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LYING TONGUEA Meditation on Abominable Lying and Acceptable Lying
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (Pro. 6:16-19, italics added). These verses underscore God’s hatred of lying. In a list of seven things that are an abomination to God, lying makes the list twice.
“A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin” (26:28). Lying is a predatory act of hatred that takes advantage of people. As if this wasn’t bad enough, Proverbs describes lying even more violently: “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow” (25:18). Lying is not only an act of hatred; it is also an act of war. Solomon compares a liar to the weapons used in warfare to kill the enemy. I highlight this violent, war aspect for two reasons. First, this aspect shows the serious-ness of lying. The irony is that we sometimes lie to keep the peace (so we think), when it is actually a declaration of war. Second, this violent, war aspect shows the context in which lying is permissible.
The sixth commandment says, “Thou shalt not murder.” Thoughtful Christians know that this command doesn’t forbid killing in a just war or applying the death penalty to murders, where God commands the government to take the life of the guilty. This isn’t a contra-diction. In certain contexts, like war, there are exceptions. The ninth commandment against lying should be interpreted in a similar way.
Here’s a question that is frequently raised in Christian ethics classes: “During WWII, if the Nazis asked if you were hiding Jews in your home, when you were, should you tell them the truth?” One of Corrie ten Boom’s relatives thought that they were required by God to always, without exception, tell the truth. So when the ten Boom’s house was raided she admitted that they were hiding Jews under the table. When the soldiers started to look, she laughed as if she was playing with them, when, in fact, Jews were hiding under the floor that was under the table. Technically she told the truth, but at the same time her laughter was a way of deceiving—of lying. Let’s not play these games. When we give others a false impression we are lying. Lying also includes such euphemisms as white lies, exaggerations, stretching the truth, spinning the truth, slanting the truth, presenting only one side of the truth, or telling a half truth, which is a full lie. But the question still stands: In the context of war, are we required by God to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
A couple of biblical examples make the answer clear. First, the Hebrew midwives were told by the king of Egypt to kill all the Israelite sons they delivered. “But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live” (Ex. 1:17). So the king confronted them, and asked why they let the boys live. “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’” (vs. 20). Simply put, the midwives were big, fat liars—because they feared God. “So God dealt well with the midwives…And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families” (vv. 20-21). God basically says, “Well done, good and faithful servants,” and he rewards them for their God-fearing lying by blessing them with children of their own.
Next, look at James’ use of Rahab. In the context James is showing “that faith apart from works is useless” (Jam. 2:20). James argues that true faith is always accompanied by works. He uses Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice Isaac as an example, and then he uses Rahab as another example. But what makes Rahab so interesting is the “work” that James mentions. He writes, “And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” (vs. 25). Rahab’s faith-validating work was that of lying. Her faith was demonstrated, when she sent the spies “out by another way”—a way that was different from the lie she told the officials. You may not have thought this way before, but some lying flows from faith and pleases God.
However, remember that the allowable context for lying is war. If you lie to someone you’re implicitly saying, “I hate you, and we’re at war with each other.” If you’re not at war, or you don’t want to be at war, than don’t lie. The foundation of all healthy relationships is trust, and they cannot survive for very long without it. So if you want to enjoy good relationships avoid lying (of all stripes) like the plague.
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