Mike Johnson

The Bible has a lot to say on the subject of lying. God disapproves of lying, and Christians should avoid it.

The Old Testament frequently speaks of lying. Proverbs 16:17 makes it clear that a “lying tongue” is one of the things that the Lord hates. Further, Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.”

In the New Testament, we can read where various individuals told lies. Ananias and Sapphira, for example, (Acts 5:1-11), lied about what they had given to God. Peter lied when he denied the Lord just before the crucifixion (Mt. 26:69-72). Further, Christians are specifically told to avoid lying in such passages as Colossians 3:9, which points out that lying is a part of the old man (former life) and not the new man in Christ.

There are various kinds of lies that people are commonly involved in today. Please consider the list below. 

1.  Lies of vanity — These are lies to build up a person’s ego. The person who tells this type of lie wants to impress others, and feels he must lie to accomplish that.
2.  Lies of flattery — The person who tells this kind of lie wants to build someone else up and caters to the person’s vanity. People who flattere are usually trying to advance their interests in some way (note Ps. 62:4).
3.  Lies of convenience— People tell these types of lies because they are following the easiest course of action to get out of a difficult situation.
4.  Lies to save social embarrassment— People tell this type of lie because they are trying to justify some neglect, or it may be they are afraid of the consequences of the truth. Some might even tell this type of untruth because they fear hurting another’s feedings.
5.  Lies designed to hurt someone — Some people tell lies which are specifically intended to injure the feelings or reputation of another person.

Another kind of lie is what is called a “white lie.” This type of lie is usually considered excusable as it concerns a small matter; people tell them without harmful intent. A mother, for example, might inform her child or husband to tell someone who has called on the phone that she is not at home when, in fact, she is. Is this form of lying justified? It is not! The Bible does not make a distinction between small and big lies and does not allow what people call “white lies.” Instead, Revelation 21:8 says, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Thus, Christians must avoid all lies and always speak the truth.