How lenient should we be to lies?

[Soloist]

I think the most effective counter to lies is often to live the truth. There is a place for pointing them out but that is often overrated and more of an exercise in self justification.

Wife: Somebody shared this quote on Whatsapp today, and I actually thought it was fitting for this subject.

Sometimes the most Christlike thing you can do is remain quiet when your flesh wants to defend itself.
I think of Jesus standing before His accusers. He did not scramble to correct every lie. He entrusted Himself to the Father who judges rightly. That kind of restraint may look like weakness to the world, but as we know, it's actually faith with self-control.
I get it though. It's hard to be misunderstood and not explain yourself. To watch someone twist the truth and not rush in to fix the story. But not every accusation deserves access to your peace.
Speak when the Lord gives you words.
Stay quiet when silence honors Him more.
God sees clearly. He judges justly. And in time, He knows how to bring the truth into the light.

-Amy Klutinoty

[barnhart]

I think the most effective counter to lies is often to live the truth. There is a place for pointing them out but that is often overrated and more of an exercise in self justification.

Wife: Somebody shared this quote on Whatsapp today, and I actually thought it was fitting for this subject.

Sometimes the most Christlike thing you can do is remain quiet when your flesh wants to defend itself.
I think of Jesus standing before His accusers. He did not scramble to correct every lie. He entrusted Himself to the Father who judges rightly. That kind of restraint may look like weakness to the world, but as we know, it's actually faith with self-control.
I get it though. It's hard to be misunderstood and not explain yourself. To watch someone twist the truth and not rush in to fix the story. But not every accusation deserves access to your peace.
Speak when the Lord gives you words.
Stay quiet when silence honors Him more.
God sees clearly. He judges justly. And in time, He knows how to bring the truth into the light.

-Amy Klutinoty

I really like that. Thanks for posting.

[JohnL]

I think the most effective counter to lies is often to live the truth. There is a place for pointing them out but that is often overrated and more of an exercise in self justification.

Wife: Somebody shared this quote on Whatsapp today, and I actually thought it was fitting for this subject.

Sometimes the most Christlike thing you can do is remain quiet when your flesh wants to defend itself.
I think of Jesus standing before His accusers. He did not scramble to correct every lie. He entrusted Himself to the Father who judges rightly. That kind of restraint may look like weakness to the world, but as we know, it's actually faith with self-control.
I get it though. It's hard to be misunderstood and not explain yourself. To watch someone twist the truth and not rush in to fix the story. But not every accusation deserves access to your peace.
Speak when the Lord gives you words.
Stay quiet when silence honors Him more.
God sees clearly. He judges justly. And in time, He knows how to bring the truth into the light.

-Amy Klutinoty

Right there. Amen.

[JohnH]

I think the most effective counter to lies is often to live the truth. There is a place for pointing them out but that is often overrated and more of an exercise in self justification.

Wife: Somebody shared this quote on Whatsapp today, and I actually thought it was fitting for this subject.

Sometimes the most Christlike thing you can do is remain quiet when your flesh wants to defend itself.
I think of Jesus standing before His accusers. He did not scramble to correct every lie. He entrusted Himself to the Father who judges rightly. That kind of restraint may look like weakness to the world, but as we know, it's actually faith with self-control.
I get it though. It's hard to be misunderstood and not explain yourself. To watch someone twist the truth and not rush in to fix the story. But not every accusation deserves access to your peace.
Speak when the Lord gives you words.
Stay quiet when silence honors Him more.
God sees clearly. He judges justly. And in time, He knows how to bring the truth into the light.

-Amy Klutinoty

And sometimes that's exactly what we as Christians SHOULDN'T do, like when there is a notorious abuser in the church who keeps getting away with it and other members are indoctrinated that they need to try to do the above when the person just lies over and over.

