Would you lie to save your spouse from jail?

[CuriousInIL]

OK, here is the hypothetical situation:

Your spouse is accused of a crime. You are 100% convinced that your spouse is, in fact, innocent of the crime charged. However, your spouse has no alibi for the time that the crime was committed and you have no idea where your spouse was at that time. You are told that your spouse will be arrested and jailed for the crime unless you can provide an alibi and, then, there is a 100% chance that your spouse will not be jailed.

Will you lie and provide your spouse an alibi? If it depends on something, what?

 

[snoochface]

I'd like to say that I wouldn't lie, that I'd let the justice system do its job, that I'd trust God to work it out. But I just don't know if, when the rubber hits the road, I'd really be able to do all that. Almost every day you hear about people who were jailed for years for crimes they didn't commit, until DNA or other evidence proved their innocence.

I suppose it would matter if the "arrested and jailed for the crime" part was just until a trial where evidence, or lack of it, would be presented. It would be easier for me to do all that trusting ^^ if the 100% chance of being jailed was an interim thing and not an automatic conviction.

If I didn't have the time to go through all the prayer and analysis it would take to come to a decision, I think I might just instinctively lie for him. I don't know that it would be the right decision, but I think it would be my gut choice.

 

[gracepaints]

You can't be made to testify against your spouse. So, if my spouse wanted to lie and say he was with me when he wasn't, he could and I wouldn't have to help him.

 

[DamagedNothing]

I wouldn't lie. You don't lie to the authorities, because that in itself is a crime.

Even in the worst-case scenario, if he were innocent and still found guilty, it would be to God's glory. I know that sounds wrong but remember he used Joseph from prison when he was framed. I believe all things work together for the good of those who trust him.

 

[snoochface]

I wouldn't lie. You don't lie to the authorities, because that in itself is a crime.

Even in the worst-case scenario, if he were innocent and still found guilty, it would be to God's glory. I know that sounds wrong but remember he used Joseph from prison when he was framed. I believe all things work together for the good of those who trust him.

I don't think it sounds wrong. I think it's exactly dead-on right. It's the response I think I should give.

I just don't feel convinced that it is the response I would give, even though I feel it's the right way to react. I think my fear of losing my husband might take over.

 

[peteos]

You are told that your spouse will be arrested and jailed for the crime unless you can provide an alibi and, then, there is a 100% chance that your spouse will not be jailed.

I would not even hesitate to lie. For the sake of my children, I will take my chances at the judgment seat if this diminishes God's glory some.

 

[~Wisdom Seeker~]

I don't trust the justice system to be just. Because it isn't about justice, it's about reasonable doubt and what you can prove...and how much money you can afford to hire an attorney, and if that attorney is any good, and what judge you happen to get, and what prejudices you have to deal with... etc., etc., etc. Once they have power over you, it's kind of a crap shoot whether you'll be vindicated or not. Guilt and innocence don't really even enter into it.

The legal system isn't God. It's so far from perfect, it should go to jail.

So, yeah. I'd probably lie.

God already forgave my sins on the cross. And I don't think that betraying your spouse so that they go to jail when you have the power to save them from it, is glorifying God. No matter what other people on this thread might think.

I don't make a practice of lying. But, if it comes down to protecting my family, or protecting myself, I'll pick my family, every time.

Now, lying, when I knew he was guilty... is a different thing altogether.

 

[immersedingrace]

First of all, I stink at lying that no one would believe me.
Second, I wouldn't lie because, like DamagedNothing said, God used Joseph from prison, he used Chuck Colson's (sp?) (or is it Swindall -- I get them confused!) incarceration to A) bring him to Christ and B) to create Angel Tree ministries. I believe in justice, God's justice, and believe that God would intervene even if it's last minute. So, in essence, I would not, under any circumstances, lie for my spouse. I wouldn't volunteer any information, because I can keep secrets like nobody's business, but I can't lie if asked a direct question.

 

[Mskedi]

Like the above poster, I really stink at lying, so it wouldn't even be a temptation.

That said, even if I COULD lie, I wouldn't. I would, however, appeal the case over and over until he was released, no matter how much the lawyer fees cost me.

 

[Aerika]

If one presumes the Prosecutor is going to present evidence of your quilt and the only evidence you have to exonerate yourself is the testimony of your spouse, you have a very weak case.

