We Lost the Surprise Somewhere

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I remember watching Mayberry RFD and related shows most of my childhood. Poor ignorant Gomer Pyle who worked as an auto mechanic was a notable character. But I can still recall my shock when I found out that Jim Nabors, who played Gomer, could sing — not casually, but with a…

Read More

I told my fiance the truth and he left me. Now, what do I do?

Question: I was going through your website and came across a testimony of how God restored a relationship. I am going through the same phase in life right now, and I need your guidance and advice. I was supposed to get married in a few months but everything got called off because of my lie.…

Read More

Can there be such a thing as a good lie?

Question: Good day, This issue of lying has been bothering me for quite some time now, and I felt I couldn’t keep it to myself. Jesus said in Revelation 21:8 that all liars will go to hell. Are there good lies? For example, if I am faced with a threatening situation in which a man…

Read More

Is changing your mind a sin?

Question: I was wondering if it’s counted as a lie when I change my mind.  This has been a problem for me lately.  Let’s say I tell my wife “I’m having an egg sandwich for lunch”  and then make a hamburger, is that lying?  If I tell myself that I will not drink coffee ever…

Read More

What was the first lie told in the Bible?

Question: What was the first lie told in the Bible? Was it the serpent talking to Eve? Answer: Yes, it was.  God had said, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you…

Read More

What if a government gives false reasons for going to war?

Question: I am wondering what the Bible says concerning going to war for unjustified reasons? What if a country deceives its people and claims reasons for going to war, but there is evidence that does not justify war? How do Christians and Christians in the military handle this type of situation? Answer: A government’s authority,…

Read More

Is it a lie to friend someone on Facebook that you don’t know?

Question: Hi there, Please tell me, if we have sent friend requests to people on Facebook that we had never met before and do not know that is like lying then what? Will we keep sinning by lying as long as we leave the friend requests stand to the persons we have sent to the…

Read More

Seeing Only What You Want to See

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/SeeingOnlyWhatYouWantToSee.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 50   I.         I would like to share a portion of a letter I received: “I am in love with this girl who loved me too. We loved each other so crazily but at one point I realized that she had been lying to me for no reason to…

Read More

Why was Abram rewarded for lying to Pharaoh?

Question: I just read Genesis 12:1-20 and I’m a little perplexed by it. Abram bent the truth concerning Sarai by getting her to say she was his sister rather than his wife when they came into Egypt. I know she was his half-sister by his father, but it was still a lie. So why was…

Read More

Is it wrong to leave out some of my employment history on a resume?

Question: I often struggle with discerning what might be God’s conviction over sin and what might be me worrying excessively. Recently, I filled out a job application that asked for a separate sheet for additional employment that was “relevant to the position” I was applying for. I held many, many jobs during college, some for…

Read More

If I don’t tell my wife I sinned, isn’t that lying?

Question: Hello. I’ve been reading through many of the posts on your site regarding adultery and lying.  I have found much of it to be very helpful, but I am struggling with some of what you advise.  In several of the posts on adultery, you advise the person who committed adultery that it would be best to…

Read More

How can I get to heaven if I’ve told a lie?

Question: I was pondering this question. Jesus states that those who are liars, murderers, etc. will not inherit the kingdom of God. In Revelation, it states “And nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”…

Read More

Is all lying bad?

Question: This question is about lying. Is lying in all views, such as white lies or small lies, a sin? Is there such a thing as using a lie to help someone? I can’t think of a good example now, but I do hope you know what I mean. There are also lies about even…

Read More

Little Lies

by Rusty Miller “Buy truth, and do not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23). Of all the things God desires most, none has suffered more in recent times than honesty. The lie is no longer something to be scorned; in fact, “everybody lies” is the most common excuse heard when someone is actually caught in a lie.…

Read More

The Worse Lies

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/WorseLies.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 59:1-15   I.         In describing Israel’s plight, God lists out the sins in which they had been involved in Isaiah 59:1-15             A.        Repeatedly through this passage lies and a lack of truth is brought up             B.        Lies are sinful, but more so, sinners lie                         1.         How does the addict attempt to avoid…

Read More

Who are those who love and practice a lie?

Question: In Revelation 22:15, John seems to be saying one last time who will enter the kingdom and who will not.  All the other things I understand, but the last part when he says those who love and practice a lie is somewhat unclear to me.  I understand the general meaning and how that relates…

Read More

My friend is planning to commit fraud. What should I do?

Question: I have an ethical problem. I recently became aware of a friend planning on committing what is basically insurance fraud with his car due to his financial situation and his car having so many issues. I know when and how he plans on having his vehicle “stolen” and stripped as well as what insurance…

Read More

I lied in my earlier note to satisfy a spanking fetish

Question: The following email conversation was made up on my part. I have had a fetish of spanking since I was 4 years old as far as I can remember. I recently had a memory restored to me of being spanked at 1 1/2 years old. I established some dysfunctional associations with spanking and my sexuality…

Read More

Why were the Israelites not to use diverse weights?

Question: In Proverbs 20:10 it reads, “Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.” This is also stated in Proverbs 20:23 with a reference to Deuteronomy 25:13 which reads, “Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.” I know that “divers” means many…

Read More

If a person is married under false pretenses, is it still a valid marriage?

Question: Does the Bible mention false marriages or are all marriages valid? This year alone, three women who escaped from Michigan prisons more than thirty years ago have been captured and returned to Michigan. One woman who has received a lot of attention moved to California, changed her name, got married, raised a family, and…

Read More