Is It Okay For Christians to Lie If It Helps Their Cause?
Are Christians ever allowed to lie? I once taught ethics at a Christian university and we discussed this. There is no consensus as to the answer.
The discussion generally revolves around something like lying to Nazis about Jews that you are hiding and that telling the truth would lead to their death. Many Christians (but not all) would see that as an acceptable way of speaking a falsehood.
This makes sense because we have the story of Rahab in the book of Joshua. She is praised and even rewarded for lying. Her lie was denying that she was hiding Israelite spies in Jericho. This is the most popular proof for acceptable lying.
More recently, some conservative Christians on social media have broadened the definition of when it is acceptable to lie. The argument is that it is permissible for conservative Christians to lie if it helps to damage the liberal position.
An example would be to falsely accuse a certain community of immigrants of eating people’s pets. While that statement may be technically false, if it damages the liberals and aids the conservatives, then it is an acceptable lie.
What?!!
Seriously, I cannot believe that there are Christians who are actually arguing this. Jesus calls himself the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life. Jesus also refers to Satan as the Father of Lies and that Satan’s children are known by their lies.
While I do believe that there are times that a deception might save a life of someone who is in immediate danger, most often lies are unacceptable.
What is happening here is that some Christians are placing their allegiance more on their side of the culture war than in following Jesus. If it comes down to being a good conservative or a good Christian, they would prefer to be a good conservative.
What are the long term effects of this claim of acceptable lying for the sake of the culture war? It sabotages our witness to the non-Christian world. If Christians say they are okay to lie if it hurts the liberals and helps the conservatives, why should people believe anything they say?
Is this new? This level of honesty of admitting what they are doing is new but the actual spreading of falsehood for the sake of the culture war is not. Here is one example from over ten years ago.
Tell the truth. Do not spread lies. Do not cover up truth that can be damaging to your side. Speak the truth and deal with the consequences.
it always amuses me how christians seem to not know about Romans 3. Paul is quite clear that lying *for* this god is a big no-no. But of course, christians are now following quite an anti-christ so there is no reason to be surprised at all.