However if you really believe your spouse is innocent, then you should claim spousal privilege as gracepaints suggested. Lying may prove the case for the prosecution.

 

[Chan1976]

Like the above poster, I really stink at lying, so it wouldn't even be a temptation.

That said, even if I COULD lie, I wouldn't. I would, however, appeal the case over and over until he was released, no matter how much the lawyer fees cost me.

I totally agree with this.

 

[Flibbertigibbet]

IMO, there is a flaw in the original question - if your spouse has no alibi and you yourself have no idea where he/she was during the time in question then how could you be 100% certain of his/her innocence?

How many spouses, family members and friends have been shocked, horrified and grieved when overwhelming evidence proved their own loved one to be guilty of crimes they would never have believed that person could commit?

 

[rppearso]

OK, here is the hypothetical situation:

Your spouse is accused of a crime. You are 100% convinced that your spouse is, in fact, innocent of the crime charged. However, your spouse has no alibi for the time that the crime was committed and you have no idea where your spouse was at that time. You are told that your spouse will be arrested and jailed for the crime unless you can provide an alibi and, then, there is a 100% chance that your spouse will not be jailed.

Will you lie and provide your spouse an alibi? If it depends on something, what?

I guess I have absolutely no faith in the legal system, I would not lie but I would plead the 5th amendment. And if my spouse went to jail because of some smuck prosecutor you can bet I would be finding residence else where and I may take up a new line of work in weapons development against the united states. I don't take kindly to my liberties being stripped or that of my family and I have enough know how and resources to make alot of peoples lives really suck especially that swat team members orphan son and widowed wife because he decided to break down my door with a warrant I did not recognize because a lot of judges give warrants out like candy now days. There are so many dishonorable enforcement agency's right now its not even funny (DEA, ATF, etc). God does not call us to be door mats and I think that is where a lot of Christians are getting tangled up, when the isrealites were worshiping the golden calf God ordered the remnat to kill every man woman and child or else they spread like a disease, Jesus did not abrogate the old testimate, you should pray for your enemy's but once things reach a certain threshold you have to do what is right.

 

[CuriousInIL]

If one presumes the Prosecutor is going to present evidence of your quilt and the only evidence you have to exonerate yourself is the testimony of your spouse, you have a very weak case.

However if you really believe your spouse is innocent, then you should claim spousal privilege as gracepaints suggested. Lying may prove the case for the prosecution.

But the question does not address the issue of the ultimate trial and verdict; rather it just addresses being jailed in the first instance. So there are no assumptions about what evidence there is or is not for a trial.

 

[CuriousInIL]

IMO, there is a flaw in the original question - if your spouse has no alibi and you yourself have no idea where he/she was during the time in question then how could you be 100% certain of his/her innocence?

How many spouses, family members and friends have been shocked, horrified and grieved when overwhelming evidence proved their own loved one to be guilty of crimes they would never have believed that person could commit?

That is the blessing of a hypothetical question. It is not necessary to say why, but the question assumes all of the facts noted as true.

 

[fuzzymel]

I stink at lying. Its not even worth trying. If DH was in trouble he would know not to ask me because there is just no way anyone would believe me.

 

[Flibbertigibbet]

That is the blessing of a hypothetical question. It is not necessary to say why, but the question assumes all of the facts noted as true.

Good point re the hypothetical question. However, it's still just a feeling - I'm 100% "convinced" based upon my own determination of my spouse's character.

I'd have to say no, I wouldn't lie to provide an alibi. Aside from my own ethical problem with the issue, it could ultimately prove fatal to a defense if at a later time a true alibi arises from another source. I would, however, invoke any spousal privilege available and decline to answer if that were a possibility.

 

[HippiePoser]

I wouldn't lie, but I wouldn't tell them anything at all. They can't *make* me say that I don't know where he was. In the entire time that we've been married though, I at least have a general idea where my husband has been at all times though. If they ask where he "supposedly" was at any given time, I can tell them where he told me he would be.

 

[DefenderOfJesus]

Hey,
All i can say is...bye honey see you in a few years! However... in saying that i think most people might just say that, i wouldn't lie...however put them in the situation and then see what happens...............
Kev

 

[Gods4me]

Hey,
All i can say is...bye honey see you in a few years! However... in saying that i think most people might just say that, i wouldn't lie...however put them in the situation and then see what happens...............
Kev

well was going to say i would lie but after reading that no no chance i hope you'd rot!