When we are young and know it all, we have all the answers. Remember those days? Actually it may not be youth. It may be immaturity or lack of experience that defines youth. When we get older and less ignorant something changes. We begin to see nuances that escaped us before. Gradually black and white morph into shades of gray. It is like the transition from a moonless night to a sunny day.
Another issue that changes our certainty is called responsibility. It is easy for me to tell the president of the United States how to respond to the rise of Putin or the saber rattling of China. Talk is cheap and if I am wrong I can go play computer games. It is like playing poker without money. Bets are easy and there is no risk.
Life comes down to principles and values. Is abortion wrong? Yes, but.... There is a condition called ectopic pregnancy. It involves the fertilized egg attaching itself in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. Sometimes this can lead to the death of the mother and the child. Is abortion wrong in that case?
Is it wrong to lie? Yes, but.... When the Gestapo came and asked if you were hiding any Jews there might be a higher issue at stake.
Life still must be lived. Decisions must be made. I believe there is absolute truth and right and wrong. I also realize that sometimes all we can see are shades of gray. We still have the moral responsibility to make the right choices. I make the Bible my source of principles and standards.
Welcome to maturity.
homo unius libri
Your choice is the wisest. Incidentally, I get the feeling that God doesn't much mind us lying to the spawn of Satan, as long as it's not denying Him in any way.
ReplyDeleteIf the deception is the lesser of two evils I can see that. What happens is our power of rationalization makes our own personal benefit appear to be a noble cause.
DeleteGrace and peace.