The watchtower says it's OK to lie if it's "to protect the interests of god's cause":
*** w60 6/1 351 Questions from Readers *** • From time to time letters are received asking whether a certain circumstance would justify making an exception to the Christian's obligation to tell the truth. In reply to these the following is given:
God's Word commands: "Speak truth each of you with his neighbor." (Eph. 4:25) This command, however, does not mean that we should tell everyone who asks us all he wants to know. We must tell the truth to one who is entitled to know, but if one is not so entitled we may be evasive ... As a soldier of Christ he is in theocratic warfare and he must exercise added caution when dealing with God's foes. Thus the Scriptures show that for the purpose of protecting the interests of God's cause, it is proper to hide the truth from God's enemies.
But the bible says:
Rom3:7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?translation: Even a lie that glorifies God is wrong! Rom3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
"Speak truth each of you with his neighbor" ...to... Thus the Scriptures show ...it is proper to hide the truth from God's enemies
Wait, wah? Someone just make a leap here I didn't follow? I mean, if you trying to justify lying, wouldn't it be better to cite a scripture that doesn't explicitly and unequivocally promote always telling the truth?
A fanatic is one who, upon losing sight of his goals, redoubles his efforts. --George Santayana
This bothers me a lot....Who decides "who is entitled to know" the facts? I have seen elders lie, er, theocratically war, to preserve their own reputations in front of fellow elders! It doesn't matter who gets hurt, as long as the congregation stays stable, which means the elder body must stay intact.
Does each elder have carte blanche to exercise theocratic warfare however/whenever he sees fit? Or is it just the presiding and circuit overseers (and above)?
-J.R. [/size=1][/i]The preceding post was not evaluated by any mental health professionals, and is solely the opinion of a fuzzy, cuddly rodent.
