Have you noticed that “Thou shall not lie” is not among the 10 Commandnments God gave to Moses?. The only Commandnment that is closely related is “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor”. ( Exodus 20:1-17).
Bearing false witness is a malicious attempt to implicate, slander, defame, accuse or even set up someone for execution. It mostly involves falsified version of facts, or fabricated evidence brought against someone especially before a jury.
It is equivalent to murder. An innocent person can be condemned and executed by the statement of false witnesses. Jezebel hired false witnesses against Naboth so as to execute him for King Ahab to take his vineyard. See 1Kings 21:1-14.
False witnesses were brought against Jesus too.
But why not “Thou shall not lie”?
Bearing false witnesses involves lying. However, this kind of lie is specifically spelled out — don't bear false witness against your neighbor. So what about other forms of lying that isn't necessarily a false witness?
I am not trying to encourage lying.
Lying isn't a good thing for many reasons. As a matter of fact, lying is a demeaning thing. Even the Bible tells us that “all liars” shall find themselves in the lake of fire.”(Revelations 21:8).
So what am I insinuating?
INTENTIONS.
Yes, intentions.
It's the reason, I believe, “Thou shall not lie” is not among the Ten Commandments
Really?
Ok. Maybe not.
But, do people not lie with good intentions — or without preconceived motives?
For instance, you told a lie to cover up for your friend and colleague who came late to work because your boss doesn't accept explanations.
When I was a little boy, I used to lie to protect my brother from our father's wrath. And he used to do same for me too.
When I use to stay with my big cousine, his wife told a lie to protect me from my cousin who likes to punish us for even the slightest mistake.
There are people who lied in the Bible, for various reasons. Of course there was consequences for some.
The Gibeonites lied for fear of being destroyed by Joshua and his army.
Rahab lied to protect the two spies who were sent to spy Jericho.
Abraham asked his wife, Sarah, to tell Abimelech that they were siblings, and not couples. Why? To protect himself. Though they were brother and sister of same father (we would say it wasn't entirely a lie).
But what if God had not restrained Abimelech from touching Sarah?
Isaac also did same.
During Sunday Schools and Bible Studies, people tend to ask these questions, especially new converts. Some give practical instances where they have heard even Christians lie.
On a certain Sunday, the Pastor had informed that he wouldn't spend more than thirty minutes on the pulpit — he ended up taking close to one hour plus.
One of my students, came to me and said “Bro Uko, Pastor lied. He promised us 30 minutes but almost took the whole day.”
I only told him it wasn't intentional.
I didn't know what impression that young man must have gone home with. I think this is one area some preachers err. They announce they won't take time on a sermon but end up taking longer than they said.
I grew up believing that lying is a sin. Most adults around would punish me for any lie I told. But I heard — on many occasions — adults lying too. Sometimes, when I had the courage to tell them, they reprimand me or even punish me to keep me in check.
As I have grown older, I can tell that one reason people lie is not just because they want to lie but because society does not encourage people telling the truth.
So I ask, what do we do to discourage lying? Or should we judge based on intentions?
