Different Life: 8th CommandmentНамуна

Is it sometimes okay not to tell the truth? A knee-jerk reaction might be to say no. But a little bit of reflective thought can lead us to situations when it might do more harm than good.

My dad used to like to challenge me with this thought experiment: If the Nazis came to your door and asked whether you were harboring Jews, would morality demand you tell the truth? The answer would be no. Morality would demand we protect them in the face of evil. Or how about this one: If your wife comes to you and asks you if she looks fat, does morality demand you tell her the truth? I’ll let you decide for yourself on that one. But I think we could say it’s not as clear-cut. Our motive needs to be lifting her up, but would our answer be motivated more by preserving our own safety?

Dilemmas like these are not new to us. You’ll find them in the Bible. Read a few of these examples of people lying for the sake of others and boldly speaking truth when it might cost them. Put yourself in their shoes. Ask yourself, “What would I have done?” And more importantly in these situations, “What would God have me do?”