Rachael asked: This is just a basic question and isn’t really about anything specific in my life. I was just wondering if you thought it was ever okay to lie about anything?
Natalie replied: No. Well, I mean, I think God is clear about the fact that lying is a sin, but I also know that it would be difficult to go through life without ever telling a lie. For example, times like when someone’s in danger or you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings…I feel like those things are almost acceptable or understandable at least. If someone asks you if they look fat in their clothes, you might not want to come straight out and tell the whole truth. But you also don’t have to tell a complete lie, either. You can be truthful without being hurtful.
I don’t think it’s ever okay to keep yourself from getting into trouble. If you find yourself in that situation, it means you did something wrong and then you’re going to make it even worse by lying. I would say that is wrong in every case.
Nicole said: It might surprise you that I’m going to admit that there are plenty of examples in the Bible where people have lied. Sometimes those lies even seem to have been blessed by God. Think of Rahab who lied to save the lives of the Israeli spies in Joshua chapter two. Even though she told a lie, it was to save lives and honored God in that way. She is later mentioned as one in the “Hall of faith” listed in Hebrews chapter eleven.
There is the example of wartime situations where people have lied to save lives…but there are as many other stories of people who chose to remain truthful in the face of the threat of death, and God saved them miraculously. He is capable and powerful to do that…so there is NO situation that requires you to lie. If God wants to intervene, He will. That being said, I believe that He understands our weaknesses, asks us to trust Him, but knows that we will fail at times.
I agree wholeheartedly with Natalie, though. If the lie is because you want to avoid getting in trouble or to save yourself from a commitment of some kind, it’s wrong. Every time.
Luke 16:10 – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
Does that help?
So, what do you guys think about that? Is it ever okay to lie? What have you lied about? Do you regret that?
Girl Talk is a weekly feature of www.nicoleodell.com. Readers write with questions and dilemmas; Nicole O’Dell, Natalie (12) and Emily (9) offer their advice. By no means should any advice offered here take the place of parental or religious instruction. If you have a question you’d like to have the girls answer in a future Girl Talk post, you can leave a comment to this post or email: nicoleodell 6 @ gmail.com.
