tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post961803424906901346..comments2024-03-28T17:07:27.195-07:00Comments on The Refiner's Fire Blog: Is it ever okay to lie?Carmenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14998146626031186940noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-5181582166968072502016-08-20T07:46:03.112-07:002016-08-20T07:46:03.112-07:00So lies that save lives are ok. Life of His people...So lies that save lives are ok. Life of His people is more valuable than absolutely honesty with non-members of His people. Got it!<br /><br />-AndrewAndrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-53056287894951860822016-08-13T10:06:12.929-07:002016-08-13T10:06:12.929-07:00No, Paul was not lying here. His point is rather ...No, Paul was not lying here. His point is rather obscure, but becomes clear in context. You must go all the way back to Galatians 1 to follow what Paul is saying. Remember, this is a letter to the believers in Galatia. <br /><br />In Galatians 1:6, Paul begins to comment to the Galatians that he is stunned to hear that they have forgotten what they were taught of the gift of the Messiah and that they have fallen back into old (pagan) ways. Paul then goes on to describe what a cad he once was because he so strongly followed and spread the teachings of traditional Judaism and that it took him years to come to a new truth. Galatians 1:13-2:21. Paul returns to admonishing the Galatians in Galatians 3. <br /><br />So now, understand the context of Galatians 4:8-13. Paul admonishes them again that the Galatians have "returned to those weak and poor principles, wishing to come under their bondage" (verse 9), and that they have incorporated pagan days and observances (verse 10). Only then does Paul say "II fear for you, lest somehow I have labored among you in vain" (verse 11). So when he says, in the very next verse "be as I am, for I am as you are" what he is saying is that he, too, is frail in the flesh, but that he learned and became a new person (refer back to Galatians 1:13-2:21). So Paul is asking them to "be as I am" (having learned a new truth and become a new man), "for I am as you are" (a frail human with flaws of the flesh.)<br /><br />Indeed, Paul goes on in the next 3 verses (4:12-14) to clarify this point. Paul was an "open book" to them and he did not expect his sordid past to make the reject his teachings. <br /><br />So, no, Paul was not denying the eternal nature of the Law while still adhering to it. Rather, Paul was saying that people need to make the effort. People need to hear and do and deny their old nature and adhere to the new truth. Paul admitted that he is but a frail man with all the sin nature of man, but he overcame it and ended his old ways. This is what he was teaching the Galatians to do.Liamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00281049645175102119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-7582623813813533612016-08-13T08:23:30.030-07:002016-08-13T08:23:30.030-07:00In Galatians 4:10-12, was Paul lying when he said,...In Galatians 4:10-12, was Paul lying when he said, "be as I am, for I am as you are"? That is, was he denying the eternal nature of the Law while still adhering to it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-33724092092279233902016-08-12T07:49:58.453-07:002016-08-12T07:49:58.453-07:00Well, let's define the "white lie" f...Well, let's define the "white lie" first. From a couple of different sources, it's "a lie with good intentions" or "a harmless or trivial lie, especially one told to avoid hurting someone's feelings." Mind you, those definitions are entirely secular. <br /><br />So what can we say in light of the two examples above from scripture? Well, it would actually be wrong to compare the examples to the white lie. Why? Because there are too many variations of the white lie to compare. For example, when a woman says "How do I look in this dress?", it would be a white lie to say "Fine", even if you really didn't mean it. Seemingly no harm is done. But did the lie cause no harm? <br /><br />What if the dress had a spot on it you didn't notice because you dismissed the question so quickly? Later when the spot is noticed by someone else, you will be blamed. You did harm after all. What if the white lie was told because you wanted your dress to be noticed more than hers? In the first case "no harm was meant", yet harm was done and in the second case the lie was a deception for self-gain - totally wrong. You can see how a white lie does not compare to the scriptural examples above where the lie protected the innocent and the perpetrator of the lie was not condemned. <br /><br />Unfortunately, most "white lies" are deceptions intended to benefit the one who uttered it. These lies should be avoided for seeking personal benefit through lies is clearly wrong. (Leviticus 19:11; Proverbs 12:22). Where possible, one should always speak truthfully, especially friends, relatives, neighbors. (Ephesians 4:25). But there are situations where a white lie can be told just to be polite. For example, a clerk at a cash register asks you "How are you today?" You respond "Fine" even though you may be in pain from illness or you are sad. Saying "fine" is a simple, polite responds to the clerk, when no real, serious conversation is merited or desired. In that case, I think it is safe to say no harm was done. On the other hand, responding "Oh, I could be better" would be a more honest response and may even result in a nice witnessing moment with the clerk.<br /><br />The bottom line is that white lies are still lies and the spiritual person is going to avoid them. An honest response can often be provided which actually answers the question without hurting feelings. Nevertheless, since every case is unique, it remains a gray area. Liamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00281049645175102119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-82467156975806446602016-08-12T06:18:46.717-07:002016-08-12T06:18:46.717-07:00Thanks Liam. What about the lie they called "...Thanks Liam. What about the lie they called "white lie"? will this fall under the gray area?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com