Rev. Dr. Addie S. Robb
Women and Men Uplifting Ministries, International
www.womenandmenupliftingministries.com Has anyone every accused you of stretching the truth, in other words telling a lie? Have you found it necessary to lie on occasion to uphold the truth? Is there a direct correlation between the truth and a lie? Is a lie ever necessary?
I believe on occasion any of us at any given time whether Christian or not will be forced to tell lie, or at least a different version of the truth. Now in no way am I advocating lying, but I can understand that sometimes with the most honorable intentions; we will have to tell a lie, stretch the truth, or witness to a lie.
I am sure just about now, you self-righteous Christians are saying, “Not me, that Rev. Dr. Addie is absolutely crazy, she has really lost it this time, I am not going to lie and go to Hell for anyone or anything.”
Well my friends, I believe that there are some instances where we will lie and to prove my point, let us examine Scripture. And the reason I say that you can be a godly person who trusts Christ and still feel constrained to lie in extreme, life-threatening situations is that there are several stories in the Bible where this is exactly what happened. Now you be the judge, and be sure to give me your opinions.
The Hebrew Midwives
For example, in Exodus 1 the Egyptian Pharaoh decides to deplete the strength of the nation of Israel by killing all the boys that are born. He says to the Hebrew midwives in verse 16, "When you serve as a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birth stool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live."
But, verse 17 says, "The midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live." When the king of Egypt asked them (v. 18) why they did this, they answered (in v. 19), "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and are delivered before the midwife comes to them."
Now, regardless of how vigorous the Hebrew women were in childbirth, this statement is in effect a lie. It is meant to lead Pharaoh to believe a falsehood, namely, that the midwives were doing their best to obey him but just couldn't get there in time to make the death look like a stillbirth.
But verse 17 says that the motive behind their disobedience to the king was a genuine fear of God: "They feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them." And in verse 20 it says, "God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God he gave them families." So they are not rebuked; they are blessed.
So what do you think were these midwives justified in telling their lies? Do you believe God will judge them for what they said even though the reason or intention was good and used was to save lives? Where do the truth end and the lies begin? Sure would like to know what you think? Are there any gray areas in our lives, or is everything just black and white?
The next story also depicts someone who knows of God, perhaps not as well as the Midwives, but she knows that God does exist. This lady also finds herself using lies and deception to save lives. Let us take a look.
Rahab and the Two Spies
Another example is found in Joshua 2. Joshua sent two men to spy out Jericho, and the king of Jericho found out that they were there. They hid in the house of Rahab, the harlot. Verse 6 says that she took them to her roof and covered them with stalks of flax. When the king's messengers come to Rahab's house and inquire about the men, she says (in vs. 4-5), "True, men came to me, but I did not know where they came from; and when the gate was closed, at dark, the men went out; where the men went I do not know."
The rest of the chapter tells how she believed in the God of Israel and pleaded for the deliverance of her family when Jericho would be attacked. Hebrews 11:31 says, "By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies." So the biblical interpretation of her action was that it was done from a heart of faith, even though she lied to the king's messengers.
So I conclude from these two biblical stories that it is possible to be a person who fears the Lord (like the Hebrew midwives) and acts in faith (like Rahab) and yet feel constrained in extreme, life-threatening situations to oppose evil by lying.
Again, here is someone who believes in God, but feels she must lie to save lives. Will this be a blot on her spiritual record? Should she have lied at all, clearly the Bible says, “Lean not on your own understanding……..” Did she lean on her own understanding, or should she have waiting to hear the voice of God? Hey, I am just asking questions today, so what do you think. Is anytime a lie justified?
We all have a story, do you have one about lying, let me hear from you today.
Peace and Blessings!
Posted By: The SISTAHS Ministry
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 at 10:30AM
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