Three things no one has ever said:
“I want to be friends with a liar.”
“I voted for that candidate because he’s the best liar.”
“That company will always have my business because I can trust them to lie about their products.”
Few people, Christian or otherwise, will dispute the fact that lying is wrong. Businesses that lie end up in court for fraud. Political candidates know the fastest way to muster public hate for an opponent is to unearth his secrets and lies. And if you lie to your friends, you probably won’t have them for very long.
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.“
Proverbs 12:22
Obviously, God is not a fan of lying either. Seems very black and white, right?
So . . . is it ever okay to tell a lie?
What about those who harbored Jews in Nazi Germany? Should they have given them up when the German soldiers knocked on their doors? What about believers who hold illegal Bible studies in a hostile country? Should they hand over the names of their attendees for the sake of honesty?
And what about those instances in scripture where it seems like God blessed someone who lied? When—if ever—is it okay for a Christian to lie, and how do you make that call?
Hi, I’m Lauren Thell, author of Christian YA fiction and blogger for teens who are ready to exceed the world’s expectations.
In This Article
Whopper Lies in Biblical History
Whenever this question comes up, it usually stems from one of two Bible stories: Rahab and the spies, and the actions of the Hebrews in Egypt before the great Exodus.
In Joshua 2, two Israelite spies were caught up in the city of Jericho and found shelter in the house of a prostitute named Rahab. When city officials knocked on her door, she sent them on a wild goose chase, then snuck the spies out through the window.
Hundreds of years before that incident, the Hebrew midwives lied to Pharoah about why they weren’t killing the baby boys (Exodus 1). Moses’ parents hid their son from Pharoah’s destructive hand by sending him down the river to safety (Exodus 2).
Rahab and Moses’ parents are commended for their actions of faith in Hebrews 11. And the Hebrew Midwives were specifically blessed by God for their choice (Exodus 1:21).
So God blesses people for lying?! Whatever happened to “The Lord detests lying lips”?
What Does the Bible Say About Lying?
To be clear, the Bible never says, “Yes, it’s sometimes okay to lie.” God makes his stance on dishonesty very clear multiple times in scripture:
- “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.” Colossians 3:9
- “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25
- “A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.” Proverbs 19:9
- “No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.” Psalm 101:7
- “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16
Then there’s the horrid story of Ananias and Sapphira, who were put to death for lying in Acts 5:1-11. And Satan is called the “father of lies” in John 8:44.
Trust me when I say that is not a compliment!
Okay, But Is It Ever Okay To Lie?
This might come as a shocker to many of you, but while the Bible never okays lying, it also never denounces it in every circumstance. The eighth commandment—the one specifically about dishonesty—forbids lying, but the truth, which may already have become clear to you, is that sometimes you’re put in a position where two biblical principles are in apparent conflict with each other.
In Rahab’s situation, for example, the choice was between dishonesty or murder. God did not commend her for lying. He commended her for making a choice of faith. The same is true of the Hebrew midwives and Moses’ parents. These stories are included in the Bible not because God is saying this is how you should do it, but because that’s what happened in history. We’ll never know if they could’ve avoided lying, but we do know they acted out of faith.
This is the difference between lies of the devil and lies told to protect life. Ananias and Sapphira told a fallacy out of greed, a definite lie of the devil. The people who harbored Jews in Nazi Germany lied to protect lives that most certainly would have been terminated.
What Does the Bible Say About Honesty?
Honesty is still the best policy. As St. Augustine said in his Book on Lying, “But unto eternal salvation none is to be led by aid of a lie.”
God commends honesty with these Bible verses:
- “The truth will set you free.” John 8:32
- “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.” 2 Corinthians 8:21
- “For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.” 1 Peter 3:10
- “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
- “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” Actus 24:16
- “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18
- “ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6
Finding Godly Balance
Few of us will ever be put in a situation where we have to choose between honesty and protecting life. (This is not the same as lying about your friend taking part in an underage drinking party so he won’t get kicked off the team, or covering for your sister who missed curfew yet again so she won’t be in trouble with your parents.)
God did not commend Rahab for lying. He commended her for making a choice of faith.
I’m talking about real acts of faith, decisions that should not be taken lightly. When you have to choose between obeying God and obeying people, you know which option to take.
Believers won’t always agree on the appropriate actions to take and whether or not this is an instance where it is okay for a Christian to lie. Be cautious of taking sides and jumping to conclusions regarding honesty. The question to ask yourself is, “How can I glorify God and love my neighbor at the same time?”
The Conclusion to the Matter
Even after all this, after you’ve prayed earnestly and weighed all your options, you might find yourself entering a choice and desperately saying, “Lord, I hope I’m making the right decision! I want to glorify you, but I’m not sure I’m doing it right. Forgive me if I’m wrong and bless the outcome.“
In all you do, remember this: Jesus smooths over your imperfections and works your mistakes for the good of his people. He is your advocate and atonement. Avidly study his Word, make all your decisions with fervent prayer, and rest assured there’s no possibility of you messing up his plans. For even this he can bless!
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