Honestly, I’m not going to judge anyone who tells a white lie for 4 purposes regarding protection:
1. To truly protect someone’s feelings,
2. To truly protect someone from harm,
3. To truly protect someone’s identity, &
4. To truly protect revealing something.
I used to fight with myself a lot over the fact that a lie is a lie, which is technically true. However, if someone’s state of mind is distraught and telling them something that isn’t necessarily true but makes them feel better otherwise, I’m going to go with making them feel better. Never know, telling them brutal truth could lead to them committing suicide. I’d rather save a life, even when I’m not aware that I’m doing so.
Now, I know a of this one lady who lied to protect some really special individuals. She was highly favored for doing so by ‘The Supreme Official,’ and she was a street walker. So, protecting someone from harm and protecting someone’s identity can go hand-in-hand. I’d do it for someone’s who’s good at heart. I would want the same done for me.
No one wants to ruin another one’s surprise, right? A surprise party, a surprise gift, good news surprise, etc. As long as your intentions are good and what you’re doing is sincerely from your heart, I wouldn’t say it’s right to tell a lie, however, I wouldn’t say it’s wrong to surprise someone. First, you knowing how exuberant it would make them is priceless, then you second, the feeling you’ll get yourself is oh so refreshing. Although, I don’t feel the same if the lie was tied to a surprise involving pranking someone, especially when they could be seriously injured.
I don’t feel like it’s my place to judge anyone for anything that’s for God!
But I don’t feel like it’s ok to lie for any purpose because a small lie leads to bigger lies which can end up harming others! That’s just my opinion.
You make good points. Thank you for a very thoughtful answer.