One of the Random Quotes

[setapart]

I was intrigued by one of the random quotes. It said
"A lie is speaking falsehood with the intention of deceiving" -St. Augustine

Does anyone think that perhaps this could be true of the truth also; if you speak the truth but your intention is still to deceive. I know a lot of Christians do this to stop from hurting the feelings of others, to get out of uncomfortable situations ect. Like for instance, if you tell someone that you wont be available for dinner because your son has soccer practice; truth is if it was someone you were more interested in spending time with, your son's practice wouldn't normally prevent you from going out.

I have honestly been guilty of this before. Do you guys think its wrong?

 

[Chad]

"if you speak the truth but your intention is still to deceive"

If your intention is to decieve, then generally your not 'speaking' the truth. You may say the honest words, but in your heart you're a liar.

I'm sure everyone reading your post understands what you mean, based on that example you gave. GOD completly understands our motives and knows our hearts fully. You know, sometimes its hard to say if a lie is really a lie and if honesty is really so honest. You gave a good example about the son's soccer practice. While in the father or mother's heart they'd rather go to some dinner than practice, I think their motive is what counts. The final action would of course be their motive. If they went to soccer, that would be their motive even though their desire is to go to dinner.

I cannot imagine GOD necessarily frowning on such everyday common issues like this, of course depending on cirumstances. If the father went to practice even though he desired to go to dinner instead, he was being a good father and was selfless. So we cannot call him a liar.