[Neto]

I think it was on MennoDiscuss, but there was a time (possibly in the early time after I signed up) when a couple of members were advocating the idea that Jesus was/is 'just the son of God", not Deity. Not wanting to have 'lurkers' or new forum members think that this heresy was typical of Mennonite belief, I engaged with them, mostly just to put the counter position into the discussion. Then I started doing some research on the forum, and realized that they had presented the same garbage before, and other participants had already given the same 'presentations' that I was writing up myself. So at some point, it becomes really pointless to continue to correct the lies others tell. They just wait awhile and say the same things again.

But Jesus' deity is non-negotiable fundamental of the faith. Mightn't that make it worth re-debating again and again?

This was the struggle I faced. Not only in on-line forums, but in 'live' conversations when someone states a falsehood, whether on purpose, or mistakenly. If it's the latter case, then I try to find a way to raise a question that implies the correct stance or understanding. If it is obviously intentional then it comes down to whether I'm up for an argument. If there are others involved in the 'discussion', then that needs to be taken into account as well, because silence can easily be mistaken for agreement.

So, I don't really have a good answer, one that I myself apply in every case, without later 'guilt' or 'remorse'.

[JohnH]

I usually let people get away with repeating complete falsehoods about the Amish simply because of I didn’t, I’d spend hours and hours arguing.

[ohio jones]

Surely you didn't let your students choose their own reading, did you? What literature did you assign?

I’m talking about adults OhioJ. That’s why I said “because we’re all adults.”
To answer your question. When I was a teacher for a few years we had to use the curriculum materials assigned by the districts

So which of those authors do you recommend?

Ok, Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov on the personal bookshelves. I'm still curious though which of the district-assigned reading materials were your favorites.

[Soloist]

I think the most effective counter to lies is often to live the truth. There is a place for pointing them out but that is often overrated and more of an exercise in self justification.

Wife: Somebody shared this quote on Whatsapp today, and I actually thought it was fitting for this subject.

Sometimes the most Christlike thing you can do is remain quiet when your flesh wants to defend itself.
I think of Jesus standing before His accusers. He did not scramble to correct every lie. He entrusted Himself to the Father who judges rightly. That kind of restraint may look like weakness to the world, but as we know, it's actually faith with self-control.
I get it though. It's hard to be misunderstood and not explain yourself. To watch someone twist the truth and not rush in to fix the story. But not every accusation deserves access to your peace.
Speak when the Lord gives you words.
Stay quiet when silence honors Him more.
God sees clearly. He judges justly. And in time, He knows how to bring the truth into the light.

-Amy Klutinoty

And sometimes that's exactly what we as Christians SHOULDN'T do, like when there is a notorious abuser in the church who keeps getting away with it and other members are indoctrinated that they need to try to do the above when the person just lies over and over.

Wife: I don’t really think the author or my friend meant it to be used that way, although I can see how some people end up falling into that trap. I would not recommend silence for something like that or not stepping in to speak up for someone else or allowing someone to believe that you agree with some theological heresy (like all faiths lead to heaven) or whatever.

I would think of it more as not wasting time arguing against gossip or people who just insist on thinking the worst of you either online or in person. Like the bird lady who comes up and starts telling you off for your children chasing pigeons at the park when you were just trying to walk to the splash pad with your toddlers. You could waste time explaining the differences between chasing birds and them just flying away, and that your toddlers broke no laws, etc., or you can just say that you will try not to let them chase birds and be kind to the lady. The Bible does say a soft answer turns away wrath.

[Bootstrap]

Sometimes lies become a deep part of the character of a community.

People don't dare speak out about an alcoholic or someone who is abusive. Everyone knows what you are not supposed to notice, and the community organizes itself around not noticing.

That's very different from a single lie that someone makes.

Sometimes I think churches can be like that along political lines.

[barnhart]

I think addressing lies should generally be as local as possible. There might be a place for the on-line version but... I wouldn't put too much stock in it. Somebody is always wrong somewhere on the Internet.