Bible Discussion Thread

Is that a sin to lie when you cannot do something?

Hi Lynn,

God hates lying: Proverbs 12:22

There's probably a difference between being strategic with words and lying. I think Jesus was clever in how He handled those who were trying to entrap Him. In some cases He was silent, failed to answer the question, put a question back on them, made a broader point, etc.

The Bible has examples of people misleading others, like Joseph not revealing who he was to his family. Abraham lied to Pharoah saying that Sarai was his sister. It doesn't mean this wasn't sin and that God didn't hate it, though. I think it just stated what happened.

My personal question is whether its ok to mislead or even deceive others for the sake of protecting self or loved ones. If someone tries to rob me and I tell them I'm sick and contagious, for example, it would be a strategy to avoid danger, but would that be sin? If a really dangerous man knocks on the door and asks if my daughter is home am I supposed to say yes just so I don't lie despite it putting her in danger?

Hi Lynn. Not knowing the circumstances surrounding your question, I would say that if you are unable to "do something" and you give the actual reason(s) for your inability to perform it, that's not a lie - you would be telling the truth. If however, if you gave a reason for your not doing something & that reason was not correct, then it would be a lie. In such cases, if for some reason (e.g. embarrassment, implicating someone else, the truth might cause pain), then it's good not to resort to a lie, but to simply say, 'I'm unable to do it for personal reasons, which I cannot talk about'. It would be another matter, if sitting before a judge & you are bound to tell the truth in the legal proceedings - you can neither lie nor avoid the question - you would be held in contempt. But in a private matter, the other party may not appreciate you (even despise you) for not sharing a reason (whether true or false), but at least before God & your conscience, you have not lied about it and that has to be the best way to go.