Is lying to protect someone from death a sin

Water Cross · Apr 26, 2014

tremble said:
No, I never suggested anything about angels.

I asked for your thoughts on a Biblical story where a prostitute was justified for lying to protect the lives of people serving God.

What do you think of that example? Was God wrong for justifying her?

That God justified Rahab for me is proof that lying to save a life, or lives in that case, is not a sin.

Can you imagine telling the truth when asked a question, the answer upon which hangs someone's life?

I'd lie in a second if I knew that telling the truth would get someone killed. Because then I'm accomplice with that murderer. And I'd have to live with that sin.
Thou shalt not murder.

ForJesusChrist · Apr 26, 2014

tremble said:
No, I never suggested anything about angels.

I asked for your thoughts on a Biblical story where a prostitute was justified for lying to protect the lives of people serving God.

What do you think of that example? Was God wrong for justifying her?

God is never wrong.

God Bless

Starcrystal · Apr 26, 2014

pyramid33 said:
If your suggesting an angel needed protection from man, a single angel is able to delete the world with Gods command.

But the people Rahab were protecting weren't angels...they were men sent by Joshua to spy out Jericho.

"And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]tim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there...

And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof."

Note what she tells the Kings men, and then note what she actually had done.

I am not justifying lying for selfish reasons or to cover sin, but in certain rare circumstances, such as saving lives, or protecting people, then if we look at Rahabs example it is justified.

tremble · Apr 27, 2014

Well, the topic of lying to protect someone from death seems fairly well covered, unless there are other examples people have?

pyramid33 · Apr 27, 2014

Omena said:
Well, there you have it. I feel sad that you would choose to completely ignore the points that others are making,

From my perscpective, I have never found lying to be of any use and only harm. With blessing.

pyramid33 · Apr 27, 2014

tremble said:
No, I never suggested anything about angels.

I asked for your thoughts on a Biblical story where a prostitute was justified for lying to protect the lives of people serving God.

What do you think of that example? Was God wrong for justifying her?

The love for another is justified. The lying isn't.

Omena · Apr 27, 2014

pyramid33 said:
From my perscpective, I have never found lying to be of any use and only harm. With blessing.

I suppose you mean "from your experience". That's fine, as maybe you haven't been in the same situation as some of the examples people have shared here. But what about those examples? In the case the Sandy Hook teacher, NOT lying would only lead to harm. Do you agree?

honeyb13 · Apr 28, 2014

I just want to defend myself and say I would lie too. It's inhuman n

honeyb13 · Apr 28, 2014

*not to. As I've said, my reaction to someone saying you should give people up to the Nazis when you could save them was I felt a little physically sick. I just wanted to know the technical theological answer for the situation. Thanks everyone for your answers!

tremble · Apr 28, 2014

Its a good topic, honeyb; worth more exploration I think.

ingridz · Apr 29, 2014

God looks at your intention. I would not encourage you to lie, but my GOD would not blame you for a good intention.

tremble · Apr 29, 2014

ingridz said:
God looks at your intention. I would not encourage you to lie, but my GOD would not blame you for a good intention.

The question answered in one sentence. Nice. ^.^

EDIT:

Ooops, I meant two sentences, but I stand by my compliment regardless!

tansy · Apr 29, 2014

I've often thought about this, and I know I would definitely lie in order to protect someone from mortal danger...or even torture - and in particular if my children, or someone else's were in danger. Frankly, I'd argue it out with God afterwards if I was worried about it.
I do wonder though what Jesus would do if he were here physically on earth and was put in this sort of position - he always seemed to have some clever answer to things when He was here before!

RBPerry · Apr 30, 2014

Just a thought, if we look at the original Ten Commandments it says do not bear false witness. We all know we shouldn't lie and especially lie about someone. However if we lie to protect someone as the examples already given our heart is in the right place. God looks at the intentions as well as the act. Is our Lord going to condemn us for trying to protect or help someone, I think not.

With that said, I believe we should always be as truthful as possible, but I could envision situations that warranted not being truthful.

tuliplane · May 1, 2014

Lying is a sin when you do it out of selfish gain, such as lying to steal money or lying to get out of trouble. From what the Bible has to say, it doesn't seem to indicate that lying is wrong when it's done to save someone's life. As Starcrystal mentioned, there is the story of Rahab where she saved those men. Did God get angry with her for not telling the truth? No, he blessed her and her family and made her a part of the line of Jesus. There's also the story of the midwives who saved the male babies from death, even though the pharaoh wanted them killed. The midwives lied to save the infants.

Exodus 1:15-21
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives ofeared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

Is lying to protect someone from death a sin

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