Pilgrim

I'm afraid that although I would like to say that I agree with you. I hope and pray that I never find myself in a situation like that because I am not sure I wouldn't lie.

Years ago I read a book written by a missionary who was not only an evangelist, but ran an orphanage in an African country.
This missionary had taught a whole generation of youth and when civil war broke out lead by one of his former orphans, he found himself in the middle of the conflict.
He loved the people so much that he hid many innocent civilians away from this former orphan.
This former orphan asked him point blank, because he knew his former foster parent to be a man of impeccable integrity, if he knew where these people were hiding.
Reluctantly this evangelist against his conscience told him that he had no idea where they were. Fortunately his former orphan believed him and it alleviated a massacre.
However, even though his actions probably saved a lot of people, it gave him a huge feeling of guilt.
I got the feeling that if he had to do it over again, that he would have told the truth.

I guess the point in mentioning this story is because though I might say "no, it is never ok to lie”, but in actual practice, would I have the faith to follow those convictions? If I couldn't, what would be the point in saying no?

Tom