The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Lying

Tom,

One only need ask one simple question to arrive at the truth of this question. QUESTION: Is lying a sin? (cf. Ex. 20:16; Lev. 19:11; Ps. 15:1-3; 101:5-7; 1Tim 1:10; et al)

It is rather disheartening to see Joseph Fletcher's humanistic philosophy so ingrained within the minds of Christian men and women. As you must know, he railed against moral absolutes and made popular what is known as "Situation Ethics". One of his favorite ploys he used against Christian/biblical ethics was this theoretical question: "What would you do, as a Christian, if you were living in Nazi Germany and the Gestapo were going door-to-door killing young children by order of the Fuhrer? Your daughter is hiding in the closet when these soldiers stormed your house and demanded to know if you were hiding your daughter. Would you tell them, 'Yes! she is in the closet.' or would lie and tell them, 'No!'? According to Fletcher, true "love" would dictate that you lie and thus spare the life of your child. For Fletcher, his self-defined "love" is the basis for all morality and ethics.

John Warwick Montgomery had the opportunity to debate Fletcher on this subject many years ago and totally smashed his argument by asking, "Now, let me get this straight. You (Fletcher) believe with all your heart that this 'Situation Ethics' is right, correct? And that it is 'love' for your fellowman what is of the highest priority, right? In fact, you would do anything to get everyone to accept and practice this, would you not? . . . even lie? Because your 'ethics' allows, even encourages people to lie for the better good of others, then how can we know that what you are wanting us to believe is even true?" touché

Lying is a sin against God. There is never a situation where lying is acceptable.

In His Grace,