What is Truth? ...continued

THE MIS-LEADING LIE

This kind of falsehood may be told for very good reasons, sometimes rationalised by suggesting it is the less of two evils. It may be used to safeguard someone from danger or even death. For instance, what if, during the second world war a German Christian decided to shelter a Jew? What would he say if the Gestapo came to his door and asked outright if he was sheltering someone?

There are records in the Bible of mis-leading statements made to save others from danger. In the book of Exodus(6) we read that the Egyptian Pharaoh issued an edict that all Israeli male children should be killed at birth, but the mid-wives feared God and refused to carry out the order and so let the children live. When enquiries were made as to their reason, the mid-wives came up with the story that the Hebrew women were more lively than the Egyptian women and and so the babies were born before they could get there! It is quite possible of course that this was a valid biological fact, but the mid-wives seized on it for their defence.

There was another occasion when Israel sent spies to reconnoitre the land of Canaan prior to the invasion(7). A woman by the name of Rahab gave them accommodation, and when she learned of their mission she hid them on the roof of her house. When a search party came to her door enquiring if they were there, she misled them by saying that they had been there but had departed before the city gates were shut for the night. It is interested to note that Rahab was commended in the New Testament(8) for her help and faith. She was not commended however for the mis-leading statement.

In the New Testament there is a tragic incident recorded in the book of Acts(9) when two of the early Christians by the name of Ananias and Sapphira deliberately deceived the Apostles concerning how much money they had given to the Church as a result of their sale of property. The lie was regarded so seriously that they both lost their lives under the judgement of God. Comparing the New Testament with the Old Testament it obviously shows a greater sensitivity to falsehood.

There are occasions when honest people are questioned directly, and they may not wish to answer for personal reasons, it should be emphasised about telling the truth that no one is obliged to answer a question unless there is a legal reason for doing so. The only trouble with a silent response is that the questioner may very well draw their own conclusions!

The Bible nowhere encourages or commends falsehood and lying, but in extreme situations one can only say that God knows the heart and the reasons for whatever answer one might give, and if falsehood was involved a sincere repentant heart would surely find ready forgiveness.