Sometimes its better to keep your mouth closed then tell the truth

[Avniel]

Ok me and my grandma got in to it(not my father's mother she is the coolest woman walking) and she said that its rude to say "no grandma thats not true." She actually told me that it is sometimes better to keep your mouth closed then to tell the truth. Is that so? I always thought not telling the truth was a form of the untruth. I dont think thats biblically sounded but she did use the bible to support it. Help me out

 

[bsd31]

Ok me and my grandma got in to it(not my father's mother she is the coolest woman walking) and she said that its rude to say "no grandma thats not true." She actually told me that it is sometimes better to keep your mouth closed then to tell the truth. Is that so? I always thought not telling the truth was a form of the untruth. I dont think thats biblically sounded but she did use the bible to support it. Help me out

She's absolutely correct. There's a difference between telling the truth in love and telling the truth just to be right. Incidentally which passage did she use to support her position? And what were you arguing about?

 

[Johnnz]

There can be good wisdom is holding our tongue. That is not lying. Or sometimes not answering directly. That comes from experience. It is the intention to deceive that constitutes lying. Being a peacemaker can require tactful silence of a wise diversion.

Prov 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

This verse honours a wise reply
Prov 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

Here is an interesting couple of verses
Prov 26:4-5 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

What they say is that sometimes it is wise to be silent, but in different circumstances challenging someone would be beneficial.

So, it's a matter of becoming wise.

John
NZ

 

[DoctorJosh]

Ok me and my grandma got in to it(not my father's mother she is the coolest woman walking) and she said that its rude to say "no grandma thats not true." She actually told me that it is sometimes better to keep your mouth closed then to tell the truth. Is that so? I always thought not telling the truth was a form of the untruth. I dont think thats biblically sounded but she did use the bible to support it. Help me out

I always look to Jesus and look at what He did. No matter how the people took the truth, Jesus told them anyway. They scoffed, they got angry, they even followed Jesus up to the top of a hill scoffing and scolding Jesus, but Jesus simply slipped away. Jesus was Crucified for telling the Truth, thus those who follow in His footsteps will surely be Blessed by telling the Truth. There are times for compassion, but when it is to correct others the time is then and now otherwise they may continue to make mistakes without knowing it by knowing it and doing nothing to change it. I always put the Truth as it is and tell it straight, why beat around the bushes when the Truth needs to be told. We may face retaliation for telling the Truth as Jesus even did, but what can they do but complain. At least they know the Truth. God Bless.

 

[ub4me]

There's a joke I am reminded of...

A woman in the church bakes the Preacher and his family a pie
They tried to eat it but it was really terrible and they had to toss it
The next time they saw the lady, she asked how was the pie
The Preacher just smiled and said pies like that don't last long around here

Sometimes I think you should hold your tongue, especialy if what you say will hurt the other person.
But if we are talking about defending truth as in God's word when someone is being misled then that is a different story... but rather saying that they are wrong, just show them the truth, then you've done all that you can do, pray and let God do the rest.

 

[pilgrimgal]

It isn't right to lie but we don't always have to tell everything either. Sometimes it is better to be silent (my mother used to tell me that silence is golden) and sometimes we have to speak the truth; but always "in love." Most of all we have to pray for wisdom so that we know the difference.

 

[Autumnleaf]

I always look to Jesus and look at what He did. No matter how the people took the truth, Jesus told them anyway. They scoffed, they got angry, they even followed Jesus up to the top of a hill scoffing and scolding Jesus, but Jesus simply slipped away. Jesus was Crucified for telling the Truth, thus those who follow in His footsteps will surely be Blessed by telling the Truth. There are times for compassion, but when it is to correct others the time is then and now otherwise they may continue to make mistakes without knowing it by knowing it and doing nothing to change it. I always put the Truth as it is and tell it straight, why beat around the bushes when the Truth needs to be told. We may face retaliation for telling the Truth as Jesus even did, but what can they do but complain. At least they know the Truth. God Bless.

