Little white lies are often told to preserve the peace, as if telling the truth would in some way destroy peace. When our words are motivated by the pride of life, we are falling into temptation (1 John 2:16). Telling a white lie to benefit oneself is nothing but selfishness. Telling more lies to cover up the original lie is standard procedure, and the lies get progressively less “white.” Trying to remember what lies were told to what person also complicates relationships and makes further lying even more likely. White lies have a way of propagating themselves. Those who traffic in white lies will damage their credibility. A person who consistently lies to make people feel good will eventually be seen for what he is: a liar. Telling a white lie to be “tactful” or to spare someone’s feelings is also a foolish thing to do. Also, who defines the “good” that results from the lie? A salesman telling white lies may sell his product-a “good” thing for him-but what about the customer who was taken advantage of?

However, God’s condemnation of lying in Proverbs 6:16–19 contains no exception clause.

If the lie results in a perceived “good,” then the lie was justified. But all sins are equally offensive to God (Romans 6:23a), and there are good reasons to avoid telling white lies.įirst, the belief that a white lie is “helpful” is rooted in the idea that the end justifies the means. And it is true that telling a white lie will not have the same serious effect as, say, murdering someone. It is true that some sins bring about worse consequences than others. The reasoning is, as long as no one is hurt or the result is good, little lies are fine.

The secretary “covers” for the boss who doesn’t want to be disturbed the salesman exaggerates the qualities of his product the job applicant pads his résumé. We live in a society that conditions us to lie by telling us that, in many situations, lies are justified. Some white lies are common: lying about one’s age, for example, or the size of the fish that got away. It could be a “tactful” lie told to keep the peace in a relationship it could be a “helpful” lie to ostensibly benefit someone else it could be a “minor” lie to make oneself look better in some area. A white lie is deceptive, but it may also be polite or diplomatic at the same time.

Lying is defined as “making an untrue statement with the intent to deceive.” A white lie is an untrue statement, but it is usually considered unimportant because it does not cover up a serious wrongdoing.

Little white lies book 2