Lying to save lives is a virtue blessed by God. Think of the two Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who lied to the Pharaoh.
When the Pharaoh implemented an edict to kill all boys born to the Hebrews, the midwives instead sheltered and saved them. When questioned, they lied: “Hebrew women, unlike Egyptians, are vigorous, giving birth before midwives arrive” (Exodus 1:19).
And how did God respond to their lie? “God was kind to the midwives” (Exodus 1:20).
Approaching an action stuck in a rigid dichotomy of good versus evil, right versus wrong, can lead to greater injustices while shielding the perpetrator of culpability. Lying, at times, is ethically justified as a means of preserving the lives of the most vulnerable who are facing overwhelming odds against their survival.
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE: AT GOOD FAITH MEDIA
