it is a sin and do not do it.

The Christian stance is and always has been first - FORGIVENESS.

 

[Beanieboy]

The Christian stance is and always has been first - FORGIVENESS.

I think you are missing the point.

He is asking what the stance on lying is to Christians - is lying ok? Not ok? Some posters have said that its ok as long as it is used to bring people to Jesus.

Perhaps the response to lying should be forgiveness, but the stance should be that it is in violation with one of the 10 Commandments.

One Christian even told me that Christians can't sin (because they are no longer held to the law.) So, technically, they are lying, but in their eyes, not sinning. Takes a lot of mental gymnastics to get to that point.

 

[ChaliceThunder]

I think you are missing the point.

He is asking what the stance on lying is to Christians - is lying ok? Not ok? Some posters have said that its ok as long as it is used to bring people to Jesus.

Perhaps the response to lying should be forgiveness, but the stance should be that it is in violation with one of the 10 Commandments.

One Christian even told me that Christians can't sin (because they are no longer held to the law.) So, technically, they are lying, but in their eyes, not sinning. Takes a lot of mental gymnastics to get to that point.

I know that - I was merely trying to help him realize that, no matter what the "Christian" does, the OP can adopt a stance of forgiveness - thereby setting the better example.

Jesus used this picture all the time - it is the unclean Samaritans that often show those who are lost in the law what true religion is.

 

[ArchaicTruth]

Can I get an overview of my response beanie? Just curious.

 

[gwenmead]

What I remember from my Christian days is that lying is generally frowned upon; something about not bearing false witness and all that...

How that actually plays out in reality, though, depends on the Christian.

I've known a few Christians who were honest and had strong moral integrity. There are quite a few here like that, in fact. On the flip side of the coin, there are Christians who are perfectly content to lie about anything, if they think it will make them or their religion somehow look better.

So I suppose one's mileage may vary.