The question was about whether to tell the truth or not say anything. If Jesus never said anything sometimes, would that be in the gospels?

 

[Sudwerkian]

Speaking one's mind is sort of like giving advice - best not done unless asked.

 

[ezeric]

I have 3 points to share.

First (this is not in the Bible, but good advise)
Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool
than to open it and remove all doubt.

Second
speaking the truth in love - Ephesians 4:15
We speak the truth but only in love - what is best for the other person and always
seasoned with GRACE - Colossians 4:6

Third
I also find it amazing to read what JESUS doesn't say as much as what HE does say!

-eric

 

[Sudwerkian]

I have 3 points to share.

First (this is not in the Bible, but good advise)
Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool
than to open it and remove all doubt.

Second
speaking the truth in love - Ephesians 4:15
We speak the truth but only in love - what is best for the other person and always
seasoned with GRACE - Colossians 4:6

Third
I also find it amazing to read what JESUS doesn't say as much as what HE does say!

-eric

Actually, the first *is* in the bible, sort of...

Proverbs 17:28 - "Even a fool when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is counted prudent." I suspect that's where Mark Twain got his inspiration for the re-phrasing you quoted.

And yeah - good advice regardless!

 

[Hiroyuki]

Ok me and my grandma got in to it(not my father's mother she is the coolest woman walking) and she said that its rude to say "no grandma thats not true." She actually told me that it is sometimes better to keep your mouth closed then to tell the truth. Is that so? I always thought not telling the truth was a form of the untruth. I dont think thats biblically sounded but she did use the bible to support it. Help me out

Jesus spoke in metaphors literally to obscure what he was saying.

Look it up, it is said multiple times.


God says He does this with even the prophets. He said to Moses, 'to Moses I speak face to face, plainly, but when I send you a prophet I speak to them in puzzles'.


Metaphors are not lies, they are like dreams, they represent the truth.

Jesus several times asked people to keep silent on matters.


God does not tell man everything.


The thing is people deceive themselves. They walk around asleep, not acknowledging the truth they know in their hearts. They turn, by natural but metaphoric death, the reality of God into their own dream world.

 

[sleavie]

Listen to the Holy Spirit. If you feel that uneasiness. Forcing an issue of truth will be disobeying God. See It's not about what's true and proving a point. It's about hearing from God and doing right. If you are told to lie, tell them you'll tell the truth if you are forced to. If you are told not to tell anyone, tell them you will if someone pushes you to either lie or tell the truth.

Truth is essential but always speaking it aloud and always enforcing it is not. It's better to say nothing at all than it is to hurt someone's feelings. But then sometimes if someone is doing bad things, you must warn people eventhough it might hurt their feelings.

Just listen to the leading of the spirit. If it's a push to tell the truth because it's the right thing, tell it. If it's not, you can keep quiet. But don't lie even a little. It's best to find a way in your heart to say the truth that God wants you to say than to say what man calls the truth. Speak the truth of God. And try not to say anything else. Focus on the pure goodness and love and compassion. From those, thruth always wins.

 

[Avniel]

I have 3 points to share.

First (this is not in the Bible, but good advise)
Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool
than to open it and remove all doubt.

Second
speaking the truth in love - Ephesians 4:15
We speak the truth but only in love - what is best for the other person and always
seasoned with GRACE - Colossians 4:6

Third
I also find it amazing to read what JESUS doesn't say as much as what HE does say!

-eric

I dont mean like speaking ones mind, or standing up for what you think is right. I mean so one is blatantly telling the untruth, situation didnt happen. Is it biblical to allow people to lie? On you on others on whoever.

 

[ezeric]

I dont mean like speaking ones mind, or standing up for what you think is right. I mean so one is blatantly telling the untruth, situation didnt happen. Is it biblical to allow people to lie? On you on others on whoever.

Please fill me in a bit more...

Do you mean someone is speaking lies about you
or another person?

Love rejoices in the Truth (really those terms are refering to JESUS)
as LOVE and TRUTH are HIM alone.

-eric