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Pioneer and Bell Church of Christ

LITTLE WHITE LIES, OR JUST PLAIN LIES

In Proverbs we read, "There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that deviseth wicked purposes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19). Two of the seven things listed that God hates have to do with lying. Recently we read an article that stated that about 95% of those surveyed told lies regularly, and felt it was more moral to lie in many circumstances than to tell the truth. 

Joseph Fletcher in his book Introduction to Situation Ethics stated clearly that it was more loving and moral to lie in many instances. Obviously most Americans have bought into the situational ethics Mr. Fletcher and others have been foisting on society for many years. The fact is, a lie is a lie. We may categorize many untruths as "little white lies” but God looks at them very differently. Notice: "But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8, emphasis mine, ER). 

Why does a person tell lies? Often one will lie to build himself up, or make oneself look better in the eyes of others. Usually such a one feels inferior to others, and compensates for this by trying to make himself look braver, more experienced, wiser, etc., to others. Sometimes one will lie in order to cover up something they have done, When you line up several children and ask them who broke the lamp, you will hear a chorus of "I didn’t do it!” Adults, especially adult Christians ought to be able to accept the consequences of wrongdoing, or mistakes. This writer distinctly remembers as a child being spanked, not for doing something wrong, but lying about it! We have also spoke with folks who claimed they lied to spare feelings or keep from hurting another. One man said that when his brother came asking if he had ever known of his son using drugs, he lied, and said "no” when he had caught the son with several kinds of pills and marijuana cigarettes. It would have been far better to have told the truth, and helped rehabilitate his nephew. 

The fact is, all lies are told with the intent to deceive someone else. Whatever one’s motive may be, it is still wrong. Politicians, doctors, lawyers, or anyone for that matter, need to tell the truth. So many may be described as Forrest Gump said in the movie, that you don’t know what’s in a box of chocolates until you bite into them. It should not be so. It is still true that the fate of all liars will be the "lake that burneth with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 21:8). 

Ed Rodgers,
Lake Tawakani, TX, 



"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:" "A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood," "An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief," "A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."


"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."


"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."