Alright, so we made it through “deadly snowstorm 07.” It’s funny how reporters try to make everything so extreme. Away with sensationalism!
So my hope with today’s topic is to get lots of feedback so I’ll have something good to write in about a week. If you don’t want to take the time to set up an account to comment on this site, just email me at steven@compasswilderness.com DO IT!
So the topic is: ethical quandary is it okay to lie? Ever?
Think about it for a minute, formulate a response. Now, what if you’re housing Anne Frank and the SS are knocking on your door asking if you have any Jews inside your house? Consequences for telling the truth entail her being shipped off Auschwitz then to die at Bergen-Belsen and by housing her, you’ll likely get the same or be shot on the spot.
What if your brother who is the head of some “great awakening” type movement is being chased by a mob of angry people who want to kill him for preaching? He asks for a place to hide and you let him into your house not just because he’s your brother, but also because you’re a strong supporter of this movement. What do you tell them when they knock on your door and ask if he’s there?
For some people these are no brainers, for others, it’s a very hard dilemma. Let me hear what your thoughts are…
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2 comments:
I am going to say that is okay to lie, but then again I may be lying about it being okay to lie? Most the time I just lie to myself, is that possible since I know that I am lying to myself? err!
What If i meet someone that I will never see again because they are moving to Rwanda forever and I tell them that I am the Prime Minister of the UK or an Aeronautical Engineer or something, that's probably not that big a deal. I guess I am just going to learn and follow the example of our national leader, he lied, right? So, since he is a Christian and he lied about the precepts of invading another country, then I guess it is okay for me to tell someone I climb 5.14 or am a professional underwater welder.
here are a few responses I've gotten through email:
RP said:
Abram lied about Sara, said she was his sister….God did not approve
Rahab lied about hiding the spies….she is an ancestor of Christ
We go on mission trips to foreign countries on false pretenses….people get saved
We “hide” information from our church members and get found out…people lose trust, some leave the church
We file our tax returns and “forget” we made some cash wages…we cheat our authorities (render unto Caesar)
We get caught intentionally going over the speed limit….confess we had no idea we were going that fast
We email missionaries in foreign countries and use “code names” to hide Christ’s identity…we are encouragers
GREAT QUESTION, WISH I HAD THE ONE AND ONLY ANSWER, IS IT YES…OR IS IT NO…OR IS IT SOMETIMES?
WHY DOES GOD ALLOW “GOOD” THINGS TO HAPPEN WHEN WE LIE, AND “BAD” THINGS TO HAPPEN WHEN WE TELL THE TRUTH?
AW said:
Lawrence Kohlberg deveoloped what is known as the moral development theory that has six stages. The final 2 stages are Conventional that asks "What is best for my group?" and the highest stage is Postconventional reasoning asking "What is best for all mankind?" Conventional says rules are what the group decides and postconventional is Universal ethical principle "Right action based on self chosen prinicples such as justice equality of human right. When Jesus said "Love you neighbor as yourself" is an example of postconventional moral reasoning based on theoretical idealism, whereas the Ten commandment are way back at leve 2 of concrete rules.
So my answer is. . . people will answer the question pending their placement along Kohlberg's theory. Justifying lying would be qualified by asking Is there a "higher reason" for the lying such as saving another's innocent life, as in your example? Kohlberg would say lying to the SS (Sunday School ;) ) would be OK because it submitted to a higher level of moral reasoning.
JM said:
"I love those of you who respond, if you don't, you're dead to me." This makes me laugh. A lot. So your blog...it's like a Rahab hiding the spies thing. Her whole family ended up being delivered through her lying, if I am remembering correctly. (in the first few chapters of Joshua) Ethically, I don't pretend to have an answer to your question. but I do have a biblical example of it.
MC said:
NO. I don"t think it is ok to lie. But sometimes the truth is better if unspoken. There have been numerous times I would like to confront
someone with the truth, however that would of caused more trouble than it would of solved. So let the Lord take care of things.He is the best judge anyway.
Thats my two cents worth.
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